Steal Sam Altman's Genius Note-Taking Method (Pocket Notebook Power!)

[@billricestrategy]

Here is the notebook that I think Sam Altman uses, and I have been using. TWONE has a bunch of great notebooks. It’s got great paper too, even for fountain pens. TWONE kraft spiral bound notebook: amzn.to/3AfcXBp

[@steevkeyes]

I use a medium sized spiral notebook with any of a few favorite pens and mechanical pencils. At the end of the week I scan every page of the notebook with the camera of my smartphone. From there I upload those digital pages onto my laptop project oriented computer directory structure.

[@billricestrategy]

Now that OCR is so good, this is brilliant. Thanks for sharing!

[@sistapam536]

Would it be just as efficient to use 3x5 index cards that can be carried in your Lochby? Maybe perfect bind a top or side edge of a stack of index cards with some glue. Captured autonomous note cards can then be torn from the stack like a notepad and indexed.

[@billricestrategy]

Great idea. I do use index cards, like Ryan Holiday does, in planning out my books. I talk about this briefly in another video. But, this is method is so handy.

[@karibaevulan]

Really good note taking system 😮❤

[@davidchwong]

Can you give us a list of pens you have tried that fit inside the spiral? Particularly Sam mentioned he has the Uniball 0.5 micro but there are many versions with that spec so I cannot tell which model he actually uses.

[@billricestrategy]

Here are my favorites that fit in the spiral pocket notebook: MUJI Gel 0.5 mm: amzn.to/3Z209GQ (These are solid, and I buy them in bulk.) Uniball Gel Pen 0.38 mm UniOne: amzn.to/40XKWsN (This is another regular in my rotation) Parker Jotter XL Ballpoint: amzn.to/3YRRmXS (I love the aesthetic of this matte blackout look) Sharpie Rollerball Pen: amzn.to/3UXaVg3 (For Sharpie lovers) Sharpie Felt Tip: amzn.to/4ggPLlF (I love these) Hopefully, this is helpful.

[@artfulstationer]

I’ve been doing this and not even realizing it was a thing. I have been using an A5 graph notepad while at home or in the office to do this but I think I will try the pocket notebook because it is so much more portable than the A5 I have been using. I started looking for notebooks with ring binding in my stash but only found two reporter style notebooks. I don’t really like ring binding but if this works out, I can overlook that. I have the Lochby journal cover that you have and the two notebooks I have fit perfectly in it. The first one is a Kleid Kraft Work Memo in A7 and the second is a Maruman Mnemosyne 192 notepad that is the same width as the Kleid notebook but is a bit taller. I like these notebook because the paper is fountain pen friendly. So if you want to use your Lochby journal, then maybe pick up one or both of these notebooks. They will even fit into the Lochby Quattro with two full size pens. I am sure other companies make the A7-ish size, like Rhodia (also fountain pen friendly and they usually have a higher page count), so maybe find the one that you like and works for you. Thanks for making this video, this might be what helps me elevate my note taking and idea making skills to the next level.

[@billricestrategy]

I have really been leveraging the tear-out, sort, and capture workflow. This is much more effective than leaving it in an analog system. Even with indexing and careful curation, it is not as effective a retrieval system as processing all of these notes into something like Notion. I'm working on a video to document that workflow soon.

[@ericpfohl]

Great video Bill! Definitely interesting to hear how Sam takes notes, and it doesn't surprise me he carries a pocket notebook. Also was great seeing your index card/notes organized into the various topics. Thanks for sharing!

[@billricestrategy]

@@ericpfohl high praise. I’m working on a few others like this. I love your work and watching your journey.

[@xfilion]

Try an OHTO G501. A good slim pen

[@billricestrategy]

Very nice! I haven't seen this one. I like the sleek look of the CR01, too. I might give these a try. Here are links for anyone who wants to try them with me: OHTO GS01: amzn.to/3ZkryVU OHTO CRO1: amzn.to/3B2tSY0

[@patrickmosby9708]

Can you please add the link to the spiral notebook you are using? It's missing in the video description. Thank you.

[@billricestrategy]

@@patrickmosby9708 Absolutely! Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.

[@CarnivoreChris89]

I can see that this has already been mentioned, but I am writing this for the algorithm also - A link for the spiral notebook, please. ;)

[@billricestrategy]

@@CarnivoreChris89 Absolutely! Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.

[@bthome123]

Do you have any note taking methods for people who never have any ideas?

[@billricestrategy]

@@bthome123 you do. It’s circular. Start capturing and ideas flow. Have faith.

[@Erginartesia]

I hate spirals. But I’m all in on getting the pages I no longer need out of the way. My solution is to tear the corner of the pages I’m done with.

[@sookythehousecat]

I don’t see a link to the notebook you selected to replicate Altman’s technique. Did I miss it?

