Building a Second Brain

Tiago Forte

Author of ⚟ Building a Second Brain…

PARA

Concept shard by Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second Brain. Projects, Areas of Responsibility, Resources, Archive. - - - topic/inbo…

A creative endeavor begins with an act of divergence. You open the space of possibilities and consider as many options as possible

A creative endeavor begins with an act of divergence. You open the space of possibilities and consider as many options as possible…

After working the problem out on paper, Feynman discovered a 2-to-1 ratio between the plate’s wobble and spin, a neat relationship that suggested a

After working the problem out on paper, Feynman discovered a 2-to-1 ratio between the plate’s wobble and spin, a neat relationship…

Are you committed to producing more and better output with less frustration and stress Focus on creating one Intermediate Packet at a time and look

Are you committed to producing more and better output with less frustration and stress? Focus on creating one Intermediate Packet …

As powerful and necessary as divergence is, if all we ever do is diverge, then we never arrive anywhere

As powerful and necessary as divergence is, if all we ever do is diverge, then we never arrive anywhere. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Buildi…

As soon as you understand that we naturally use digital tools to extend our thinking beyond the bounds of our skulls, you’ll start to see Second Bra

As soon as you understand that we naturally use digital tools to extend our thinking beyond the bounds of our skulls, you’ll start…

As the information tide receded, I started to gain a sense of confidence in my ability to find exactly what I needed when I needed it

As the information tide receded, I started to gain a sense of confidence in my ability to find exactly what I needed when I needed…

As you build a Second Brain, your biological brain will inevitably change. It will start to adapt to the presence of this new technological appendag

As you build a Second Brain, your biological brain will inevitably change. It will start to adapt to the presence of this new tech…

As your needs change, give yourself the freedom to discard or take on whichever parts serve you. This isn’t a “take it or leave it” ideology where y

As your needs change, give yourself the freedom to discard or take on whichever parts serve you. This isn’t a “take it or leave it…

Ask yourself, “What are the questions I’ve always been interested in” This could include grand, sweeping questions like “How can we make society fa

Ask yourself, “What are the questions I’ve always been interested in?” This could include grand, sweeping questions like “How can …

Besides his prolific works, Hemingway was known for a particular writing strategy, which I call the “Hemingway Bridge.” He would always end a writin

Besides his prolific works, Hemingway was known for a particular writing strategy, which I call the “Hemingway Bridge.” He would a…

Building a Second Brain is not just about downloading a new piece of software to get organized at one point in time; it is about adopting a dynamic,

Building a Second Brain is not just about downloading a new piece of software to get organized at one point in time; it is about a…

By keeping diverse kinds of material in one place, we facilitate this connectivity and increase the likelihood that we’ll notice an unusual associat

By keeping diverse kinds of material in one place, we facilitate this connectivity and increase the likelihood that we’ll notice a…

By “thinking small,” you can focus on creating just one IP each time you sit down to work, without worrying about how viable it is or whether it wil

By “thinking small,” you can focus on creating just one IP each time you sit down to work, without worrying about how viable it is…

Capture isn’t about doing more. It’s about taking notes on the experiences you’re already having. It’s about squeezing more juice out of the fruit o

Capture isn’t about doing more. It’s about taking notes on the experiences you’re already having. It’s about squeezing more juice …

Capturing notes without an effective way to organize and retrieve them only leads to more overwhelm

Capturing notes without an effective way to organize and retrieve them only leads to more overwhelm. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a…

Capturing quotes from podcasts- Many podcast player apps allow you to bookmark or “clip” segments of episodes as you’re listening to them. Some of t

Capturing quotes from podcasts: Many podcast player apps allow you to bookmark or “clip” segments of episodes as you’re listening …

Capturing voice memos- Use a voice memo app that allows you to press a button, speak directly into your smartphone, and have every word transcribed

Capturing voice memos: Use a voice memo app that allows you to press a button, speak directly into your smartphone, and have every…

Consider how much time we spend designing and arranging our physical environment. We buy nice furniture, deliberate for weeks over the color of our

Consider how much time we spend designing and arranging our physical environment. We buy nice furniture, deliberate for weeks over…

Convergence forces us to eliminate options, make trade-offs, and decide what is truly essential. It is about narrowing the range of possibilities so

Convergence forces us to eliminate options, make trade-offs, and decide what is truly essential. It is about narrowing the range o…

Creative products are always shiny and new; the creative process is ancient and unchanging. —Silvano Arieti, psychiatrist and author of Creativity-

Creative products are always shiny and new; the creative process is ancient and unchanging. —Silvano Arieti, psychiatrist and auth…

