Best Reasons To Carry A Notebook

Summary

The speaker passionately advocates for the use of notebooks as a tool for capturing fleeting thoughts and ideas. They share personal experiences that highlight the benefits of carrying a notebook, from enhancing memory retention to sparking engaging conversations in social settings. The video also offers creative and thought-provoking questions to ask strangers, emphasizing the notebook's role in fostering meaningful connections and personal growth.

Takeaways

• 📓 The speaker advocates for carrying a notebook to capture fleeting thoughts and ideas.
• 👕 The habit of carrying a notebook influenced the speaker's wardrobe choices, ensuring there's always a pocket for a notebook.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests notebooks can be used to remember important information and experiences.
• 🎨 Notebooks can serve as interactive spaces where others can write or draw, adding a social element.
• 🗣️ Using a notebook can be a tool for better retention and memory, especially in work settings.
• 🔍 The speaker finds notebooks useful for approaching strangers with open-ended questions, sparking conversations.
• 🤝 Notebooks can be a social icebreaker, helping to start conversations with strangers in a non-threatening way.
• 📝 The speaker shares a list of thought-provoking questions to ask strangers, aiming to elicit a wide range of responses.
• 🔙 Reflecting on past notes can provide insights into personal growth and the evolution of one's thoughts over time.
• 🔍 The video emphasizes the importance of recording information not just for knowledge but also for personal connection and self-reflection.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of carrying a notebook according to the speaker?

The main purpose of carrying a notebook, as mentioned in the script, is to capture fleeting thoughts, log experiences, and record useful information and ideas.

Why does the speaker believe that having a notebook can change one's wardrobe?

The speaker suggests that carrying a notebook can change one's wardrobe because every shirt now has to have a pocket to store the notebook, indicating a preference for practicality and accessibility.

What is the term the speaker uses for thoughts that are quickly forgotten?

The speaker uses the term 'fleeters' to refer to thoughts that are quickly forgotten if not captured immediately.

Why does the speaker prefer small notebooks over traditional ones?

The speaker prefers small notebooks because they are easy to carry around and can be quickly accessed from the pocket, allowing for immediate note-taking.

How does the speaker suggest using a notebook to engage with others?

The speaker suggests using a notebook to engage with others by having them write or draw in it, creating an interactive experience that can lead to deeper connections.

What is the advantage of carrying a notebook in social settings according to the speaker?

In social settings, carrying a notebook can be a non-threatening way to approach strangers by asking them questions and having them write or draw their responses in the notebook.

What type of questions does the speaker recommend asking strangers to start a conversation?

The speaker recommends asking open-ended questions that can elicit a wide range of answers and are not yes-or-no questions, as they can lead to more engaging and revealing conversations.

Why does the speaker avoid yes-or-no questions when approaching strangers?

The speaker avoids yes-or-no questions because they can be limiting and do not provide the opportunity for a wide range of responses, which is essential for engaging conversations.

What is the significance of the 'desired cause of death' question according to the speaker?

The 'desired cause of death' question is significant because it can elicit a wide range of answers and can quickly reveal something about a person's personality or outlook on life.

How does the speaker use notebooks to reflect on personal growth and experiences?

The speaker uses notebooks to look back on past experiences, remember where they were, and how they have grown, by reading through the notes and reflections they have recorded over time.

What is the speaker's final recommendation regarding carrying a notebook?

The speaker's final recommendation is that carrying a notebook can improve one's life by helping to connect with others, one's future self, and one's past self, as well as capturing important information and knowledge.

Outlines

00:00

📓 The Benefits of Carrying a Notebook

The speaker introduces the topic of carrying a notebook and its benefits, which they discovered during college. They explain how a notebook can capture fleeting thoughts and important information, transforming from a simple tool to a log for experiences and memories. The speaker also discusses practical aspects, such as the ease of carrying small notebooks with pockets designed for them, and the social advantages of having a notebook, including sparking conversations and interactions with others through writing and drawing.

05:00

🗣️ Engaging Conversations with Notebook Prompts

This paragraph delves into the use of notebooks to facilitate engaging conversations, especially in social settings. The speaker shares a collection of thought-provoking and sometimes controversial questions that can be used to approach strangers and initiate dialogue. The questions range from light-hearted inquiries about hypothetical situations to more personal topics, aiming to reveal something about the person's character or beliefs without being too intrusive. The speaker emphasizes the value of these interactions for personal growth and reflection, as well as for capturing memories and insights.

Keywords

💡notebook

A notebook is a book with blank pages used for writing or drawing by hand. In the context of the video, the speaker uses a notebook as a tool for capturing fleeting thoughts, logging experiences, and recording information. It becomes an essential part of their daily life, to the point where their wardrobe is influenced by the need to carry a notebook at all times.

