The Journey #1 - You should keep a diary.

As I recall some of the best students that I got my notes photocopied from and some of the most effective managers and leaders I worked with, I am reminiscing what makes them effective. They share one common habit: they are never without a notebook and a pen. The toppers even carry highlighters of many shades ☺. What to use the notebook for? Let's discuss.

To-Do Lists: 

A simple date-wise list of tasks to be done. If there are three sub-tasks to a given task, then write it down as three separate list items.

Strike out the completed item.

Cross out the redundant ones.

There are ones you want to delegate. Write the delegation note next to it and cross it while the person being assigned has acknowledged it. Make another list item: track the delegated task.

This is a simple approach. And must be kept simple. Just this would do.

People List:

This one is also an observation. If you are in a people management role, talk to them often. Personally, or professionally. Write down the main points that you draw from this conversation. Maybe he likes music, or she is having a crisis due to some family issues, or the IT team just won't get the ticket closed, whatever that may be. Something, you heard about the person from the grapevine, whatever, just write that down on the page assigned for that person. 

Don't forget to write the birthday, or anniversary or their children's names also.

Note-taking

For effectively taking notes on any concept that you want to learn, using the following structure could prove to be a great help.

Split the page into three parts:

• Heading and concepts covered
• List of terms that would be used
• Detailed Notes

I'll say I have used the TOC, meta tags, and content writing aspects of my own experience here. The same concept can be reused while approaching taking notes. When the course is complete, it makes for easy recall and works well with mental learning models.

Personal Journal

Well, you must write. Write you must. One paragraph or two. Each day. Your triumphs, disappointments, goals - missed achieved or yet in the mental world, your mistakes and what you would gloat, what you would rather forget, what you want to be for your child, your friends or the world. Anything and everything. Or just a doodle or a sketch.

Only one rule: Do it daily.

Understanding Chunking, Ordering, and Parallelism

I love tea. Let's make two cups and share them together. Now, the trouble is I like to drink it but don't know how to make it. Let me ask my mother, whom I usually trouble to make me tens of cups daily. And write down its recipe.

Ingredients

• One cup of milk
• Ginger (1 inch) - Optional
• Water (1.5 cups)
• Sugar (1tsp)
• 1 tsp of tea leaves
• Cardamom (Two) -Optional

Recipe

1. Boil water.
2. Water should be steaming hot when you put the tea leaves. Wait for two minutes.
3. Nice smell starts to reach your nose. It is time to put in a little sugar.
4. Add milk.
5. Want your tea strong? Beat up ginger and cardamon, as if they are your enemies.
6. Let it simmer. After the color is dark, alternately turn the flame up and down for two-three boils.
7. Strain it using a sieve. 
8. Let's sit together with our cups and start our conversations.

You may find your tasty but there is something very distasteful about this writing if the buddy you are having your tea with happens to be a technical writer.

Let's give our recipe to him for review. 

Ingredients

• Water (1.5 cups)
• Milk (1cup)
• Tea leaves (1tsp)
• Sugar (1tsp)

• Ginger (1 inch) - Optional
• Cardamon (Two) - Optional

Recipe

1. Boil water.
2. Put the tea leaves when the water starts to steam. Wait for two minutes.
3. Put sugar.
4. Add milk.
5. Beat the ginger and cardamom and put it in boiling tea.
6. Let it simmer. After the color is dark, alternately turn the flame up and down for two-three boils.
7. Strain the tea using a sieve. 

Please note the order in the unnumbered list. The order is said to be immaterial for an unnumbered list, but why change it here?

Also, note the line spacing between two sets of ingredients? Why the separation here?

The quantities of the ingredients are mentioned in a specific manner too.

And the Recipe, what structure do you see? Does it seem someone is instructing you in a direct manner? How is it so?

Think about it. The terms will become clearer.

Don't forget the leading line when you write your lists and procedures. I was lazy, I didn't have my tea. Got cold while I was writing the post.

A short story

 A short story that'll make you laugh and cry at the same time

A man was on his deathbed. His wife was dressed all in white, without any make-up. Obviously, she was grieving.

The husband asked her to get dressed up in the finest bridal, the way she was when they got married.

The wife replied that I am this way out of respect for you.  It is the most difficult time. How can you ask me for this unusual request. Have you lost your mind? What will people say?

To this the husband said: I am asking you to do this for me only. Don't think I am getting romantic. It's my only hope at surviving. When Yamaraj, the God of Death, comes and sees the beautiful you, I just hope he takes you instead of me.

The wife opened her mouth. The husband was about to get an earful. Then she stopped, smiled. The husband heartily laughed. Then closed his eyes forever. Then, she cried. He was laughing as his body kept still.

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I heard one joke and formed a story around it. Tell me if you like it.