A Story About a Note-Taking Fail

I have been something of an insane note-taker forever.

My combination of chicken-scratch handwriting and bizarre methodology means that my notes are meaningless to anyone other than me, but I could go back later, and the notes would be enough to jog my memory.

Immediately after any meeting, I would add any follow-up items to my to-do list (Todoist is my favorite).

• Decisions made would be documented in a project management tool or email
• Information about customers would go into a CRM.
• The notes mostly captured the spirit of the meeting, the order in which information was discussed
• Sometimes a word or two that indicated my own feelings on the topic (like “great news!” or “headdesk”)

When I was moved into a management role years ago, it became more important to capture details about meetings — both with my co-executives and the team that reported to me. I hadn’t been in the habit of saving notebooks for long after they were filled, but my new responsibilities often came with scenarios where I had to go back and refer to my notes later. I tried to transcribe my notes into something more meaningful, so I could still toss my notebook, but it was far too time-consuming.

Instead, I started using Rocketbook. I would write my notes on the reusable pages, and scan the pages with the Rocketbook app on my phone. Save the pages to OneNote along with meeting details (date/time/attendees). Wipe the pages clean and start over.

Then earlier this year, I decided to embark on a new career path. I left the world of product management and entered the worlds of content marketing and journalism. I came well-equipped with the organizational skills to absorb a lot of new information, including my note-taking habits.

However, through this career shift, I was exposed to something new, something that I didn’t even know existed: transcripts. Mind. Blown. I literally had no idea that I could take an audio recording and have a transcript automatically created.

I saw the obvious benefits. I could ensure that any quotes were accurate. I could be more attentive during the meeting and less attentive to my note-taking.

Then I was in a meeting with a marketing strategist, immediately prior to a client meeting. I agreed to do some research on three topics. I wrote them down. The meeting wasn’t recorded because it was just a quick sync.

A few days later, I sat down to start my research…. and could NOT find my notes. They weren’t in my Rocketbook. They weren’t a little paper notebook I keep by my computer in case I need to jot down things I don’t intend to save. I even dug through my trash, wondering if somehow I had written down these three things on another piece of paper by mistake. Nothing.

I had to admit to the strategist that I had misplaced my notes. It felt awful to say this since I have prided myself on my note-taking for so long. I tried to make a joke, offering up that maybe one of my kids stole my notes (kind of like “the dog ate my homework” excuse) because I was so perplexed. Yet, the lost notes were solely my problem.

It ended up not being a big deal — we put our heads together and figured out my next steps in the research. But it made me think about how I have fallen away from my note-taking ever since I was introduced to transcripts.

Now I use a transcript tool with every meeting (one that auto-joins all video calls). Even the smallest details are captured.

And even if I end up needing nothing from the meeting — like a virtual chat? I can turn some of the conversations into my own social posts later. No reason to let that beautiful transcript go to waste.

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