💡fleeting thoughts

Fleeting thoughts refer to ideas or insights that come to mind briefly and are easily forgotten if not recorded. The speaker emphasizes the importance of capturing these thoughts in a notebook to prevent them from being lost, which is central to the video's theme of memory and creativity.

💡retention

Retention in this context refers to the ability to remember information over time. The speaker suggests that writing down information in a notebook can aid in retention, as it provides a physical record of what was discussed or learned, which can be referred to later.

💡pocket

A pocket in the video script refers to a specific part of clothing designed to hold small items, such as a notebook. The speaker mentions that their choice of clothing now includes a preference for items with pockets suitable for carrying a notebook, illustrating the notebook's significance in their daily routine.

💡interactive art

Interactive art is a form of artistic expression that encourages the audience to participate in the creation or experience of the artwork. The speaker mentions that allowing others to write or draw in one's notebook creates an interactive art experience, fostering social connections and shared creativity.

💡social settings

Social settings are environments where people interact with each other, such as parties or gatherings. The speaker discusses using a notebook in social settings to approach strangers by asking questions, which serves as a conversation starter and a means to connect with others.

💡questions

In the video, questions are used as a tool for initiating conversations and understanding others. The speaker shares examples of thought-provoking and open-ended questions that they have used to engage with strangers, demonstrating the notebook's role in facilitating social interactions.

💡spirit texture

The concept of 'spirit texture' is a playful and imaginative twist on the idea of a 'spirit animal.' It asks individuals to associate themselves with a texture, which can be a fun and unique way to explore one's personality or character traits. This is an example of the creative questions the speaker uses to spark interesting conversations.

💡outlaw

To outlaw something means to make it illegal. In the script, the speaker uses the term in the context of a hypothetical question about whether people would outlaw carpet, which is an example of the type of unconventional questions they suggest asking to provoke thought and discussion.

💡first born son

The speaker includes a question about what one would name their first-born son as an example of the types of questions that can lead to amusing and unexpected responses. This question is part of the video's exploration of how notebooks can be used to capture diverse perspectives and ideas.

💡water smell

The question 'What does water smell like?' is used in the video as an example of a question that can lead to a deeper exploration of sensory experiences and perceptions. It illustrates the speaker's point that notebooks can be a tool for recording and reflecting on the subtleties of life.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of carrying a notebook for capturing fleeting thoughts and ideas.

Personal experience with notebooks starting in college and their impact on wardrobe choices.

The practicality of small notebooks with pockets for easy access and storage.

The social aspect of having a notebook, sparking curiosity and conversation.

Using notebooks to improve retention of information and ideas in professional settings.

Encouraging others to write or draw in your notebook for a collaborative and interactive experience.

Strategies for approaching strangers with open-ended questions using the notebook.

The importance of avoiding yes or no questions for more engaging conversations.

Examples of intriguing questions to ask, such as 'If ghosts were real, what would they sound like?'

The use of notebooks for self-reflection and tracking personal growth over time.

The value of notebooks in remembering past events and the people involved.

The idea of using notebooks to connect with your future and past self.

The motivational aspect of the video to encourage viewers to carry a notebook.

The humorous approach to questioning, such as 'What does water smell like?'

The suggestion that notebooks can improve one's life by capturing knowledge and experiences.

The call to action for viewers to fill their notebooks faster to enhance their lives.

Closing remarks and thanks for watching the video.

Transcripts

i'll just take these

i'll be back i'll be back

okay hello i'm ready to begin

um

here are

these are a bunch of notebooks

i was thinking i would just start

recording

holding them all you know and it would

just

it would just come you know

in and then i would there would be the

video you know but

that's not gonna work that's

okay i'm making one of these videos

where you talk to the camera and you and

you got the microphone and you got the

lights and this is making one of these

now um

i'm talking about

carrying around a notebook versus

not and why i think you should or you

could if you wanted to

[Music]

