Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

MidasGirl · 05-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Been feeling a pull to buy Steve's recommended Journaling tool. Before I shell out, what is it, $39 for another "thing" that may end up on my virtual shelf, I wanted to find out what your experiences have been. First off, is there any learning curve to figure it out? (I like cut and paste, color by numbers, when it comes to tech stuff, which is why I love SBI, don't need to be challenged by a tool). What's the good, the bad? Do you find that you are more inclined to journal more consistently now that you have a great tool to aid you? Which of the add-ons have you found most useful?

Thanks for your input!

ruchirkc · 05-08-2009, 04:37 PM

The Journal is great and all, but the thing I hate about it is its ugly. I do own The Journal, but I don't write much in it anymore. I use a password protected blogspot blog instead

Its easy to use though, and they do offer a 30-day trial (or something like that). So you can try before you buy...

Adrienne · 05-08-2009, 05:05 PM

I love it. I have had it for a couple years. I used it all the time. About 3 months ago, i switched to mac, and it makes using it a bit more cumbersome so i have not used it as often. however, i still use it and i still love it.
I dont think it is ugly at all. I love how usable it is.
I definitely go in spurts
Sometimes i use it for hours one day, and hours and hours in a week, but then i might not quite feel like journalling as much for a while... i am glad to have it when i want it.
I have also started going back thru old journals and putting those entries in there so i can get ride of all the paper and be able to reference things easier.

Lauxa · 05-08-2009, 05:07 PM

I like The Journal. In the past I've had a tendency to start journals and then they get lost. Or I won't write for a long time and then I'll want to start a fresh journal. I like that all my entries are now on the computer and centralized in one program. It's also searchable, in case I write down names from a party or something that I want to reference later. Sticking with the "Daily" entry has worked best for me, versus creating new categories or anything like that. That being said, I don't think there's an "export all entries" option, so I figure there's a good chance I'll lose it all eventually.

James81 · 05-08-2009, 05:15 PM

I don't understand why people would pay $40 for something like that, when they could just open a word document and do the exact same thing. Heck, you can even password protect your files with word just like anything else.

Andrew Brunelle · 05-08-2009, 05:37 PM

I don't like it. You can just use word or works or livejournal.com or any other journaling website for free. It's not like it's anything special. When Steve bought it, there probably wasn't much out there in the ways of online journals. Isn't a journal just basically a word document anyway? Sure, you can search with The Journal, but you can do that on any journaling website, so why is it that anyone would pay for The Journal? Because Steve recommends it. And if $40 is just a drop in the bucket for you, it doesn't really matter.

I just don't see how it would improve any aspect of my life. I use livejournal.com and it's working well for me. Why spend money for something I am satisfied with for free?

Brutha · 05-08-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

I don't understand why people would pay $40 for something like that, when they could just open a word document and do the exact same thing. Heck, you can even password protect your files with word just like anything else.

Words password protection doesn't really work and those documents can be opened by anyone with the right tools.

James81 · 05-08-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brutha

Words password protection doesn't really work and those documents can be opened by anyone with the right tools.

In that case, they could just put their journal on a jump drive (and ONLY on the jump drive) and work off that and keep the jump drive under lock and key or on them or something.

There are ways to protect your files that don't involve spending $40 for software that doesn't really do anything beyond what a word document does.

MidasGirl · 05-08-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James81

I don't understand why people would pay $40 for something like that, when they could just open a word document and do the exact same thing. Heck, you can even password protect your files with word just like anything else.

I use word now. I want something a bit better organized. The problem I have with saving a journal with some website out there, even a blog is that you don't really own it and god knows you could log in the next day and find it has disappeared into the ethers. And the web owner always has control of your info, really. It's like all those picture album sites, once you post them in there, even password protected, they are not just yours anymore.

MidasGirl · 05-08-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauxa

That being said, I don't think there's an "export all entries" option, so I figure there's a good chance I'll lose it all eventually.

That sucks. I'd definitely want to back it up somehow.

MidasGirl · 05-08-2009, 08:46 PM

Thanks everyone, for your feedback and also alternative suggestions.

sirkinm · 05-08-2009, 09:27 PM

I think The Journal was probably good back in the day, but there are just so many free, flexible, online options that it might be hard to justify. Gmail has Google Docs and Google Journal, for example. There are free online journal tools, as well as private blogs. Good ol' Word -- especially if you apply an attractive template -- is great too.

