Post-it® Notes – like so many things we now take for granted – were invented by accident.
In 1968, a scientist at 3M’s Minnesota headquarters was trying to develop a strong adhesive when, instead, he came up with a substance light enough to remove and peel apart.
The problem? He had no idea how it could be used!
Thanks to a few more studies, Post-it Notes finally started selling well in stores in 1979.
My introduction to Post-it Notes didn’t come until a few years later – in the early to mid-’80s, while working as Managing Editor of a local ham radio magazine. One of our columnists started attaching multiple Post-it Notes to the hard copy of his column each month.
At first I was irritated. I thought “What a waste! I can’t even write on the back of these!” But gradually, probably because our office started buying them for our own office supplies, I started seeing the value of them.
Now, I can’t imagine my life WITHOUT Post-its! I buy them in all shapes and sizes, and use them in lots of ways. My favorite size is 3″ x 3″, but I also like the smaller 2″ x 2″ square pads … for short reminders. And the 1.5″ x 2″ sticky notes make good bookmarks!
Recently, I’ve discovered a new way to use Post-its. I keep a small slick-surface bulletin board propped up on my desk, where I keep notes for tasks I don’t want to forget. The more urgent tasks sit (on Post-its) on my desk directly in front of me.
These notes don’t replace my calendar, but they are GREAT for quick reminders and “to-do” items!
