The Behance Action Journal
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with making things happen.
I need a system where I am held accountable. A system that is fun to use, is well designed and gets results.
I read a book by Scott Belsky a few weeks ago called Making Ideas Happen. It was a wonderful insight into how some of the most productive creative minds in history keep themselves focused.
The main point is that there are lots of people out there who have great ideas, but these ideas come and go and are never acted on. So, if you really have a passion and cant get anything done, try writing it down…
When huge goals are broken into bite size pieces, mentally they seem easier to accomplish. A great journey begins with a single step, or something like that…
The most amazing thing is that the systems most creative professionals use are mostly analogue. They still use a pen and paper for gods sake. Why not upgrade to a digital version? Well sports fans, the paper is better, I can attest to it…
For about 3 weeks now I have been using the Behance Action Journal and it has been great. The journal is apart of a wider concept called “The Action Method”created by the company Behance, notorious for the famed 99% conference.
It is a system that has been derived from the habits of the worlds most creative people.
The page layout looks like this and consists of 3 main things
- Action Steps
- Backburner Items
- Reference Notes
Action Steps
Write down Action Steps relentlessly, and have a focus on achieving them. This can be anything, but should focus on a verb like ,”Ring Sally about T-shirts”, or, “Email Phil about the boat” but it should be easy to achieve, and be a smaller chunk of a larger goal.Try and keep daily lists shorter than longer 
For instance a Action step is not, “Make a club T-shirt”, it would be “Design a logo for the T-shirt”, or, “Ring Sally about T-shirt prices, styles, colours and printing options” Each Action Step usually creates other action steps and away you go.
Backburner Items
These are ideas that are great, but not relevant to, or able to be implemented, in the near future. These add up and you set a time limit when you “attend” to your backurner items. You then either delete the ones that aren’t relevant anymore, keep the ones that are for later, or move them to action steps and achieve them.
The main purpose is not to clutter your action steps with things that aren’t relevant to achieving your immediate goals. Action Steps are sacred ground for pressing issues that can be achieved now.
Reference Notes
This is my personal favorite. Actions steps are great as you get momentum, but these are only possible because of this bad boy. Reference Notes is the section where you write down DISTRACTIONS….
The URL of a website you want to check out, the ideas for something in the future, the other business opportunities, the design for a web page, flyer, t-shirt, whatever. These are the usual distractions that prevent you from achieving the important work of moving your idea forward.
The Wrap up
Overall I have found this is an ordered way of structuring my ideas with a focus on action. It is like the ultimate to-do list but cuts out the crap.
The journal is made from 100% sustainable materials, which is nice considering this book had so much of and impact on me.
I don’t know if you will like it, and it probably isn’t for everyone, but for someone like me who is a dreamer, it keeps me on the ground and heading in the right direction.