Organizing for Change

Note: This was originally published on my Patreon page as a members-only discussion and is now being shared in the new year. I also did a follow-up video that you can access below: Well, it’s Officially been one week since I received and opened the Supernote A5X2 Manta. You can see my unboxing video above. I have to admit that the device has been a joy to use so far. My content came over seamlessly from my A5X and the writing feel is almost identical. As a heavy user of the Supernote platform, I want to share my first thoughts after one week of use. We will start with the opportunities and move on to improvements. Opportunities Software Consistency - This is something that is easily fixed. I know that in the lead up to the Manta release, Ratta was releasing software updates direct, without first doing beta releases. While I understand the pressure to just "get it done," I think that came at a price. Here are just a few things that are currently not consistent:   Touch Input  ...

Editors Note: As mentioned in the introduction, this was written as part of the creation of a video on the same topic. Additionally, the bulk of the writing was done completely on the Supernote, as mentioned. Unfortunately, it did take more time for this initial use than I feel it would as you continued to work with the process. I am also aware that my conclusion section may seem overly long, but at the same time, I really got into the flow of writing with the keyboard in that section. I do really appreciate the approach of the Supernote team regarding writing in Word. This entire blog is going to be written in the Supernote with native word document format. While this may seem like a crazy workflow, you will notice that it does take on different characteristics and the advantage over reMarkable and other platforms is that whatever I do on my A5X is immediately available in Word on my PC. We will discuss all three ways to write on the Supernote, clean it up in Word by opening from the...

This is probably one of the biggest questions I get asked. So, why don't I use a planner? I know that I have talked about some of these reasons before, but let's dive a little more deeply into it. Before doing so, please understand that I am in no way minimizing or looking to say that planners are not useful for a whole lot of people, including my lovely wife. However, I just feel that they keep me from working the way I want and need to, keeping me from being the most successful version of myself. You may be asking why something designed to be efficient could be inefficient for someone. That’s a great question, and not easily answered. As with most things related to productivity, there is nuance. I know everyone wants straightforward solutions, but generally those are as elusive as things that promise to be too good to be true. For example, even though I don't use a planner, I do plan extensively. I use my Google Tasks heavily. I also use the Supernote ToDo function ...

In this very short post, I wanted to think through the Rocketbook and how it may have been underrated as a technology. I have been planning to revisit how this particular blending of paper and digital technology works, but it seems I have an even better reason to consider this with the rise of new “smart pens” that seem to be looking to compete with the e-ink market. I find this whole concept very interesting. Alright, enough of an intro. Below, you will find my initial reaction created completely on my Rocketbook . Let me know your thoughts. If you want to see the whole process of how this article was created and drafted, you can visit my Patreon site here:  https://www.patreon.com/OrganizingforChange?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Rocketbook Export (Edited Text Below) I recently saw Kit Betts-Masters review the Newyes Sync Pen and began thinking about the Rocketbook again. After all, this was the first digital technology (or quasi-digital at least) that I ever reviewed. So...

  What is AI? I Mean Really? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the the buzzword of the day. It seems like you can't go a minute without hearing someone talk about, read a news story about, or encounter another example of AI as good or evil. That being said, I feel all of these conversations are valuable, and quite frankly necessary.  It is about more than some theoretical conversation, these tools are here and must be acknowledged. Unfortunately, many see AI as a silver bullet, shortcut, or quick fix. The truth is that it is an extremely powerful and capable tool, but just that, a tool. The issue arises in that most tools can't really do any harm without assistance. Usually, it is the human that makes the mistake in using the tool. I know, many of you are saying that is still the case with AI. I would argue that it both is and isn’t. Let's look at an example of what I mean. A lot of people have been comparing AI to various other productivity or organization tools, such ...

After the initial livestream with the E -Team, I began thinking a lot about where this journey (YouTube, Blog, Patreon, Discord) started and where it might go. Don't get me wrong, there is no vision on my part of this being a primary source of income or even a significant one. However, I am curious to see what the potential is and explore the possibilities. I posted my first video, a trailer, on December 10, 2023. It's hard to believe that in those ten months over 1,400 people have subscribed to my YouTube channel. Quite frankly, I wasn't even sure that monetization was ever in my future. This whole thing started as a hobby to share information and learn a new useful set of skills. As a full-time staff member in higher education and adjunct instructor, I work online a lot. I teach face to face, online, and hybrid courses facilitated with technology on a constant basis. Not to mention the other roles that come with leading a teaching and learning center, such as: Profess...

I am asked all the time about open-source programs, resources, and other free alternatives for things that can be prohibitively expensive. Don't get me wrong, sometimes there are easy answers. Big companies will offer generous discounts to educational institutions, non-profit organizations and even individual educators. However, as we also know, sometimes, there is a significant barrier when talking about access to knowledge. Let's step back for a minute and think about what is necessary versus what is desired. Of course, "free" always sounds better and seems more desirable. However, what does free really mean? After all, most of us understand that there is some inherent cost to everything. The real question is more about who is paying that cost and what are we willing to accept? Below, we will explore three primary sources of "free" resources and talk about the implications and tradeoffs involved. For our purposes, we will look at publicly available r...

Just recently, I achieved a milestone that was not even initially a goal when starting my YouTube Channel . After all, I was not a professional video editor. I had no background in YouTube or video production, other than working in the educational space with recorded lectures, instructional design, and educational technologies. Beyond wanting to develop my skill set and as a hobby, I thought YouTube and blogging might be a good way to share some useful information for professionals looking to better organize their time and work lives. Again, I had no idea that this might be something people would really subscribe to. I was really inspired to try this by several people in the e-ink space when I was researching my eventual purchase of the Supernote . Right before turning 50 in December of last year, I decided to jump in and try to create something. Admittedly, my first few videos were rough, and not something I feel was my best work. I started with a 4K document camera that doubled as my...

Welcome to our final installment on three years with the Supernote A5X. This particular post will look at some of the most important enhancements that have happened since I purchased the device. Hopefully, the other two posts have given you an idea of why I chose Supernote as my platform, how I use it, and a glimpse of why I continue to do so. As a long-term owner of this piece of technology, hopefully this is a perspective you have found useful The image above is not an over exaggeration as to the the updates, new features, improvements, and functions that have happened in that span of time. However, we will only be looking at new features here, and why I believe they represent something important. While I understand that this is a long post, I promise that you will find the information useful if you stick with me until the end. If you want the TLDR, you can skip to the comments sections, but you may regret missing something important.  2021 Additions April 26 Added date format op...

Welcome to our second article in the series examining my first 3 years with the Supernote A5X. After making the decision to purchase the device, I was very impatient and tracked it through DHL multiple times a day. Luckily, it arrived earlier than expected. Now that I had the A5X, it was time to get started. Below are some things to consider and how I incorporated the device into my workflow.  Don't Let it Sit Probably one of the best pieces of advice I can give after buying a new piece of technology is to  use it!  I know this may seem obvious, but think about it. How many times have we gotten a new gadget and been all excited, only to end up getting frustrated and putting it on a shelf or in a drawer? That would be the biggest mistake you can make if you feel like you made the purchase for the right reasons .  When I first got the Supernote, I started writing with it right away. Luckily, it arrived over a weekend and I was able to play around with the features, get...

  I have talked a lot about the Supernote lately. This is not because Ratta was nice enough to provide me with a new A6X2 or because I consider myself to be a true "Tech reviewer," quite the opposite. I am focused on organization and how that impacts me, and those around me. I chose Supernote as a platform for specific organization-related reasons. Don't get me wrong, I admit that A6X2-specific content was created because I have one, and I appreciate Ratta providing it. However, my videos and articles are not just device reviews, and the content is more about the ecosystem than the device itself (with the caveat of unique features like side loading). It is my hope that most of what I cover would transfer across platforms and devices to help as many people as possible find their own organizational style. All of this said, I do want to spend some time again talking about areas of improvement for the Supernote platform as a productivity tool. Some of these have been cove...

  I have been using the A6X2 for two weeks now as my primary device at work for note-taking, meeting notes, and some classroom planning. I have also used it for reading and writing for classes. Below, we will talk a little more about each of these uses. Notetaking As a note-taker, I find this almost a perfect device. I was very concerned about the size of the device when it arrived. However, I quickly found myself adjusting to the size and my handwriting adjusted accordingly. Here are some other reasons this is an exceptional note-taking device: Retractable Pen – This frankly surprised me. I am a huge fan of the Heart of Metal pens [I own 3). However, the comfort of the new pen and the light weight of it is phenomenal. FeelWrite 2 Screen – This is yet another surprise. As many of you may have seen in my unboxing, I was concerned with the initial feel of the screen. However, having used it, for two weeks, I have gotten used to how much pressure to use and it feels extremely good. ...