I'm a self-taught computer geek, and my job depends on me being and staying informed of how to fix computers. It's more effective and much less expensive to keep a journal of tips, tricks, and experiences, than taking courses that don't teach anything but how to pass certification tests. Nearly every problem I've encountered has a software-based cause (and fix) or a software-based workaround.

I keep and use a journal to record everything I need to know and am likely to forget about every problem I encounter and how to fix them. I started it with a list of Windows dial-up networking errors because, for my dial-up customers, I'd be in the catch-22 of needing to go online to figure out why I can't go online. Without the book, I'd have to guess, sometimes blindly.

Earlier today, during my lunch break, looking at it and considering its purpose inspired me to grab a blank sheet of paper and draw.