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May 27, 2023Liked by Dave Gray

Good one Dave. I have had the same realisation of the power of MIRO and MURALS. I am keen to now use them even in face to face workshops. Just need more table facilitation for that to work.

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I like how you've captured the pros and cons of each approach. Index cards and sticky notes certainly offer advantages over whiteboards and flip charts in terms of being able to move different pieces of information around.

There's also the venerable cork board, of course, which gives index cards the ability to defy gravity with the equally venerable push pin. Not that cork boards are omnipresent...

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I've used both for years (plus, journals, tabloid-size graph paper, and digital whiteboard hardware/software). I can put my finger on most of the paper assets pretty quickly, but the volume of physical artifacts has practical limits I have yet to properly address. Digital takes up so much less space, but there is persistent friction in trying to re-find them - which is kinda ironic, considering how easy it is to automatically tack useful meta-data onto assets.

I go everywhere with a thin stack of index cards in a cheep-o leatherette holder to capture the random thought, doodle a mental image, or note a book or podcast suggestion. Sticky notes do seem to be more ephemeral and best used when concentrated in one "arc" of conversation. When you get to point "B" in that arc, I find it best to lift out the insights or key sentiments to take forward. If it's ALL important, then digitizing it is key. I've found out the hard way that well-loved post-its can fall off and become lost if left overnight or for a multi-day session.

I guess I'm just openly admitting that in a pinch, I'll grab what's handy and hope for the best - but I know better :)

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