From Talk to Build: How Meeting Notes Can Be More Than A Drag
I've been thinking about how we use conversations, especially in meetings. We treat them as separate from the actual work - we talk about what we're going to do, then we go do it. But what if conversations could be the work itself?
There's huge untapped potential in meeting notes beyond just documentation. Our conversations can become actual building blocks for decisions and tracking ideas. Instead of discussing what we'll do and then spending separate time executing, we can build while we talk.
The Power of Real-Time Creation
Here's what I mean: when you bring people with expertise into focused conversations, you can design things together in real time. The conversation becomes the production work.
Think about it - how many times have you had a great discussion, taken notes, then had to translate those notes into something usable? That translation step is where things get lost, delayed, or watered down.
Building During Conversations
What if we shifted from whiteboarding and deciding, then later turning ideas into usable formats? The conversation itself can become the production work.
Whether it's database schemas, strategic frameworks, or technical documents - you can build these things while discussing them. The conversation doesn't have to be about the work; it can be the work.
Real Examples of Conversational Creation
Imagine sitting down with a client to discuss their database needs. Instead of taking notes about what the database should include, you could build the schema right there. As you talk through user data, relationships, and storage requirements, you're creating the actual structure. The conversation becomes the design process.
Or think about strategic planning sessions. While a team discusses their goals and challenges, you could be structuring their thoughts into a framework in real-time. The conversation becomes the strategic plan itself - not notes about what should go in it later.
This approach could work for all kinds of things:
Database schemas - discussing data types and relationships while building them
Strategic frameworks - talking through approaches while documenting them
Technical documents - building specs as you discuss requirements
Process documentation - creating workflows as you walk through them
Project plans - developing timelines and tasks during the planning conversation
The AI Integration Workflow
The power multiplies when you connect documented conversations to AI tools. Here's how it works:
Client feature discussions become PRDs without separate documentation work
Conversation transcripts drop directly into AI prompts
Tools like Cursor can take conversational requirements and build directly from them
The discussion becomes the beginning of the actual deliverable
It's straightforward - the conversation is captured, fed into AI tools, and transformed into working code, documents, or designs. No translation needed.
Making It Work
Want to try this? Here's what works:
Set the Stage Tell people upfront that you'll be building during the conversation. It changes the energy from theoretical to practical.
Use Collaborative Tools Granola, Notion, Claude Code - anything that lets everyone see the creation happening in real-time.
Record Everything Audio transcription is key. Otter.ai and Granola.ai capture the full conversation in real time.
Connect Your Workflows Meeting notes that flow into your project management system, code editor, or design tools become raw materials instead of just records. For instance, you can speak to Claude and have it create Asana tasks for you.
Start Small Pick one type of meeting - maybe weekly planning - and experiment with building during the conversation.
The benefits compound quickly. People engage differently when they see ideas taking shape. There's no gap between what was said and what was built. You can validate ideas immediately - "Is this what you meant?" becomes "Let me show you." And the artifact you create is the documentation.
Thought as Creation
This feels like approaching "thought as creation" - where ideas become tangible outputs with unprecedented speed. The conversations we have, when properly captured and connected to the right tools, can transform from planning sessions into actual production moments.
It's a subtle but powerful shift from chatting about ideas to actually building them through dialogue. When conversations are connected to the right tools and workflows, the gap between thinking and creating disappears.
Not every meeting needs to be a production session. Some conversations are exploratory or relationship-focused. But when the goal is to create something - why not create it during the conversation?
Give It a Try
Next time you're in a meeting about building something, try building it right there. Start simple - outline the document, sketch the system, create the framework. You might be surprised how natural it feels.
The tools exist. The capability is there. We just need to shift how we think about conversations.
After all, if we're going to talk about the work, we might as well do the work.
Have you experimented with turning conversations into creation? I'd love to hear what's worked for you. Drop me a line at dave@davemerwin.com or connect on LinkedIn. Let's build something while we talk about it.