[@billricestrategy]

@@sookythehousecat Sorry about the oversight. I’m dropping it in the descriptions too, but here it is: amzn.to/3AfcXBp.

[@adrianocosta2112]

Good ideas. 👍🏻. 🇧🇷

[@MorgsBrew]

I would never give up that leather pack for Sams kak idea. Let him throw away his pages, probably not much of interest anyways 😅. Also, he probably doesn't move around much with that horrible ring thing in his pocket. Can't imagine digging a hole with that in my pocket. Just put a moleskin in that leather pack and get going. I am going to make one of those leather magafties for my belt.

[@rob28459]

My understanding is that writing notes down is very important to improve the learning and thinking process but it looks quite unorganised for me. Wait a moment, I wrote it down, ehm, ehm... may on the 4th floor? ^_^

[@billricestrategy]

I think the secret here is to use this as the capture mechanism and then the magic is in the ripping out the individual notes, thinking through them, and organizing them into a more organized system, like Notion (for me). This was a key point for me-too many of my notes are trapped in notebooks, never to be retrieved again.

[@chinpokomaster8844]

nothing stops you from organising your notes.

[@dragonrain3343]

How do you manage your “to-do list” also in your pocket note book or in another system?

[@billricestrategy]

I actually use the Mnemosyne A7 for my tote-do list: amzn.to/4hsU7Hv. I mention this in my 3 notebook system video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZybmH16hJdmhNUsi=hG7yJZjYJqIub9GY. Sometimes , because I have this notebook in hand, I do scribble down my to-do list, but then I immediately rip it out and post it on my desk. I only use a to-do list for one day though. I discard each day and prep a new one for the next day. (Probably another good video to do)

[@BarKeegan]

Like the pen holding aspect. Next global electronic/ data failure, your gonna wish you hadn’t crumpled up and thrown away those valuable hand written notes though 😅

[@michaelmarcal2896]

Apologies, I didn't hear Sam Altman describe what he does with with his torn-out pages, which I think is key. I did hear you describe what you do with your torn-out pages.

[@billricestrategy]

@@michaelmarcal2896 He does talk about typing them out. It seems that he is using some digital means of further refining these notes for larger projects.

[@ananthhh1]

@@billricestrategyno he doesn’t. He just throw them away. He tore those notes so he can lay them all on table and work on them. He takes notes as thinking medium not as a storage medium

[@CaribouDataScience]

Sam forgot the most important thing... You have to hold the pen in you left hand 😮

[@knw-seeker6836]

Did you think about a note taking channel?

[@billricestrategy]

@@knw-seeker6836 I have. We’ll see if I go down that path in the future.

[@markgreen4763]

If you don't care about the "cool gear" then how about a simple pad of paper? No spirals, no extra small pieces of paper caught in the spiral binding, just one end glued. Inexpensive, many sizes etc.

[@billricestrategy]

@@markgreen4763 I think the portability and accessibility is the key. He does say he has spent years coming to this system. Small pads of paper without a sturdy cover could be easily damaged, I think. But, as a wise person once said, “my experience does not necessarily your truth make.”

[@markgreen4763]

@@billricestrategy I was reminded of David Allen's "Getting Things Done" system. He caries a pad in a sturdy cover. Personally, I use Samsung Notes for quick capture. Thank you for the video. I will watch more!

[@billricestrategy]

@ All great ideas. You definitely have to find your preference. The key is capturing, organizing, and using your idea to create amazing things. The mechanisms to do this and exploration is probably just the fun of the process. Thanks for commenting and jumping in with ideas. By the way, I was a fervent user of legal pads for years.

[@jimgrant1776]

It nearly brings tears to my eyes when a see I someone promoting and using a paper/notebook-based system. Do you know that an iPhone will fit it a shirt pocket? How do you people ever find a note that you created over a month ago? Do you know you can create notes by talking to your iPhone? Do you know you can draw something in a note on your iPhone? Yes, some people like the feel of a physical object, but the advantages of using an electronic note taking app far outweigh it.

[@billricestrategy]

@@jimgrant1776 tears of joy? 🥹 You might have missed the process tearing out and organizing for transitioning the important ones to Notion. Definitely different strokes for different folks.

