Freespeech Publications did a brave thing, they sent a couple of people a copy of their 2009 planner for free and in exchange we must put it on a glass slide, mount it on microscope and make a comparative study of yet a similar specie known as the Starbucks planner.

Just to make things clear and easy i will refer to “this journal will actually change your life!!” As “change journal” since it does shout that out in direct and indirect ways.

On first glance. 

I’d have to give it to the starbucks planner for its more professional-looking cover. I am in the consultancy business which means I go to a lot of client meetings. These meetings are my first encounters for possible clients; I need to be able to at least look the part of someone that you can entrust part of your business to. The change planner though funky, will look a bit extreme for people that are formal.

I also give the starbucks planner another point for being expandable. My planner usually houses everything I would need, from receipts, notes and even those journal entries you make on coffee napkins; i insert them all into my planner.  The starbucks planner has a rubber thing across to keep all my other inserts intact without the fear of them disappearing. The change planner looking like a book gives me the notion that i will loose a thing or two because it fell off.

On the material.

I love to color code my entries and use different kinds of pens. The change planner will get a point for this one.  I find the paper they use thick enough to withstand any kind of ink.  I find the starbucks planner’s paper too thin for sign pens.

On the layout

I have to give it to the change planner for thinking the way I do when it comes to layout.  They were able to provide me with a monthly planner and then a weekly and daily space for my appointments.  This is necessary for me to be able to see my availability and from there zoom in on what I am supposed to do for the day.  The amount of space they provide for the weekly part is enough for me to be able to jot down my schedule as well as write down a little bit of my day.  The starbucks planner only gives me a monthly calendar but no space to even write birthdays at a month’s glance.

The weekly mood chart was a bonus.  With it I can reflect on how the week went. But I did appreciate the strategy notes at the end. I find the one page notes allocation at the end of the month for the starbucks planner not enough for someone who attends multiple meetings a week.

Another thing that I will say is brilliant by the change planner is the yearly calendar found on the top of every page.  It enables me to project schedules on a monthly and yearly system.  I find with the starbucks planner I need to leaf back to the first part of the planner all the time which isn’t very convenient when you are in a middle of negotiations.

I will really have to with the change planner for its layout.  I am enjoying the system it provides.  The space for quarterly checkups is also a welcomed bonus since you are reminded of the quarters and you are encouraged to track expenses, strategize more and even check on your attitude with its soul inventory.

Overall

I chose a career that is very dynamic.  There are times I have to live fast and some moments that I also need to take time to think and reflect.  The change planner I feel was thinking with me on those terms. 

Some things that can be better for me is again the chance for me to expand the planner and add pockets or extra pages. Another is since it claims to actually change a person’s life I find those pages between the months where they put something colourful or something to think about could be given more thought.  Pictures could be added that can show topics like volunteerism, hobbies and travel to certain areas where they can make a change.

If Freespeech Publications can also make the planner lighter (cover is sturdy but heavy) then it would be something that will be a mainstay in my bag.

When choosing planners, like choosing shoes, it has to be something your style and comfortable.  For the price of P850 it’s definitely worth it!

This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2009 is available at all Powerbooks and Fullybooked branches. For more information you may check out http://freespeechpublications.com/