Developed in France starting in the late 1800s, mise en place is a step-by-step process for producing high-quality food efficiently. Chefs can never

Developed in France starting in the late 1800s, mise en place is a step-by-step process for producing high-quality food efficientl…

Every little digital artifact you create—the emails, the meeting notes, the project plans, the templates, the examples—is part of the ongoing evolut

Every little digital artifact you create—the emails, the meeting notes, the project plans, the templates, the examples—is part of …

For Swift, writing songs is not a discrete activity that she can do only at certain times and in certain places. It is a side effect of the way her

For Swift, writing songs is not a discrete activity that she can do only at certain times and in certain places. It is a side effe…

For example, I keep a folder full of customer testimonials I’ve received over the years. Any time I think what I’m doing doesn’t matter or isn’t goo

For example, I keep a folder full of customer testimonials I’ve received over the years. Any time I think what I’m doing doesn’t m…

For example, I keep a folder full of stock photos, graphics, and drawings I find both online and offline. Any time I need an image for a slide deck,

For example, I keep a folder full of stock photos, graphics, and drawings I find both online and offline. Any time I need an image…

For modern, professional notetaking, a note is a “knowledge building block”—a discrete unit of information interpreted through your unique perspecti

For modern, professional notetaking, a note is a “knowledge building block”—a discrete unit of information interpreted through you…

Fourth, and best of all, eventually you’ll have so many IPs at your disposal that you can execute entire projects just by assembling previously crea

Fourth, and best of all, eventually you’ll have so many IPs at your disposal that you can execute entire projects just by assembli…

Here’s some examples of projects my students have come up with-

Here’s some examples of projects my students have come up with: – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second Brain…

How do we know so much about even the tiniest details of Butler’s life Because she kept it all—journals, commonplace books, speeches, library call

How do we know so much about even the tiniest details of Butler’s life? Because she kept it all—journals, commonplace books, speec…

How do you create a Hemingway Bridge Instead of burning through every last ounce of energy at the end of a work session, reserve the last few minut

How do you create a Hemingway Bridge? Instead of burning through every last ounce of energy at the end of a work session, reserve …

I came to appreciate the incredible power of writing in public through my partnership with David Perell, who teaches people how to do it via his onl

I came to appreciate the incredible power of writing in public through my partnership with David Perell, who teaches people how to…

I remember the first time someone referred to what I do as “your work.” It dawned on me that I had a body of work that stood on its own, that had an

I remember the first time someone referred to what I do as “your work.” It dawned on me that I had a body of work that stood on it…

I suggest adding one more step- review the notes you’ve created over the past week, give them succinct titles that tell you what’s inside, and sort

I suggest adding one more step: review the notes you’ve created over the past week, give them succinct titles that tell you what’s…

If I could leave you with one last bit of advice, it is to chase what excites you. When you are captivated and obsessed by a story, an idea, or a ne

If I could leave you with one last bit of advice, it is to chase what excites you. When you are captivated and obsessed by a story…

If it feels like the well of inspiration has run dry, it’s because you need a deeper well full of examples, illustrations, stories, statistics, diag

If it feels like the well of inspiration has run dry, it’s because you need a deeper well full of examples, illustrations, stories…

If we consider the focused application of our attention to be our greatest asset as knowledge workers, we can no longer afford to let that intermedi

If we consider the focused application of our attention to be our greatest asset as knowledge workers, we can no longer afford to …

If you have the time to organize your notes each week, that’s great. If you don’t, it’s no problem. I often will wait weeks or even a month or longe

If you have the time to organize your notes each week, that’s great. If you don’t, it’s no problem. I often will wait weeks or eve…

If you ignore that inner voice of intuition, over time it will slowly quiet down and fade away. If you practice listening to what it is telling you,

If you ignore that inner voice of intuition, over time it will slowly quiet down and fade away. If you practice listening to what …

If you’re reading how-to articles in your free time, you can save the best tips in your notes and turn them into distilled notes for when it’s time

If you’re reading how-to articles in your free time, you can save the best tips in your notes and turn them into distilled notes f…

Imagine how absurd it would be to organize a kitchen instead by kind of food- fresh fruit, dried fruit, fruit juice, and frozen fruit would all be s

Imagine how absurd it would be to organize a kitchen instead by kind of food: fresh fruit, dried fruit, fruit juice, and frozen fr…

Instead of confronting a terrifying blank page, I’m looking at a document filled with quotes- from letters, from primary sources, from scholarly pap

Instead of confronting a terrifying blank page, I’m looking at a document filled with quotes: from letters, from primary sources, …

