Hello Everyone!

Today I want to spread the wealth of knowledge and let you in on one of the many awesome ways that I use Evernote.

If you don’t know what Evernote is, then here’s a basic primer: it’s an internet based mega-notebook that is almost literally an extension of your brain. It’s that simple. If you don’t have an Evernote account you really should get one. Start out with a free account and slowly get acclimated to it. The Evernote Web Clipper is invaluable and Evernote also has the ability to import nearly every kind of file extension you throw at it.

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So onward now. The purpose of today’s post is to show you how I use Evernote to harness my ‘Genius Files’. I first was introduced into the concept of ‘Genius Files’ over at Decor8 Blog.  I ventured into the subject a little further and decided that this is something I definitely wanted to do. At first, I scoured eBay for bulk binders and plastic sheet protectors. I found plenty of these and as I was about to checkout, I realized that this was not going to help my financial situation.

This is when I turned to Evernote. I have a Premium account with them and this is well worth the funds. I have amassed an arsenal of notebooks with varying themes. I’m in the process of transferring many of the links in my Google Bookmarks over to Evernote since most sitting idly, usually saved because I found one awesome article or a DIY I’d like to do. Thus, began the start of my own personal Genius Files.

I’ve got four major Genius Files:

  • Style, Poise and Fashion
  • Philosophy and Religion
  • Home Decorating
  • Blogging

One way that makes filling my genius files much more efficient is to keep a folder on my desktop labeled ‘Evernote’. While I surf the web, I automatically save pictures worthy of saving into this folder.

In Evernote, I’ve set the Import Wizard to automatically import anything I dump into the ‘Evernote’ folder in MyDocuments and put into what I call ‘The Bucket’ notebook in Evernote.

Basically everything goes into ‘The Bucket’ initially and then I separate my notes into their respective notebooks. You don’t have to do it this way, you can even create separate folders to sync with certain notebooks. I prefer to do it this way to keep everything centralized and so that I have ultimate control of where each note goes.

You can also make notebooks public or private, which makes for a great collaborative tool for creative professionals. All of my Genius Files are private for the moment.

In addition, with a premium account, you can scan in a plethora of high resolution images and Evernote can detect the text in these images. This is great to turn your ‘analog’ Genius Files into a digital masterpiece. Magazine articles, clippings, photos, advertisements, street photos… all of these are valuable bits that makes your Genius Files much more intelligent.

What will your Genius Files say about you?

By How To's, Technology4 Comments on Evernote Love #1: How To Create Genius Files

4 Replies to “Evernote Love #1: How To Create Genius Files”

  1. Pingback: Why I Love Evernote #2: Elementary Galleria « Crysti·ology

  2. Sure! The link to the Decor8 goes to a post title ‘Mer Mag: Favorite Things’

    Now, that is a rather long post so to save you the trouble, the paragraph goes something like this:

    “I did that (and still do) by tearing out pages that speak to me and then proceed to categorize them in my “genius files” (a term I fondly borrow from Anna Sui who does the same thing with tear sheets that inspire her).”

    Along with the paragraph
    is a photo of her physical ‘Genius Files’. This photo is what originally inspired me to start my own Genius Files, but instead of buying binders, sheet protectors and the like, I’ve gone a more modern, efficient and eco way of doing it!

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