Capturing Thoughts

I get it, you don’t come to me for product reviews. Last week’s edition was an anomaly. I had the idea for the article back in April and decided to use it to kick off “New You” November. Analog planners are an interest of mine and it seemed like a good way to share the interest with others. And for me, once an idea plants itself in my mind, at some point I have to get it out. Sometimes it is written words, other times code, and even a drawing or design. But once it’s out, I can evaluate it and decide whether it needs more time or can fall into the archives.

Getting an idea out of your head and onto paper (digital or real) is a key part of growth. What you choose to do with it next is up to you. Not everything we write needs to be published for others. A private journal of ideas, a voice recorder with captured thoughts, a whiteboard with your upcoming plans are all great opportunities to capture what’s on your mind. You get the chance to decide what more is needed to make it ready for the world. Journaling, whiteboarding, and sketching can capture the quick thought and give you the space to make it great.

Another way this can lead to growth is when you decide to tell your own story. Writing out your accomplishments and your failures, reflecting on all the twists and turns leading you to today, and capturing the path you took can help you both understand what’s next and also let others know more about who you are. (If you want to share it.) It can be a “voyage of self-discovery” as you may even turn up things which felt inconsequential at the time, but now you realize they were key milestones in what you’d later become.

Telling my story is what kicked off much of my own crazy journey here on LinkedIn. A few years ago on a July afternoon, I shared my career pivots from technology to law and back to technology (landing in cybersecurity). I don’t know what motivated me to put it down and share it, but I woke up the next morning to hundreds of reactions and comments from around the world. A stray post went “LinkedIn viral” and motivated me to figure out why. Years later, I still haven’t figured that one out, but I have shared many thoughts with all of you along the way.

See that original post here.

Getting your ideas out of the mind and into the world lets the good ones grow and bloom. They can connect you with others who can help with their success. Growing your ideas is a key part of growing yourself. It’s also important to remember you don’t have just one audience. Your colleagues, friends, and family each may have their own perspective on what you share. Finding different ways to reach these different audiences is important as well. Repeating the same message to the same audience risks creating an echo chamber. Inside, everything sounds fine, but if you look outside, you realize you’re no longer growing.

A great example of this is a science-fiction short story I recently “soft” published. My newsletter subscribers don’t come here for product reviews, and they don’t come here for fiction. It was a story idea which I had to get from mind to paper. And then it stayed there for a year or so. I realized last month it was time to finish the edits and put it into the world. I don’t really have a place to publish it right now, so I just added it to my Substack, but didn’t send it to the subscribers. Instead, I mentioned it to a few people, and will tie it back to a relevant AI-themed article in the near future.

Want to read my short story Tech Everlasting? Click here.

To grow a better you, capturing your thoughts is essential. Sharing them is not. Knowing your story is important as well. Whatever techniques work for you, use them to help record what’s in your mind and memories. Share the ones you’re comfortable sharing. Shelve the ones you want to come back to later (or never). Open up your idea journal and flip through it for inspiration. Add new ideas or add to old ideas. Whether you do this for yourself or for sharing, getting an idea out of your head and into some corner of the world will only make you better.

And that’s an idea we should all take note of.

What thoughts do you want to capture today?

Week In Review

We've just wrapped up week two of "You New" November! How is it going for you? Are you ready to plan out your success in Q1 2025? This past week included many posts on ways you can improve and ways you can grow. Check them out, vote in the polls, and share your own thoughts!

• A lawyer, a technologist, and a cybersecurity professional walks into a bar.
• Mentors can help you find your New You.
• Curiosity is critical to growth
• Imposter Syndrome
• Networking should be part of your personal growth plan.
• Sometimes you need a new choir.

I'm looking forward to the conversation!

In Conclusion

I hope you're enjoying the "New You" November theme, even if it kicked off with a product review article. There's plenty more to explore together as we grow and become our better selves!

On the theme of "new you", if you are looking for a new job and want to be in the job seeker spotlight, the You Just Found ME?? job seeker spotlight is free to all jobseekers! Send me a note!

As I'm growing my business, I'm looking at how to engage with private equity firms, law firms, and start-ups facing their next challenge - so if you're connected to any of these worlds, let's chat soon! I also offer referral bonuses to any work you bring me through Mirability, LLC - if you're interested. If there's anything I can help you with, I'd love to hear about it.

I hope this coming week is exactly what you need it to be!

Thanks, as always!

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About Erik

Erik Boemanns is a technology executive and lawyer. His background covers many aspects of technology, from infrastructure to software development. He combines this with a "second career" as a lawyer into a world of cybersecurity, governance, risk, compliance, and privacy (GRC-P). His time in a variety of companies, industries, and careers brings a unique perspective on leadership, helping, technology problem solving and implementing compliance.

He's available to help you with any of this now too!