How to peel a Post-it™ so it doesn’t fall down: pull flat and straight.

This is helpful if a) you use Post-Its™ a lot, and b) you need them to stay up and don’t want them raining to the ground.

Typically, people pull Post-Its™ by starting from a corner and pulling it off diagonally. This leaves one corner itching to peel away from the wall. Once it starts peeling, it will dry out, and the rest will follow.

Believe it or not, on a rainy day, I even recorded a video about how to pull a post-it so it doesn’t fall down. And we did do some tests.

I learned this technique while at Jump Associates, where we used a lot of Post-Its™, and who, I believe, learned it from some people at 3M, manufacturers of the Post-it™.

This sketch, lovingly polished, is one of many featured in my book Big Ideas Little Pictures

Peel a Post-it so it doesn’t fall down

Among many other sensible suggestions, Michael Pollan recommends avoiding the centre supermarket aisles. It’ll generally keep you on the fresh stuff. Sketchplanation hat tip to Ben Merrick.

Shop healthy

I love Bill Buxton’s Long Nose of Innovation theory that basically a ton of small incremental work precedes what feels like a wow innovation moment. Computer mice, touchscreens, robotics, CNC machining, haptics etc were all around for decades before they hit the big time.

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The Long Nose of Innovation