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Success Advice

The Power of Keeping a Daily Business Journal

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When most of us think about keeping a journal or diary, our minds are often transported to the potentially embarrassing things we used to scribble before we went to bed back in our middle and high school days. However, nightly journaling is actually one of the best ways to organize our thoughts, catalog our experiences, and measure our progress. As strange as it sounds, when applied to our professional lives, the practice of keeping a brief but structured journal can actually be extremely valuable, and help us become more conscious decision makers.

Not only does taking a few quick minutes to recap at night help us come to a solid point of closure for the workday, but it also provides a number of other tangible benefits as well. While there are numerous ways to go about keeping an effective daily business journal, this short guide should help you learn the fundamentals, and help you understand why it very well might be something that you should be doing.

How to approach business journaling

The best way to keep a business journal is digitally, as a running word processor document. It can be formatted however you feel most comfortable, just make sure that each day is clearly marked, and chronologically organized. 

By doing this, it’ll allow for easy use of both your word processor’s “search” or “find” function to look for key phrases, as well as a logical way to read through your thoughts relative to when you had them. Since this content will purely be for your personal use, don’t worry too much about presentation, as long as it’s organized.

As opposed to simply having a free-writing session, in which you simply spend a few minutes writing about your day, it’s highly recommended that you keep a standard set of questions that you ask yourself and respond to, in every entry. This helps make the process quick and easy while allowing you to structure your thoughts in a manner that will ensure you come up with something concrete and beneficial every time you write.

While there’s a wealth of questions to draw from that could provide value, the list below should give you an excellent depiction of how well-thought out and repeatable questions can turn a quick journaling session, into a growing database of real-world information, and actionable thoughts.

“Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.” – Mina Murray

Answer these 5 questions everyday in your business journal:

1. Who Did I Deal with Today?

You don’t have to list everyone you spoke to, but make sure to mention new potentially important contacts, and any interactions that had major implications for your business. Listing numbers and email addresses for these people while writing can be beneficial as well, though not necessary. Interesting personal facts  such as birthdays, hobbies, and family news are a great idea as well.

This question is designed to help you keep an accurate account of the numerous people you’ll do business with, which can go to great lengths to help you prepare for future meetings or in dealings down the road.

2. What Did I Get Done Today?

Answering this question not only allows you to positively reflect on the successes you had that day, but more importantly, also forces you to hold yourself accountable if you gave an effort less than your best. Not being able to have a good answer here isn’t a good feeling.

3. What Did I Struggle with Today?

This question is critical in defining the things you should focus on in order to become a more well-rounded executive or business owner. If you notice a trend in similar areas, you should be able to figure out exactly what skills you should look into developing.

4. What’s One Thing I Learned Today?

The business world is always evolving and changing, and it’s a guarantee that your specific industry is too. As a result, even the most intelligent, talented of senior executives and business owners should always be looking to learn new things, and take in new ideas. By consciously answering this question each day, you can rest easy knowing that you’re progressing along with the world around you.

“A personal journal is an ideal environment in which to ‘become’. It is a perfect place for you to think, feel, discover, expand, remember, and dream.” – Brad Wilcox

5. What Do I Want to Accomplish Tomorrow?

The best way to end a business journal entry, and your workday in general, is to close it out with a clear and actionable list of what your goals are for the next day. This practice allows you to get up, get to work, and get straight to that list – and any productive business owner or executive should understand the value of an organized check list.

Maintaining Your Business Journal

As you could probably imagine, taking just a few minutes of your night to maintain a business journal can lead to the creation of a great deal of useful information. While the concept might seem a bit silly at first, having a personal database of information on key clients, a running tally of your most important thoughts, and giving yourself a chance to reflect on each day’s performance isn’t a ridiculous idea in the slightest bit. 

You don’t have to invest a lot of time into your journal. Just make sure to dedicate at least 5-10 focused minutes each night, and you’ll see a huge difference in your life. 

Do you keep a journal? If you do, share your thoughts below on how you think it’s helped you!

Diane H. Wong is a search engine optimisation specialist and business coach. Besides, she is a research paper writer so she prefers to spend her spare time working out marketing strategies. In this case, she has an opportunity to share her experience with others and keep up with advancing technologies.

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Success Advice

Inside the TikTok Resume Hack That’s Fooling Recruiters (For Now)

A viral TikTok resume trick promises interviews overnight, yet one wrong move could blacklist you from future jobs.

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Life

9 Harsh Truths Every Young Man Must Face to Succeed in the Modern World

Before chasing success, every young man needs to face these 9 brutal realities shaping masculinity in the modern world.

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Many young men today quietly battle depression, loneliness, and a sense of confusion about who they’re meant to be.

