On a personal note - meaning

Question

1. What does "on a personal note" mean?
2. Is it okay to use this phrase like the example below in changing the tone of an interview, for example, from work-related to something personal?
3. Does it sound natural? If not, any phrase suggestions?

On a more personal note, I enjoy reading books and traveling.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

AnonymousWhat does "on a personal note" mean?

It's usually part of a narrative or report (or interview, as you suggest).

The question is, Who is the person??

I suppose something like a blog is all on a personal note.

If a reporter is giving a summary of an interview he has conducted in the past with an important person about an important subject, when he begins a segment, or paragraph with, "On a [more] personal note; he may be about to tell us something about himself (the reporter), or he may be about to reveal something off topic which the "important person" told him about his personal life.

On a more personal note, I enjoy reading books and traveling.

This is fine. You (the speaker) may even be the only person involved.
You may be giving a lecture on a scientific subject.
In the middle of it, or at the end of it, you may wish to tell something about your family, which may or may not relate in some way to the subject of your lecture.

When this is [a transcription of] a live interview with a famous person, and is essentially a dialogue; there are usually off-topic personal issues which the interviewer would love to get the person to talk about. "On a more personal note" may precede such a question.

- A.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, A.  I really appreciate your explanation.  It makes sense to me now. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

On a personal note - meaning

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