I think most of us are going to be making the transition to cloud storage to a large degree, so I wouldn't consider a product that doesn't have an online component (does it?).

ruchirkc · 05-08-2009, 10:23 PM

The Journal can do back-ups. Mine backs up entries every week

And as for the web owner deleting your online journal (if you pick wordpress or blogspot), that doesn't really happen. They can do it, doesn't mean they actually do it

And data loss can happen anywhere, doesn't matter if you're using a blogspot blog, or The Journal.

Your options basically are Word, Journal, or blogspot/wordpress

Lupe · 05-08-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruchirkc

The Journal is great and all, but the thing I hate about it is its ugly. I do own The Journal, but I don't write much in it anymore. I use a password protected blogspot blog instead

so The Journal is not worth buying because Blogger on private mode is better?

ceegeez · 05-08-2009, 10:47 PM

What I like about The Journal is that I can open, edit and organize as many calendars as I like, let's say write a diary and at the same time take notes about talks I have with different people for professional reasons which should not interfere with my private diary. Besides this I can edit and manage documents nearly the same way as with MSWord. The 'files' (no matter if it's a calendar or a notebook) are listed as tabs and can be accessed easily, you can switch from one to the other document with a mouse click. It's a very convenient and well-arranged tool, I feel, and very useful if you have lot's of different text types to manage. Besides this, it's stored safely on my own computer and I can backup where and when I want. I feel the investment was worthwhile.

ruchirkc · 05-08-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lupe

so The Journal is not worth buying because Blogger on private mode is better?

For my use it is. But feature wise, The Journal is better. In Journal, you can maintain different notebooks and journals, and they all open in different tabs. You can't do that in Blogger. Honestly, I would have used The Journal if:

1. It looked better (my creative juices dry up just by looking at it)
2. It was easier to link to other entries. Currently its a drawn-out process.
3. It had a good tagging system

I don't really need to maintain more than a journal. And I use OneNote/ActionOutline for my note taking, so I don't need the notebook feature either. So I went with Blogger.

sirkinm · 05-09-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruchirkc

Your options basically are Word, Journal, or blogspot/wordpress

Or Google Notebook, Google Docs, LiveJournal, or one of the countless other online journal/diary systems.

Savage · 05-09-2009, 02:53 AM

Personally I feel better about storing my plans for world dominaton on my own PC vs. transmitting and storing them over the Internet.

If $40 is a lot of money to you though, I'd say you've got bigger problems in life that fussing over what journaling software to use. If that's the case I'd recommend more goal-setting and action, less introspection and self-discovery.

Lupe · 05-09-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Personally I feel better about storing my plans for world dominaton on my own PC vs. transmitting and storing them over the Internet.

Do people actually read your private entries online? Your emails and private blog posts?

MidasGirl · 05-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

If $40 is a lot of money to you though, I'd say you've got bigger problems in life that fussing over what journaling software to use. If that's the case I'd recommend more goal-setting and action, less introspection and self-discovery.

Well, it's only a lot of money to me if I spend it on a worthless product. Looks like some people have gotten great use out of The Journal though.

newsbone · 05-09-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

What's the good, the bad? Do you find that you are more inclined to journal more consistently now that you have a great tool to aid you?!

We only find what we look for and one sees what he/she chooses to!

'Choices not chance determines destiny'

Hyperchiller · 05-10-2009, 12:59 AM

I think The Journal is fantastic. It does a lot of things many other programs/online journals can't. There is no substitute for me.

I've used Microsoft OneNote before too but The Journal is much cleaner and has more functionality.

James81 · 05-10-2009, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

If $40 is a lot of money to you though, I'd say you've got bigger problems in life that fussing over what journaling software to use. If that's the case I'd recommend more goal-setting and action, less introspection and self-discovery.

It's not the fact that $40 would be a problem to spend if the product was actually a product that offered something beyond what you get with MS Word.

Just because you CAN spend $40 on something, doesn't mean that it's worth $40.

I think of it as a waste of money because you get the same value from MS Word with little extra from the program. Not because $40 is beyond my price range.

Savage · 05-10-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James81

It's not the fact that $40 would be a problem to spend if the product was actually a product that offered something beyond what you get with MS Word.

