Notion - One software to rule them all...
...and in lightness bind them.
Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend who was trying out solutions to create a sort of Kanban board for prospects and clients. He had used several different tools, but none gave him exactly what he needed, so he'd ended up using a spreadsheet. Using that, he was able to get a lot closer to what he wanted, but it was a lot of work to get it just the way he wanted and keep it updated.
Imagining that he already tried it, but curious as to why it didn't fit his needs, I inquired if he had used Notion. I was shocked to discover that he had never used it.
Nobody can have tried out all the products and services, but he is an IT executive who is generally very well-informed about new products and services, so I assumed he knew about all that Notion can do.
He was aware of Notion's existence but not of its flexibility and, thus, its power. To illustrate that power, I told him that if I could only have the use of one software product for the rest of my life, I would choose Notion with my eyes closed.
Sample Use Cases
Notion stands out as the ultimate all-in-one productivity tool of all software products. With its unmatched flexibility, Notion can do the work of several other software products combined. Here are just a few examples:
1. Note-taking: Notion is a great tool for taking notes, whether it's for personal use or work-related tasks. You can organize your notes using tags and can even attach files and images to them.
2. Project management: Notion is a powerful project management tool that can help you keep track of tasks, deadlines, and progress. You can create custom workflows and boards and can even collaborate with others in real time.
3. Database management: Notion makes creating and managing databases easy. You can use it to track products, customer information, or any other type of data that you need to keep organized.
4. Team wiki: Notion is also great for creating a wiki for your team. You can use it to share knowledge, policies, and procedures, making it easy for everyone to stay on the same page.
5. Task management: Notion's task management features are top-notch. You can create tasks, set due dates, and even assign them to team members. You can view your tasks in different formats, including lists and calendars.
6. Knowledge base: Notion is a great tool for creating a knowledge base for your business. You can use it to document processes, procedures, and other important information your team needs.
I have used Notion in all manner of ways over the past six years, from running a small business to simple note-taking. As I had imagined, Notion was perfectly capable of doing what my friend was looking to do, and it was much easier to keep updated than the spreadsheet.
A whole ecosystem has grown around Notion, with hundreds of templates, guides, and other complementary services and products becoming available.
Additional Productivity with Useful AI Features
Just this week, Notion introduced a new AI feature that allows it to answer questions about the content of your documents. This matches several of the use cases I have been experimenting with using OpenAI's new GPTs feature of ChatGPT. It does it better, as it clearly distinguishes between when you want it to help you create something and when you are simply asking it to look up information.
I have been using the GPTs feature to help with consistency and continuity in writing a sci-fi novel. I had trouble keeping ChatGPT from creating new characters when I asked it to list characters in the scenes I had already written. Since I already had all my notes in Notion, it was easy to test and see that it performed flawlessly when asked to list characters.
Notion is becoming the go-to productivity tool for individuals and businesses alike. With its unmatched flexibility and range of features, it's easy to see why.
If you decide to try out Notion, please consider using the links in this newsletter, as we will receive a commission on any purchases, and the price will not be altered in any way.
Are you already a Notion user? Get a free pack of images for page headers here: Notion Covers - Samples Vol. 1 (gumroad.com)