hello i'm trying this again carrying out

a notebook is something i started

in college it became something that i

really enjoyed doing and i'd like to

tell you a little bit more about why i

enjoyed it and why i think you might

enjoy it as well so to start

you know you have a thought that pops

into your head

you you get distracted something happens

that thought is gone that is what i

would call a

oh no

fleeter

fleeter

fleeter

so you can't let the fleeters fleet is

my that's my belief um so this notebook

started as a way to

capture those fleeting thoughts then it

you know progresses to being a way to

you know capture other information and

ideas

that one's not even full becomes a way

to you know log experiences things you

want to remember you know

i don't need to tell you why having a

notebook is useful

well actually i do that was what i said

i was going to do in this vid i don't

know when i started carrying around

these notebooks i think it was

mid-college and basically

my wardrobe totally changed you know

pretty much every shirt now has to have

some kind of you got it

gotta store the notebook in the

notebook

the box

notebook pocket you see right here we

actually have a

pocket on the notebook

so you see it just you just

um

maybe saying you know why these small

little baby notebooks why not get a real

traditional you know notebook and i'd

say just shh because the pockets you

just want to

pop it in there pop it out you know and

everyone's noticed you got it in there

so like they're already like

why does he have a notebook you know if

you got a notebook in that pocket it's

like

what's it got in that notebook so

already a little mystery going on so

somebody's telling you something at work

you're trying to look like you're paying

attention you're listening to them

you're understanding you're trying to

remember what they're saying because

obviously retention retention's a tough

thing nowadays

what do you do you whip out the notebook

you know just just anything they're

saying that might be useful to you later

maybe you write it down maybe you'll

remember it doesn't matter you got it on

the notebook only definitely definitely

better than just trying to get it in

your head so another actually thing

is you can have people write in your

notebook they can draw they can do all

kinds of fun stuff

everybody loves

interactive art

et cetera

it's just like did my handwriting get

worse

another reason why it's really fun to

carry on a notebook is in social

settings when normally i would have

trouble approaching a stranger how do

you approach a stranger right in a

non-threatening non-creepy way you know

the best i came up with or one of my

favorite ways to do it that i had a lot

of success with a lot of fun times with

was questions not necessarily good

questions questions that you would

really get a wide range of answers you

never knew what was coming if you had a

question with an easy answer or with a

uh

controversial whatever you know

you're kind of going to miss the mark

with that because anytime anybody's

answering a question if it's at all

relevant to them

and they're at all interested in you

know what you what you're presenting

they're going to want to you know expand

or you have the easy chance to expand

i'm just going to just right into some

of my favorite questions give you kind

of an idea of what you're looking for in

this question you're going to hopefully

be you know want to ask a stranger or

somebody

you haven't met yet

that that almost sounded good okay uh

here's a good question right here if it

goes were real what would they sound

like

so that was kind of a an interesting

question because it does

kind of get a little controversial you

know asking them you know do you think

ghosts are real i'm saying they're not

you know so that you got that avenue and

then you have the chance to you know

make sounds so that's an also a good

example of question where you can very

quickly tell

what's going on with a person you know

if their answer is like

the ghosts don't talk goes just talk

like normal like some kind of very

straightforward answer like maybe that

person doesn't have the the the energy

or intensity that you're you're looking

for

oh okay this is one of my favorites it

says what is your desired cause of death

and so that one you get a really wide

spread of answers once again it's kind

of the warning answer red flag of an

answer they're going to say in my sleep

you know if they're given that answer

you know that's that's got to indicate

something to someone

here's a here's another uh maybe a

little bit more controversial one maybe

you want to avoid this it just says are

mountains overrated so obviously

you know you're around an outdoors kind

of type group people are going to be

either like

totally overrated or very you know why

did you ask me that question who are you

so that's why i kind of stepped away

from

any yes or no because he gets no

question unless it's really

split it's kind of risky so we'll just

yeah don't worry about it yes no

question

have a question here um if you could

pose with any animal what animal would

you pose with here's a really one of my

favorite questions what is your spirit

texture kind of a spin on the spirit

animal

except way more confusing but you i mean

a texture is a very

you know

fundamental thing so that's a you know

you're because you're essentially you're

trying to get

somebody to reveal something about

themselves in a way that you know is

entertaining to them to you to everyone

around

without being

forced so i think

having a very light-hearted but not

you know dumb question

i mean these are all pretty dumb but not

that dumb

you know without that that could be the

way forward oh okay here we go good

question right here

it is a yes no so this is before i

departed from the yes no uh question is

would you outlaw carpet

people obviously have been hurt by

carpet people also love carpet

who knows

ooh this was a tough one

would be a name for your first born son

so i had a lot of really really

challenging uh

names people are suggesting you know i

guess that would be a kind of on the

dumb threshold this is the question i

was looking for what does water smell

like some of you thinking

you know but then you're thinking

but then you're thinking

you know so that's kind of the the

atmosphere the energy that we're trying

to present with these questions where

it's kind of a mix of

deep not that deep really not that deep

um

so really fulfilling it's cool also

looking back on these notebooks because

you can kind of remember this was at

that that party at that bar at that

situation

you know but also just kind of like

who wrote this you know why did i write

this

if the more of those you're having you

know

you're able to see where you've come

from how you're growing so you made it

this far you're thinking why

why you know and the answer is the same

answer you know why not but just circle

back around you know why i'm making this

video because i think it would improve

your life to be carrying around some

kind of paper-bound

tool for recording things to improve

your ability to connect with other

people connect with your future self

connect with your

past self

capture not information knowledge and i

don't even know how long i've been

talking for but i think

i think i need to start filling these up

faster you know

thanks for watching

thank you for watching this video