It’s crucial to stay organized, but it needs to be done a little at a time in the flow of our normal lives. It needs to be done in the in-between mo

It’s crucial to stay organized, but it needs to be done a little at a time in the flow of our normal lives. It needs to be done in…

It’s important to keep capturing relatively effortless because it is only the first step. You need to do it enough that it becomes second nature, wh

It’s important to keep capturing relatively effortless because it is only the first step. You need to do it enough that it becomes…

I’ve come to believe that personal knowledge management is one of the most fundamental challenges—as well as one of the most incredible opportunitie

I’ve come to believe that personal knowledge management is one of the most fundamental challenges—as well as one of the most incre…

I’ve learned that completed creative projects are the blood flow of your Second Brain. They keep the whole system nourished, fresh, and primed for a

I’ve learned that completed creative projects are the blood flow of your Second Brain. They keep the whole system nourished, fresh…

Most professionals I work with already have and use Intermediate Packets—that’s the point! Your Second Brain is the repository of things you are alr

Most professionals I work with already have and use Intermediate Packets—that’s the point! Your Second Brain is the repository of …

My mentor advised me to “move quickly and touch lightly” instead. To look for the path of least resistance and make progress in short steps. I want

My mentor advised me to “move quickly and touch lightly” instead. To look for the path of least resistance and make progress in sh…

Notetaking is the easiest and simplest way of externalizing our thinking. It requires no special skill, is private by default, and can be performed

Notetaking is the easiest and simplest way of externalizing our thinking. It requires no special skill, is private by default, and…

Noticing opportunities to combine two or more Intermediate Packets into a new, larger work so you don’t have to start it from scratch

Noticing opportunities to combine two or more Intermediate Packets into a new, larger work so you don’t have to start it from scra…

Noticing that a note could use a better title—and changing it so it’s easier for your future self to find it

Noticing that a note could use a better title—and changing it so it’s easier for your future self to find it. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ B…

Noticing when an IP that you already have could help someone else solve a problem, and sharing it with them, even if it’s not perfect

Noticing when an IP that you already have could help someone else solve a problem, and sharing it with them, even if it’s not perf…

Noticing when an idea you’re reading about resonates with you and taking those extra few seconds to highlight it

Noticing when an idea you’re reading about resonates with you and taking those extra few seconds to highlight it. – Tiago Forte in…

Noticing you could move or link a note to another project or area where it will be more useful

Noticing you could move or link a note to another project or area where it will be more useful. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Seco…

Once you understand how incredibly valuable feedback is, you start to crave as much of it as you can find. You start looking for every opportunity t

Once you understand how incredibly valuable feedback is, you start to crave as much of it as you can find. You start looking for e…

One of the most valuable kinds of information to keep is personal information—your own thoughts, reflections, memories, and mementos. Like the age-o

One of the most valuable kinds of information to keep is personal information—your own thoughts, reflections, memories, and mement…

Our time and attention are scarce, and it’s time we treated the things we invest in—reports, deliverables, plans, pieces of writing, graphics, slide

Our time and attention are scarce, and it’s time we treated the things we invest in—reports, deliverables, plans, pieces of writin…

Over time, your ability to quickly tap these creative assets and combine them into something new will make all the difference in your career traject

Over time, your ability to quickly tap these creative assets and combine them into something new will make all the difference in y…

PARA isn’t a filing system; it’s a production system. It’s no use trying to find the “perfect place” where a note or file belongs. There isn’t one

PARA isn’t a filing system; it’s a production system. It’s no use trying to find the “perfect place” where a note or file belongs.…

Reframing your work in terms of Intermediate Packets isn’t just about doing the same old stuff in smaller chunks. That doesn’t unlock your true pote

Reframing your work in terms of Intermediate Packets isn’t just about doing the same old stuff in smaller chunks. That doesn’t unl…

Search has the benefit of costing almost nothing in terms of time and effort. Just by saving your notes in a central place, you enable software to s

Search has the benefit of costing almost nothing in terms of time and effort. Just by saving your notes in a central place, you en…

Sometimes you come across a piece of information that isn’t necessarily inspiring, but you know it might come in handy in the future. A statistic, a

Sometimes you come across a piece of information that isn’t necessarily inspiring, but you know it might come in handy in the futu…

Sometimes you come across an idea that is neither inspiring, personal, nor obviously useful, but there is something surprising about it. You may not

Sometimes you come across an idea that is neither inspiring, personal, nor obviously useful, but there is something surprising abo…

Surprise is an excellent barometer for information that doesn’t fit neatly into our existing understanding, which means it has the potential to chan