Just because you CAN spend $40 on something, doesn't mean that it's worth $40.

I think of it as a waste of money because you get the same value from MS Word with little extra from the program. Not because $40 is beyond my price range.

Maybe if I was a total newbie at journaling and only did it once a month, Word would suffice, but I need something more robust than a word processor.

I used Word for journaling for a while, but I stopped using it when I first downloaded The Journal in 2002. Can't imagine ever going back.

James81 · 05-10-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Maybe if I was a total newbie at journaling and only did it once a month, Word would suffice, but I need something more robust than a word processor.

I used Word for journaling for a while, but I stopped using it when I first downloaded The Journal in 2002. Can't imagine ever going back.

Different strokes, I guess.

Out of curiosity, I did a google search for journalling software, and found this:

My Journal - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com

As I suspected there's quite a few freeware programs out there that do similar stuff.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I'm going to spend $40 on a program, I would expect to get a fair deal of value out of the program. When it comes to journalling, it's kind of hard to beat the value of what's already free.

Bruce Achterberg · 05-10-2009, 07:58 AM

I found The Journal a bit too limited for what I wanted to do (suffice to say I'm very specific and know what I want when it comes to software). I might buy it eventually, but for now, I can't really justify the purchase.

I use KeyNote, which you can download and use for free (it's freeware).

KeyNote is similar to ActionOutline, but in my opinion, better in some ways. And free. Can't complain with free.

daredevil83 · 05-10-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

Well, it's only a lot of money to me if I spend it on a worthless product.

Just download it and try, you can use it for 45(!) days without spending any money. I think that 45 days is enough time to evaluate its value

.

It's a great piece of software.

sirkinm · 05-10-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Personally I feel better about storing my plans for world dominaton on my own PC vs. transmitting and storing them over the In

I would suspect that -- when the authorities come busting down your door and confiscating your computers -- they'd have an easier time extracting your entries from your computer than from some of the online tools (as long as you take proper precautions, like not using your real name).

Bleicke · 05-12-2009, 03:35 AM

Why would I pay more than $40 for Word? And don't tell me Word is free because you cracked it.

My point: Word sucks even at the things it's designed to do. On my mac, I have a designated journaling tool (Memoires). It's much easier and more fun than managing text files. Worth the $20 for me. Or whatever it was.

ruchirkc · 05-12-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleicke

Why would I pay more than $40 for Word? And don't tell me Word is free because you cracked it.

My point: Word sucks even at the things it's designed to do. On my mac, I have a designated journaling tool (Memoires). It's much easier and more fun than managing text files. Worth the $20 for me. Or whatever it was.

We're talking about Windows PCs here, The Journal doesn't even run on Mac

05-08-2009, 04:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
MidasGirl Family Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Off this forum from 10/27/10 to 10/27/11. Yay me! Posts: 2,944	Hate or Love Steve's Journal tool? Been feeling a pull to buy Steve's recommended Journaling tool. Before I shell out, what is it, $39 for another "thing" that may end up on my virtual shelf, I wanted to find out what your experiences have been. First off, is there any learning curve to figure it out? (I like cut and paste, color by numbers, when it comes to tech stuff, which is why I love SBI, don't need to be challenged by a tool). What's the good, the bad? Do you find that you are more inclined to journal more consistently now that you have a great tool to aid you? Which of the add-ons have you found most useful? Thanks for your input!

05-09-2009, 02:53 AM	#18 (permalink)
Savage Master Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 5,988	Personally I feel better about storing my plans for world dominaton on my own PC vs. transmitting and storing them over the Internet. If $40 is a lot of money to you though, I'd say you've got bigger problems in life that fussing over what journaling software to use. If that's the case I'd recommend more goal-setting and action, less introspection and self-discovery. __________________ Steve Pavlina www.StevePavlina.com Join me on: Twitter \| Google+

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05-08-2009, 04:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
ruchirkc Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 152	The Journal is great and all, but the thing I hate about it is its ugly. I do own The Journal, but I don't write much in it anymore. I use a password protected blogspot blog instead Its easy to use though, and they do offer a 30-day trial (or something like that). So you can try before you buy...