Some blame the lack of deep friendships or romantic relationships. Others feel lost in a digital world that often labels traditional masculinity as “toxic.”

But the truth is this: becoming a man in the modern age takes more than just surviving. It takes resilience, direction, and a willingness to grow even when no one’s watching.

Success doesn’t arrive by accident or luck. It’s built on discipline, sacrifice, and consistency.

Here are 9 harsh truths every young man should know if he wants to thrive, not just survive, in the digital age.

1. Never Use Your Illness as an Excuse

As Dr. Jordan B. Peterson often says, successful people don’t complain; they act.

Your illness, hardship, or struggle shouldn’t define your limits; it should define your motivation. Rest when you must, but always get back up and keep building your dreams. Motivation doesn’t appear magically. It comes after you take action.

Here are five key lessons I’ve learned from Dr. Peterson:

  • Learn to write clearly; clarity of thought makes you dangerous.

  • Read quality literature in your free time.

  • Nurture a strong relationship with your family.

  • Share your ideas publicly; your voice matters.

  • Become a “monster”, powerful, but disciplined enough to control it.

The best leaders and thinkers are grounded. They welcome criticism, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward no matter what.

2. You Can’t Please Everyone And That’s Okay

You don’t need a crowd of people to feel fulfilled. You need a few friends who genuinely accept you for who you are.

If your circle doesn’t bring out your best, it’s okay to walk away. Solitude can be a powerful teacher. It gives you space to understand what you truly want from life. Remember, successful men aren’t people-pleasers; they’re purpose-driven.

3. You Can Control the Process, Not the Outcome

Especially in creative work, writing, business, or content creation, you control effort, not results.

You might publish two articles a day, but you can’t dictate which one will go viral. Focus on mastery, not metrics. Many great writers toiled for years in obscurity before anyone noticed them. Rejection, criticism, and indifference are all part of the path.

The best creators focus on storytelling, not applause.

4. Rejection Is Never Personal

Rejection doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. It simply means your offer, idea, or timing didn’t align.

Every successful person has faced rejection repeatedly. What separates them is persistence and perspective. They see rejection as feedback, not failure. The faster you learn that truth, the faster you’ll grow.

5. Women Value Comfort and Security

Understanding women requires maturity and empathy.

Through books, lectures, and personal growth, I’ve learned that most women desire a man who is grounded, intelligent, confident, emotionally stable, and consistent. Some want humor, others intellect, but nearly all want to feel safe and supported.

Instead of chasing attention, work on self-improvement. Build competence and confidence, and the rest will follow naturally.

6. There’s No Such Thing as Failure, Only Lessons

A powerful lesson from Neuro-Linguistic Programming: failure only exists when you stop trying.

Every mistake brings data. Every setback builds wisdom. The most successful men aren’t fearless. They’ve simply learned to act despite fear.

Be proud of your scars. They’re proof you were brave enough to try.

7. Public Speaking Is an Art Form

Public speaking is one of the most valuable and underrated skills a man can master.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection. The best speakers tell stories, inspire confidence, and make people feel seen. They research deeply, speak honestly, and practice relentlessly.

If you can speak well, you can lead, sell, teach, and inspire. Start small, practice at work, in class, or even in front of a mirror, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

8. Teaching Is Leadership in Disguise

Great teachers are not just knowledgeable. They’re brave, compassionate, and disciplined.

Teaching forces you to articulate what you know, and in doing so, you master it at a deeper level. Whether you’re mentoring a peer, leading a team, or sharing insights online, teaching refines your purpose.

Lifelong learners become lifelong leaders.

9. Study Human Nature to Achieve Your Dreams

One of the toughest lessons to accept: most people are self-interested.

That’s not cynicism, it’s human nature. Understanding this helps you navigate relationships, business, and communication more effectively.

Everyone has a darker side, but successful people learn to channel theirs productively into discipline, creativity, and drive.

Psychology isn’t just theory; it’s a toolkit. Learn how people think, act, and decide, and you’ll know how to lead them, influence them, and even understand yourself better.

Final Thoughts

The digital age offers endless opportunities, but only to those who are willing to take responsibility, confront discomfort, and keep improving.

Becoming a man today means embracing the hard truths most avoid.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about luck. It’s about who you become when life tests you the most.

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Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Myth: Here’s How to Actually Make It Happen

Work stress doesn’t have to win, here’s how to protect your peace and thrive in any workplace.

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Starting a new job often comes with excitement and ambition. Yet, beneath that initial enthusiasm, many employees quickly encounter the reality of workplace challenges, especially stress. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

The Four Types of Happiness: Which One Are You Living In?

Most people chase success only to find emptiness, this model reveals why true happiness lies somewhere else.

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In a world driven by rapid technological growth and constant competition, many people unknowingly trade joy for achievement. (more…)

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