Changing Minds With... Notecards?

It’s strictly coincidence that what I’ve read this week is an example of what I’ve heard. I actually read the Ryan Holiday piece before listening to the This American Life show. Anyways, the point remains that the article altered my behavior, which was the point of the podcast.

What I’ve Read:

The Notecard System | Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday wrote 3 books in 3 years while maintaining his day job at American Apparel and Thought Catalog. He credits the notecard system for helping him expedite the grueling process of writing. After reading the article, I bought three packs of 4x6 index cards and started my own collection of cards. I had a bunch of quotes and ideas scattered across my Kindle, OneNote, Wunderlist, and Evernote accounts. I used the notecards as a way to make everything convenient and easily accessible.

What I’ve Heard:

The Incredible Rarity of Changing Your Mind | This American Life (58 minutes)

The first act of this podcast resonated with me because of its focus on personal stories. Ira Glass and his team follow several pollsters as they try to change voters’ opinion with intimate narratives. I occasionally wonder why I write and if my stories actually make a difference. This podcast reminded me that well-told stories have the ability to change people’s mind. Although I only highlight the first act, all three acts on this episode of This American Life are wonderfully crafted and worth the listen.

Tags: #podcasts