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  • 🧠 Move 5: Take Structured Notes

🧠 Move 5: Take Structured Notes

Author

Greg K. Campbell
May 22, 2025

“Writing things down doesn’t make it stick. Structuring what you write does.”

Most people treat note-taking like transcription:
➀ Write everything down.
➀ Forget half of it.
➀ Get overwhelmed later.

But structure isn’t just a tool — it’s a form of thinking.

When you take structured notes, you’re not just remembering.

You’re starting to produce knowledge.

If you want to learn faster, remember longer, and think more clearly—you don’t need more notes.


You need better-shaped notes.

🔍 Why this matters

Most people take notes like they’re transcribing a meeting: line after line, scattered thoughts, and no clear anchor.

But structured notes force you to make decisions:

  • What’s important?

  • What belongs together?

  • What should I revisit?

That act of organizing is the beginning of knowledge production.

✍ What this looks like

Let’s say you’re reading an article, sitting in a lecture, or reflecting after a conversation.
Instead of writing everything, try this 3-part structure:

Type

Prompt

Example

Insight

What stands out or clicks?

“Attention is a currency. How I spend it shapes what I believe.”

Connection

What does this relate to?

“Ties to Move #2 – Build Mental Folders. Could also work with Move #4: Evaluate Sources.”

Action

How will I use this?

“Create a ‘focus tracker’ for next week’s work sessions. Track where attention goes.”

Simple. Repeatable. Searchable.

📐 Optional Formats to Try

  • Cornell Notes: cue | notes | summary

  • Atomic Notes (Zettelkasten style): 1 idea per note, link and tag everything

  • Bullet Journal + Tags: add tags like #concept, #question, #nextmove

🧠 Remember:

Structure isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about recoverable thinking.

If you came back to your notes 3 months from now, would you know:

  • Why you took them?

  • What they were for?

  • What to do next?

If yes → you're producing knowledge, not just collecting fragments.

🔁 Your Move:

Take notes today using Insight → Connection → Action.

Then tag the note: “Move #5” and see how it fits with what came before.

Want this as a Notion template?
Drop a 🔁 in the replies or visit theleverage.club/tools.

Did this make you think?

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Let’s make your thinking easier to find, review, and use.
Keep moving.

—
Greg K. Campbell
Leverage – Study smarter. Think deeper. Create better.

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