| Technology is an amazing thing. It has made rapid | | | | direction for growth. |
| advances possible in our society, and it also | | | | Audio books |
| makes it possible for a lot to happen on a | | | | The audio book has been around for some time, |
| personal level. Here are some ideas to use | | | | but with the amazing array of listening devices on |
| technology to fuel your own personal growth. | | | | the market now you can literally carry hundreds |
| Keep a Journal | | | | of titles with you wherever you go. Many audio |
| Sure, you can keep an old-fashioned paper journal. | | | | books will fit onto one MP3 player. |
| It works well, and it has a nostalgic, elegant feel | | | | This gives you the opportunity to listen to |
| to it. Sometimes, you just want a pen in hand. | | | | personal development books, vocational training |
| But there are a lot of benefits to journaling on | | | | materials, and other books focused on growth |
| computer. | | | | and development almost anywhere you go. |
| First, your journal is pretty safe. You're not going | | | | Hours previously wasted on commute, in long |
| to leave it anywhere, no pages will be ripped out, | | | | lines, or in other situations where you must wait |
| and you can't spill anything on it. Regular backups | | | | idly become opportunities to learn and develop as |
| will keep your data safe. Plus, you can password | | | | a person. |
| protect or even encrypt your journal folders and | | | | Recording Devices |
| programs. | | | | Easy access to small recording devices makes it a |
| A journal on the computer also lets you easily add | | | | snap for you to carry and use one of these great |
| pictures, mindmaps and other graphics to help you | | | | inventions. |
| clearly express ideas and remember things. | | | | Have you ever been out and needed to make a |
| Robust search functions make it easy for you to | | | | note of something? A small recording device can |
| find an entry you wrote - even if you don't | | | | let you do just that. |
| remember when you wrote it. | | | | Or, if you have trouble writing but want to work |
| Keeping a journal is a good idea because it helps | | | | on a book, report, or tasks for work, a small |
| you get ideas out of your head. You can sort out | | | | recording device lets you dictate everything you |
| problems and brainstorm easily in a journal. Plus, | | | | want down. |
| it's a convenient record of your life! | | | | In a snap, a cell phone can serve the same |
| Build Ideas with a Mindmap | | | | purpose. Just call and leave yourself a voicemail at |
| Mindmapping software is a great way to build out | | | | home. |
| your ideas and brainstorm. A mindmap is an | | | | Many computers feature voice recognition |
| intuitive outline consisting of connected circles. | | | | software, so you can dictate to your computer |
| Each circle contains an idea. | | | | as well. |
| You begin with a central circle. That circle contains | | | | Let your recording device remember things for |
| your central idea. You shoot new circles off of | | | | you, record your thoughts and brainstorming |
| that idea, branching out as much as needed to | | | | sessions, or make it easier for you to finally get |
| completely outline your thoughts. | | | | that book written. |
| Mind mapping software is powerful because you | | | | This is just a brief overview of how modern |
| can move bubbles around, connecting them to | | | | technology can help you learn and grow - look for |
| different portions of the idea. You can move, | | | | even more opportunities to harness the power of |
| delete, and add as you work through projects | | | | technology for personal development, efficiency, |
| and problems in life. "Seeing" everything in front of | | | | and effectiveness. |
| your gives you clarity and helps you develop | | | | |