[@mrandisg]

If using your phone works best for you, then that's great! But it's more than just the feel of a physical object for some of us. I have ADHD, which means I get very, very easily distracted by anything and everything, including my own thoughts. My phone is one huge distraction in a little bitty package! If an idea hits me, I need to be able to write it down IMMEDIATELY or it's gone in a heartbeat. How it disappears that fast: Let's say I get an idea. I want to write it down, but the only thing I have on me is my phone. So I take it out of my pocket and...there's a notification on the lock screen. It doesn't matter what the notification says because it's either going to remind me of something else I've forgotten OR prompt me to open the app connected to that notification, which I will do without thinking. Boom. Just like that, the idea's gone. Or let's say there's not a notification, but I unlock the phone and start to go to my notes app. But wait, what was I doing? I've already forgotten why I unlocked my phone. Or if I do remember I was going to write something down, by the time I open the notes app, I've forgotten what I was going to write down because guess what? My list of previous notes pops up, and I see a whole host of other things I've forgotten about. So instead of writing down that idea, I get lost in a sea of other ideas and notes. How a paper notebook helps me: no notifications to distract me. When an idea hits, I can grab the notebook, pull the pen out of the spiral and click it, flip directly to the first blank page by using the handy-dandy sticky tab I've stuck to it, and jot that bitch down. Yay! It didn't get lost! That's because I've set up my notebook for maximum efficiency by putting that sticky tab in place, which allows me to get to a blank page instantly. As for how to go back and find a note I created whenever ago, there are different ways. I could either write the date on the page whenever I write down the note itself. Or I could go back afterwards and transfer that note to another place, whether that's an app on my phone or my computer, another notebook or journal, a planner, a sticky note, whatever. That's not to say I've never lost a note--hell, that happens all the time! Nobody's system is 100% perfect. Things are gonna get lost. My goal in writing it down is to just reduce the likelihood of it getting lost and increase the likelihood of me remembering whatever it is I'm writing down and/or making good use of that information. Now, as for voice notes, yes, those are very cool, and I've tried incorporating that into my note-taking once in awhile. But again, I get very easily distracted, so the likelihood of me remembering what I was going to say by the time I get the app open and hit record is tiny at best. The same goes for drawing something in my phone. There's just too much interference between my brain and what I'm trying to capture when it comes to using the phone. Note-taking apps are very cool, and in fact, I have several I like to use. But when it comes to getting those ideas down in the first place, I have a much better chance of doing it with a simple notebook and pen first than I do by starting with the app itself. Sorry for the long, drawn-out comment. I tend to hyperfixate on KZbin comments! lol But I hope this gives you a different perspective on the whole paper vs. digital notes thing. Bottom line, what works for one person won't work for everyone because we're all different. And like I said, if digital works better for you, that's great, keep doing that! What matters the most is working with your brain, not against it. Have a great day/evening wherever you are!

[@romantum]

why not use a digital tool though? everyone has a smartphone in the pocket.. why add a whole notebook ? really curious..

[@billricestrategy]

@@romantum Great question and probably one of the most common dissenting themes on this video. So, first I would say that just like Sam mentioned in his interview, his process came through years of working and refinement to find his perfect note-taking process. I think everyone should be on that journey because capturing and processing ideas is essential to achieving great things-on this there is no debate. So, the most important part of what I’m doing is trying to fuel you with ideas and examples to shorten your journey to the perfect system. Now, to specifically answer your question. Two of the strongest arguments for analog first are 1. avoiding the inherent distraction in the smartphone, and 2. there is something interesting (at least in my experience) about thinking with pen and paper. Finally, I would conclude with a quote from one of the most creative people of our time, Rick Rubin: “My experience, does not make your truth.” Explore.

[@romantum]

@@billricestrategy good answer, thank you!

[@guilouback]

The thing that stroke me the most is that he seems unable to use a bin at his own house.

[@billricestrategy]

I would agree. Let's hope he was being dramatic. That is my suspicion.

[@TheRem484]

Same.

[@Tim2pointoh]

Sorry.... "writing utensils and appliances " - Pens!

[@billricestrategy]

@@Tim2pointoh probably should have used clearer language. I think the utility of the Lochby over just carrying a naked notebook is being able to load it out with rulers, paper clips, notecards, pens, AND pencils. People tend to like carrying a bunch of stuff to complement their writing game. I enjoy your channel, BTW. Hope this explanation soothes my irritating ramblings.

[@moonstone1159]

Yikes! The guy (Altman) throws his crumpled papers on the floor and leaves them for the housecleaner! I'm sure she/he/they don't appreciate that! Why not throw his trash of crumpled papers in a trash bin? The psychology around that scenario is a bit disturbing. Just saying...

[@somdwi]

Am pretty sure that his notes are worth some monies. Maybe the housekeeper should capitalise on this sort of minor disrespect.

[@billricestrategy]

I agree this is not ideal. I took the value of the process and then manage to crumple up my notes, hit the trash can, and then take them out to the garbage. 😂

[@MonolithMike]

It’s ironic that your avi is a picture of Diana because his statement reminded me of a story about Charles throwing paper on the floor and then ringing staff to come and pitch it in the waste bin next to his feet.

[@BarKeegan]

Speaks volumes

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

I think he was kidding. No need to take his ‘throw away’ comment so literally.

[@aikonoklas]

His house cleaner should sell the crumpled papers in the black market.

[@billricestrategy]

Haha! Selling handwritten Sam Altman ideas. That definitely has street value 😂

[@ebayposhman]

Link for 🗒️ notebook is in description