“The smartest leaders I know? They’re not the ones who talk the most in meetings. They’re the ones who write the summary after.”
— Di Tran
In a world that moves fast and forgets faster, the most powerful, underrated act you can do—after any important meeting—is simple:
Write the meeting summary. And send it. Immediately.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a casual coffee chat, a mentorship moment, or a boardroom negotiation. You want to be serious? Want to show you’re ready to lead? Want to self-hypnotize yourself into becoming more focused, more respected, more accountable?
Then start with this: Write it down and share it.
🧠 Why Writing the Meeting Summary Matters
Most people walk away from a meeting with ideas bouncing in their head, maybe a voice note or a loose to-do list. But within 24 hours? It’s gone. Forgotten. Scattered. Lost in the noise.
But not you.
You write the summary.
- You capture the key takeaways.
- You reflect on what you learned.
- You outline the next steps.
- You clarify what everyone said.
- And you make it real.
This isn’t just note-taking. This is leadership. This is identity-building.
🚀 Why Sending It to Everyone Changes the Game
Don’t just write it for yourself. Send it to the people you met with.
Why? Because it shows:
- Respect
You listened. You cared. You took their time seriously enough to document it. - Meticulousness
Great leaders are detailed. You captured not just the “what” but the “why” and the “what’s next.” - Discipline
Anyone can talk. Few will write. Even fewer will send. - Initiative & Control
You’re not waiting for others to recap. You’re leading. You’re in control. - You’re Ready to Work
A meeting is nothing without follow-through. A summary is your first step in execution. - Future Value
Your brain will forget. Your summary won’t. It’s a digital time capsule of value, alignment, and action.
🌀 Bonus Power Move: SELF-HYPNOSIS THROUGH WRITING
Here’s the secret no one tells you:
Writing isn’t just for memory—it’s for mind control.
Every time you write a summary, you’re doing something deeper. You’re hypnotizing yourself.
You’re programming your brain to:
- Remember what matters.
- Focus on what’s next.
- Believe that you are someone who takes action.
- Build internal clarity, accountability, and confidence.
You’re rewiring yourself to become the kind of person you’re writing about.
That’s what I call intentional self-hypnosis.
You don’t need a guru. You don’t need a hack. You just need the habit.
💡 Di Tran’s 5-Point Framework for Meeting Summary Mastery
- Write It Within 30 Minutes
Don’t wait until tomorrow. Your energy fades. Your memory leaks. Capture it while it’s fresh. - Include the Who, What, Where, Why, and Next
- Who was there (full names and roles)?
- What was discussed?
- Where did it happen?
- Why did this meeting matter?
- What’s next (your action items)?
- Make It About Them AND You
Reflect on what they shared. But also write what you took from it—and how it applies to your life. - Send It Respectfully
A simple email or message: “Thank you again for your time today. Here’s what I took away from our meeting. Please let me know if I missed anything.” - Store It in Your Digital Brain
Notion, Google Docs, Evernote—whatever tool you use, keep it searchable. These summaries become your personal success archive.
📍 Real Example: How One Summary Changed Everything
Fuad Handal, a young leader I recently met at the University of Louisville, did this after our first 20-minute mentorship talk. Instead of just thanking me and moving on, he sent a full, detailed summary. He titled it professionally, reflected deeply, and laid out his next actions.
That one act elevated him from “student” to “serious.”
It told me: this guy’s not just listening—he’s moving. And now, I’m happy to meet with him again, because I know it’s not a waste of anyone’s time.
🧭 Final Thought: The Pen Is the First Step to Power
You want to stand out? Start with the thing that most people won’t do.
You want to lead? Start with the habit that shows you already are.
Write. The. Summary.
Every meeting. Every time. As much as you can.
And remember:
“Writing doesn’t just change how people see you—it changes who you become.”
Now go write your future. One summary at a time.
REFERENCES
The Benefits of Taking Written Meeting Notes
https://www.flytosoar.com/articles/the-benefits-of-taking-written-meeting-notes
Self-Hypnosis to Unlock Creativity with Suzette Martinez Standring
https://www.draft2digital.com/blog/self-hypnosis-to-unlock-creativity-with-suzette-martinez-standring-ep106/
How to Write an Effective Meeting Summary: Tips and Best Practices
https://voicenotes.com/blog/meeting-summary
How Anyone Can Use Self-Hypnosis to Be More Creative
https://upnow.com/how-anyone-can-use-self-hypnosis-to-be-more-creative/
How to Write Meeting Summaries That Drive Action
https://www.agendalink.com/blog/how-to-write-meeting-summaries-that-drive-action
Improve Your Creative Writing Hypnosis Audio
https://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/personal-productivity/creative-writing
5 Things You Must Know About Meeting Summary
https://christophertao.medium.com/5-things-you-must-know-about-meeting-summary-8142841b68ae
Self-Hypnosis to Unlock Creativity with Suzette Martinez Standring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x74XII8N-w
Is Sharing Your Meeting Notes Really Worth the Effort?
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sharing-your-meeting-notes-really-worth-effort-knowtworthy
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https://www.reddit.com/r/hypnosis/comments/p2d2fa/can_hypnosis_be_used_for_creative_imagery_and/
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https://everyday-alchemist.com/2024/05/09/5-ways-hypnosis-can-enhance-your-writing/
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Hypnosis for Writer’s Block?
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Meeting Notes vs. Minutes: Everything You Need to Know
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Using Self-Hypnosis as a Writing Tool!
https://www.sfwriters.org/using-self-hypnosis-as-a-writing-tool/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxIcZ4Xdao
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AI Notetakers Could Save Us from Meeting Overload
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Use Zoom’s AI Companion to Take Notes and Summarize Meetings
https://www.wired.com/story/zoom-ai-companion-take-notes-summarize-meetings
Why Apple Intelligence Summarization Is a Game-Changer for Your Inbox
https://www.lifewire.com/apple-intelligence-summarization-8756618
I Tried a New Self-Hypnosis App and It’s a Game-Changer for Parents
https://www.parents.com/hypnosis-app-is-a-game-changer-for-parents-8754459
Bill Gates reveals what he uses AI for most
https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-uses-ai-meeting-summaries-notes-copilot-teams-2024-9
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Bill Gates shares how he uses AI in his personal life – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyFY4rQU0o