The Road to Success Is Paved in White
Recently, I did something I should have done at least ten years ago. See, all my life I’ve had ideas – big ideas – but nowhere to put them. Sure, I write them down on Starbucks napkins or backs of envelopes, but sometimes my ideas are bigger than that. They need room to breathe and grow. They can’t be captured on a 4” x 4” square. They can’t be fully explored with just a black Bic pen.
And how many times have I accidentally wadded up gum in one of my million dollar ideas? Too many times to count, I’m afraid. Shoved into the deepest recesses of my book bag, these ideas withered and died. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.
What these ideas needed all along was a white board.
So a few weeks ago, I braved the back-to-school crowds and took the first step toward fulfilling my destiny as an Ideas Woman. It’s only been a short time, but I already feel like a different person – organized, productive, visionary.
I can tell already that I need a much bigger whiteboard, maybe wall-sized. And I also need at least a dozen different colored markers that are scented, because in order to come up with the truly big ideas, you have to engage all the senses. In fact, my next big idea might be to create scented AND flavored markers. Write that down!
Actually, I’m not quite ready to present my other next big idea yet, but I will tell you that it has to do with how annoying most people are. I guess it’s more of a big theory than a big idea, but this whiteboard doesn’t judge. The most important thing to remember about white-boarding is that you shouldn’t lock yourself into a rigid set of rules – ideas, theories, concepts, philosophies, goals – all will be welcome on my white board.
I suspect that the white board is going to become an important part of my life moving forward, and will help lead me to personal and professional success beyond my wildest imagination. I mean, in just this short time, I’ve already witnessed one of my big ideas come to fruition. Nothing can stop me now. Nothing.
Filed under: General on September 7th, 2007
September 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
I’m a big fan of the white board. Curiously, though, at the institution of higher learning at which I currently research stuff, many of the professors still insist upon using chalk boards. So, a couple times a month, you can see the ‘chalkies’ and the ‘whiteys’ standing on opposite ends of the hallway in our building, snapping their fingers at each other in rhythm, and preparing to shed blood, despite the fact that violence just isn’t the answer.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
I’m a big fan of the white board. Curiously, though, at the institution of higher learning at which I currently research stuff, many of the professors still insist upon using chalk boards. So, a couple times a month, you can see the ‘chalkies’ and the ‘whiteys’ standing on opposite ends of the hallway in our building, snapping their fingers at each other in rhythm, and preparing to shed blood, despite the fact that violence just isn’t the answer.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:10 am
LMAO!
Wow! And it didn’t take long for that checkmark to get there! Good job! Next idea on the list…get rid of that rabbit head!!! AAAAAAAAAACK!
September 7th, 2007 at 12:36 am
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
No need to go any further!
September 7th, 2007 at 1:25 am
what a coincidence! i suspect that the water board is going to become an important part of my life moving forward!
September 7th, 2007 at 6:22 am
So, before you had the whiteboard, how did you go about reminding yourself that you needed a whiteboard?
September 7th, 2007 at 8:17 am
sir: boy, boy, crazy boy. just play it cool, boy! reeeeeal cool.
chase: methinks the lady doth protest too much. you love the rabbit and you know it! it’s settled – i’m bringing back sometimes rabbit!
dave2: it’s true – i could end my career as an ideas woman right now on top – having accomplished 100% of my goals. hmmm…
brandon: sometimes you scare me. let’s have drinks!
kapgar: 10 napkins taped together.
September 7th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Oh that is so much better than a stupid Franklin Planner ANY day.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:47 am
I learned the hard way that when you write a “to do” item on a dry erase board and then leave it there for 10 months, it is no longer dry-erasable. It just sits there, still undone, mocking you.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
You can also use it to play Pictionary. It makes the game seem more like Win, Lose or Draw without Burt Convy.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
My boss makes me keep a white board updated for projects at work, but I’d love to have one at home.
Of course, I’d have to remember to use it.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I’m writing a book called “Imaginary Things I’m Gonna Do”. Item #1: Write a book called “Imaginary Things I’m Gonna Do”.
September 8th, 2007 at 7:00 am
miss britt: oooh – we *hates* franklin planner!
cheryl: the white board can be a cruel master, i won’t deny it.
churlita: that was seriously one of my favorite game shows EVER! i need to host a party!
ajooja: put it in the middle of your living room, like i did. it’s hard to miss.
sarge: i just wrote this on my white board: “buy sarge’s imaginary book.” now you have to write it.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
So critical to a person’s success. I mean, it’s how Google started…