Always Start with the Archives

The biggest misconception I see about the pivotal act of “archiving” is that you’re never going to see that information again.

Don’t think of the Archive as an “idea graveyard” where information goes to die. Your archives represent the sum total of your life experience, a treasure trove of hard-won lessons and profound insights you’ve gained from both successes and failures alike. I guarantee it will contain useful material you can reuse and recycle in future endeavors.

The Archive should be your starting point any time you launch a new project, do a personal year-end review, or update your résumé for a new job. It contains the supporting evidence you’ll need to successfully advocate for a raise or promotion, pitch a new client, or propose a bold new venture.

I’m constantly surprised how frequently I find useful material from the past—notes on a conference call with a repeat client, background research on an industry, or photos I saved for design inspiration—all of which represents my personal “knowledge capital.”

Reusing these knowledge assets not only saves me tremendous amounts of time—it makes me feel like I’m starting a marathon at the halfway point, instead of at the starting line like everyone else.