05-08-2009, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Adrienne Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,218	I love it. I have had it for a couple years. I used it all the time. About 3 months ago, i switched to mac, and it makes using it a bit more cumbersome so i have not used it as often. however, i still use it and i still love it. I dont think it is ugly at all. I love how usable it is. I definitely go in spurts Sometimes i use it for hours one day, and hours and hours in a week, but then i might not quite feel like journalling as much for a while... i am glad to have it when i want it. I have also started going back thru old journals and putting those entries in there so i can get ride of all the paper and be able to reference things easier.

05-08-2009, 05:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lauxa Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,545	I like The Journal. In the past I've had a tendency to start journals and then they get lost. Or I won't write for a long time and then I'll want to start a fresh journal. I like that all my entries are now on the computer and centralized in one program. It's also searchable, in case I write down names from a party or something that I want to reference later. Sticking with the "Daily" entry has worked best for me, versus creating new categories or anything like that. That being said, I don't think there's an "export all entries" option, so I figure there's a good chance I'll lose it all eventually.

05-08-2009, 05:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
James81 Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 12,690	I don't understand why people would pay $40 for something like that, when they could just open a word document and do the exact same thing. Heck, you can even password protect your files with word just like anything else.

05-08-2009, 05:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Andrew Brunelle Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Home Posts: 2,578	I don't like it. You can just use word or works or livejournal.com or any other journaling website for free. It's not like it's anything special. When Steve bought it, there probably wasn't much out there in the ways of online journals. Isn't a journal just basically a word document anyway? Sure, you can search with The Journal, but you can do that on any journaling website, so why is it that anyone would pay for The Journal? Because Steve recommends it. And if $40 is just a drop in the bucket for you, it doesn't really matter. I just don't see how it would improve any aspect of my life. I use livejournal.com and it's working well for me. Why spend money for something I am satisfied with for free?

05-08-2009, 08:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
MidasGirl Family Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Off this forum from 10/27/10 to 10/27/11. Yay me! Posts: 2,944	Thanks everyone, for your feedback and also alternative suggestions.

05-08-2009, 09:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
sirkinm Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 585	I think The Journal was probably good back in the day, but there are just so many free, flexible, online options that it might be hard to justify. Gmail has Google Docs and Google Journal, for example. There are free online journal tools, as well as private blogs. Good ol' Word -- especially if you apply an attractive template -- is great too. I think most of us are going to be making the transition to cloud storage to a large degree, so I wouldn't consider a product that doesn't have an online component (does it?).

05-08-2009, 10:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
ruchirkc Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 152	The Journal can do back-ups. Mine backs up entries every week And as for the web owner deleting your online journal (if you pick wordpress or blogspot), that doesn't really happen. They can do it, doesn't mean they actually do it And data loss can happen anywhere, doesn't matter if you're using a blogspot blog, or The Journal. Your options basically are Word, Journal, or blogspot/wordpress

05-08-2009, 10:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
ceegeez Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 14	What I like about The Journal is that I can open, edit and organize as many calendars as I like, let's say write a diary and at the same time take notes about talks I have with different people for professional reasons which should not interfere with my private diary. Besides this I can edit and manage documents nearly the same way as with MSWord. The 'files' (no matter if it's a calendar or a notebook) are listed as tabs and can be accessed easily, you can switch from one to the other document with a mouse click. It's a very convenient and well-arranged tool, I feel, and very useful if you have lot's of different text types to manage. Besides this, it's stored safely on my own computer and I can backup where and when I want. I feel the investment was worthwhile.

05-10-2009, 12:59 AM	#22 (permalink)
Hyperchiller Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 401	I think The Journal is fantastic. It does a lot of things many other programs/online journals can't. There is no substitute for me. I've used Microsoft OneNote before too but The Journal is much cleaner and has more functionality.

05-10-2009, 07:58 AM	#26 (permalink)
Bruce Achterberg Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 970	I found The Journal a bit too limited for what I wanted to do (suffice to say I'm very specific and know what I want when it comes to software). I might buy it eventually, but for now, I can't really justify the purchase. I use KeyNote, which you can download and use for free (it's freeware). KeyNote is similar to ActionOutline, but in my opinion, better in some ways. And free. Can't complain with free.

05-12-2009, 03:35 AM	#29 (permalink)
Bleicke Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 263	Why would I pay more than $40 for Word? And don't tell me Word is free because you cracked it. My point: Word sucks even at the things it's designed to do. On my mac, I have a designated journaling tool (Memoires). It's much easier and more fun than managing text files. Worth the $20 for me. Or whatever it was.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums