Very interesting. I always had this fear in the back of my mind that reading books about personal development is useless since I can't retain the information long enough to apply at the right time.
Your method might just be what I need to do to get better at this.
To implement what you read, employ the method of Directives[1]. These days my notes look like the following (from "The Inevitable" by Kevin Kelly):
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You hate updates? Get used to them. Because in the future, living — for most surrounded by technology — will be a constant stream of updates.
1. Embrace being an Endless Newbie; don't be embarrassed if you don't know something!
In the era of constant updates, we will be newbies — forever. Something else we have to get used to. You won't have time to master anything, really. Most of the technologies that will play a large role in the next thirty years have not been invented.
...
We are living in the golden age. We just don't realize it. The last thirty years has created a great starting point. It is the best time ever in human history to begin.
You are not late.
2. Study AI and Hardware. Go out and slap AI and sensors to everything.
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The numbered list is my list of Directives. These imperatives seamlessly organize my notes well; all other pieces of information turn into arguments for these assertions. This info-gathering process feels very intuitive. Our brain must be good at gathering evidence for a piece of advice.
Besides the general Directives, I use org-mode for my tasks. The end goal is to develop sensible systems, not drain your willpower performing these directives. So when I have an idea for implementing a sensible system, I write it down in org-mode (which has a numbered list of all my tasks).
Your method might just be what I need to do to get better at this.