Successful entrepreneurs know that businesses are built on ideas and information.

The ability to absorb, analyse, and act on information is what sets true innovators apart from the rest.

But sometimes, important info can easily slip through the cracks.

Scientists revealed that people forget about 50% of new information we take in within one hour.

Could you imagine?

How many brilliant ideas have we really been missing out on?

This is where effective note-taking comes in. 

You have to make sure that those lightbulb moments don’t vanish into thin air.

This is exactly what Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, swears by!

In this blog, we’ll explore Richard Branson’s note-taking habit and how it helped him build one of the world’s largest private enterprises.

Who is Richard Branson?

Richard Branson is the eccentric British entrepreneur who founded the Virgin Group.

In 1970, he started Virgin as a small music label.

It quickly grew into a global empire spanning travel, telecommunications, health, finance, and entertainment.

The Virgin Group now includes over 40 companies, with annual revenues in the billions.

Branson’s charisma and risk-taking spirit set him apart.

He’s made headlines for attempting world records in hot-air balloons and ocean voyages!

His business approach is all about creativity and fun.

And he keeps it all on track with his trusty habit of note-taking.

A Notebook for Success: Branson’s Note-Taking Habit

Richard Branson often emphasises the power of a simple notebook. 

He carries one everywhere he goes. 

He believes that writing down thoughts helps clarify ideas and maintain focus.

Branson has been known to jot down anything from business strategies to personal reflections.

He even attributes the Virgin Group’s success to this habit.

“Some of Virgin’s most successful companies have been born from random moments – if we hadn’t opened our notebooks, they would never have happened.”

How to Take Notes Like Richard Branson

Step 1. Choose your notebook wisely

Consider factors like size, format (lined, blank, or grid), and portability.

A notebook that feels good in your hands will encourage you to use it more often.

Step 2. Write Freely

Write down everything!

Don’t worry about grammar or structure. 

Let your thoughts flow naturally even when you run out of paper.

Richard shares:

“I was the only person who took notes the entire time – and boy did I take notes, I ran out of white space and had to write over my notes, my hotel notepad, my report and even my name tag!”

Step 3. Review Your Notes Regularly

Set aside time to revisit your notes. 

This is your chance to connect the dots between different concepts and highlight key takeaways.

According to Richard, reviewing is where you find your golden ideas:

“…when it’s time to review my notes I can see which themes bubble to the top and which issues keep coming up. Using this practical evidence, I can decide what to prioritise.”

Step 4. Act on Your Ideas.

Don’t let your notes gather dust! 

Take the most promising ideas and plan out how you can apply them in real life.

Remember, ideas only become valuable when put into practice.

Step 5. Keep Your Old Notebooks

Revisiting past notes can inspire new ideas and remind you of the lessons learned along the way.

Keeping them lets you see how far you’ve come and what still resonates.

The Benefits of Note-Taking in Business

In one of his LinkedIn blogs, Branson says:

“In my experience, 99 per cent of people in leadership roles don’t take notes. What’s more, males are less likely to take notes than their female counterparts.”

Some entrepreneurs may not take notes because they think it’s beneath them.

But this can actually be disadvantageous.

You might not be as in tune with your business as you think.

The power of note-taking goes beyond jotting down ideas. 

Research shows the more notes you take, the more information you tend to retain.

When you jot down ideas, you’re not just recording data.

Your brain is actively processing and engaging with the information.

This helps create connections and deepens your understanding, which can lead to more informed decisions.

Taking notes also helps clarify thoughts and priorities.

By summarising key points or highlighting questions, leaders can focus on what truly matters. 

It’s a simple yet effective way to sift through the noise and keep track of important ideas.

So, whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out. . .

Getting into the habit of taking notes can really pay off!

Paper vs. Digital: The Great Note-Taking Debate

The debate over paper versus digital note-taking continues.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but research leans towards the classic pen-and-paper method.

A study published in the journal Psychological Science found that students who wrote notes by hand performed better on tests than those who used laptops. 

Why?

Typing is faster, which may lead to mindless transcription.

Writing by hand forces you to process information and reframe it in your own words. 

This leads to a better understanding of the material.

On the other hand, laptops and phones have their own perks too!

They allow for quick edits, easy searching, and cloud storage. 

However, the temptation to multitask can reduce focus. 

And in business, sometimes it’s simply common courtesy not to have your phone out when talking to someone in a meeting.

Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preference.

You can even do both!

Jot down quick ideas in a notebook…

Then transfer important notes to a digital system for organisation and reference.

Start a Note-Taking Habit So You Can Write Your Own Business Success Story

Develop the habit of taking notes by weaving it into your daily routine.

It can be as simple as writing down your thoughts or even noting down key points on a YouTube video you’re watching.

Richard Branson says:

“Always carry a notebook. Write everything down. When you have an idea, write it down. When you hear something interesting, write it down. Writing it down will make you act upon it. If you don’t write it down you will forget it. That is a million-dollar lesson they don’t teach you in business school!”

Start small. 

You don’t need to commit to an elaborate system right away.

Just grab a notebook or even a shopping receipt to jot down ideas whenever they strike. 

What matters is the habit, not the tool.

It’s in those scribbles and rough notes where your next big move might be hiding.

Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns, connections, and fresh opportunities that you might have missed otherwise. 

Then, when you’re ready, put those thoughts into action.

But it’s one thing to plan about your business than to actually do it.

You have all your key ideas but how do you take the first step?

This is why we created our free guide called “The D.A.D. Formula.”

It will not only help you take the first step but the next 2 after that too!

The D.A.D. Formula walks you through 3 actionable steps to help you get your first 50 customers.

This guide is like my own notes that I’ve refined based on 10 years of real-life small business successes.