ABNT, ”Always Be Taking Notes”
In the 1992, cult movie Glengarry, Glen Ross, Alec Baldwin urged his salesforce on, with the mantra, “ABC”, “Always Be Closing”. This was a sales reference, for closing sales. That mantra by Baldwin, became a go to line for people in all walks of life. While appropriate for the time period of this movie, this “in your face” sales method might be a little outdated by today’s standards.
If today, I was counseling anyone, from high school age, up into adulthood, I would tell them to be ABTN. ABTN? What on earth could that mean? ABTN, is my made-up acronym for ,“Always Be Taking Notes”. In today’s fast paced information age, key words, phrases, or ideas come at all of us at breakneck speed. No matter, if you are a high school or college student in a classroom setting, a professional looking to gain that next promotion, or edge in their current job, or listening to a homily, at Sunday prayer service, ABTN!
I recall telling my four sons, that they should take great notes in class and then re-write the notes that evening, as part of their homework. That way, they reinforced what they had learned. In our current culture, when asked about note taking, they might respond, you really mean taking that prehistoric writing instrument called a ballpoint pen and piece of paper to put a thought in play? In this day of the internet, social media, quick message, incomplete sentences, the art of actual writing has diminished.
In a previous life, while coaching college basketball, I never watched a game on television, or in person, without a pad of paper and pen. I was always looking for that one idea or strategy, that would make our team better. Many times, with paper and pen on my bed stand and fearing that I would forget an important thought, I made one last note of the day. So, what type of notes, might you be taking? Dreams, lists of tasks to complete, books to read, just to name a few. My message to all, is to be a voracious note taker! Never go to any event, meeting, or a simple walk in the park, without something to write on and something to write with. Ideas are everywhere and to be a disciplined, consistent notetaker, is to be curious, creative and ambitious about everything we see and hear. Join the ever growing band of people, who are always, ABTN!
