Sometimes, we underestimate the tools we already have. I recently had one of those "aha" moments while watching a Hallmark movie (yes, I love my Hallmark!). The lead character, a busy professional, frequently used her phone to dictate messages to her assistant. Watching her effortlessly capture ideas in the moment made me think, Wait—can I do that, too?
Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up my phone, opened the notes app, and tested the microphone feature. It wasn’t my first experience with voice-to-text tools, but let’s just say my past attempts weren’t great.
Years ago, I tried using the microphone on my phone to dictate notes. The experience was... clunky. If I paused too long, it would cut off. If I mumbled or spoke quickly, the transcription turned into gibberish. The frustration led me to abandon the feature altogether, convinced it wasn’t reliable enough for my needs.
This time, however, the experience was completely different. The voice-to-text functionality was smooth, accurate, and uninterrupted. Technology had clearly improved since my first attempt, and I was genuinely impressed. Suddenly, I had a productivity tool at my fingertips that I’d been ignoring for years.
Just because a tool doesn’t meet your needs today doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Technology evolves quickly, and what once felt clunky or outdated may now be sleek and efficient. Revisit tools periodically, especially if you’ve noticed advancements in the technology.
This is why I always recommend revisiting your tools every 2–3 years. The “best” tool today might be middle-of-the-pack tomorrow, and another tool might better fit your evolving needs. Staying open to change ensures you’re always working with the best solutions available.
My circumstances have shifted recently. After working from home for years, I’ve returned to the office, which means I now have a daily commute. This change has opened up an opportunity: turning my drive time into productivity time. By dictating my thoughts into my phone during the drive home, I can capture content ideas without needing a dedicated writing session.
My new workflow is simple but powerful. I use the microphone on my phone’s keyboard (I’m team Android and use either Samsung Notes or OneNote) to capture my thoughts as I speak. This voice-to-text feature transforms my commute into a time for brainstorming and content creation.
Here’s how it works for me:
To make the process even faster, I plan to use AI tools like ChatGPT to summarize and format my notes into a clean, publishable post.
This voice-to-text discovery has revolutionized how I approach blogging and content creation. It’s a reminder that the tools we already have often hold untapped potential. If you haven’t explored all the features of your phone or revisited old tools, now might be the time to give them another look.
What tools have you overlooked that could make your life easier? Let’s not miss out on productivity gold that’s right at our fingertips.
The content shared on DLMorales.com strives to teach side-hustling and full-time solopreneurs how to manage a successful business and life using holistic systems. The text in this post is provided by DLMorales and edited by ChatGPT. The goal is to help you identify the right systems and processes so you aren't spending money or time on unnecessary things and instead can spend that time and money focusing on the things that are most important to you, your family.
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