Surprise is an excellent barometer for information that doesn’t fit neatly into our existing understanding, which means it has the…

The biggest pitfall I see people falling into once they begin capturing digital notes is saving too much. If you try to save every piece of material

The biggest pitfall I see people falling into once they begin capturing digital notes is saving too much. If you try to save every…

The final stage of the creative process, Express, is about refusing to wait until you have everything perfectly ready before you share what you know

The final stage of the creative process, Express, is about refusing to wait until you have everything perfectly ready before you s…

The model of divergence and convergence is so fundamental to all creative work,

The model of divergence and convergence is so fundamental to all creative work, – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second Brain…

The more imaginative and curious you are, the more diverse your interests, and the higher your standards and commitment to perfection, the more diff

The more imaginative and curious you are, the more diverse your interests, and the higher your standards and commitment to perfect…

The next time you resume this endeavor, whether that’s the next day or months later, you’ll have a rich set of jumping-off points and next steps wai

The next time you resume this endeavor, whether that’s the next day or months later, you’ll have a rich set of jumping-off points …

The number of things you are looking at and considering is increasing—you are diverging from your starting point. The activity of divergence is fami

The number of things you are looking at and considering is increasing—you are diverging from your starting point. The activity of …

The point isn’t to follow a rigid schedule, but to make it a habit to empty my inboxes and clear my digital workspaces on a regular basis to keep th

The point isn’t to follow a rigid schedule, but to make it a habit to empty my inboxes and clear my digital workspaces on a regula…

The problem isn’t a lack of time. It is that we forget that we have control over the scope of the project. We can “dial it down” to a more manageabl

The problem isn’t a lack of time. It is that we forget that we have control over the scope of the project. We can “dial it down” t…

There is a way out of this situation. It starts with realizing that in any piece of content, the value is not evenly distributed. There are always c

There is a way out of this situation. It starts with realizing that in any piece of content, the value is not evenly distributed. …

There is a way to evoke a sense of inspiration more regularly- keep a collection of inspiring quotes, photos, ideas, and stories. Any time you need

There is a way to evoke a sense of inspiration more regularly: keep a collection of inspiring quotes, photos, ideas, and stories. …

There’s no need to capture every idea; the best ones will always come back around eventually

There’s no need to capture every idea; the best ones will always come back around eventually. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second…

There’s no need to clear your inbox frequently; unlike your to-do list, there’s no negative consequence if you miss a given note

There’s no need to clear your inbox frequently; unlike your to-do list, there’s no negative consequence if you miss a given note. …

There’s no time that’s magically going to become available for you to stop everything and completely reorganize your digital world. It’s not likely

There’s no time that’s magically going to become available for you to stop everything and completely reorganize your digital world…

There’s scientific evidence that our intuition knows what it’s doing. From the book Designing for Behavior Change-

There’s scientific evidence that our intuition knows what it’s doing. From the book Designing for Behavior Change: – Tiago Forte i…

Think about your favorite athlete, musician, or actor. Behind the scenes of their public persona, there is a process they follow for regularly turni

Think about your favorite athlete, musician, or actor. Behind the scenes of their public persona, there is a process they follow f…

Thinking doesn’t just produce writing; writing also enriches thinking

Thinking doesn’t just produce writing; writing also enriches thinking. – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second Brain…

Third, sharing our ideas with others introduces a major element of serendipity. When you present an idea to another person, their reaction is inhere

Third, sharing our ideas with others introduces a major element of serendipity. When you present an idea to another person, their …

This is a challenging idea for a lot of people to wrap their head around. We are used to organizational systems that are static and fixed. We expect

This is a challenging idea for a lot of people to wrap their head around. We are used to organizational systems that are static an…

To be able to make use of information we value, we need a way to package it up and send it through time to our future self

To be able to make use of information we value, we need a way to package it up and send it through time to our future self. – Tiag…

To create an Archipelago of Ideas, you divergently gather a group of ideas, sources, or points that will form the backbone of your essay, presentati

To create an Archipelago of Ideas, you divergently gather a group of ideas, sources, or points that will form the backbone of your…

Unlike Capture and Organize, which take mere seconds, it takes time and effort to distill your notes. If you try to do it with every note up front,

Unlike Capture and Organize, which take mere seconds, it takes time and effort to distill your notes. If you try to do it with eve…

Until now we’ve talked mostly about gathering the ideas of others, but the ultimate purpose of a Second Brain is to allow your own thinking to shine

Until now we’ve talked mostly about gathering the ideas of others, but the ultimate purpose of a Second Brain is to allow your own…

We cannot do our best thinking and our best work when all the “stuff” from the past is crowding and cluttering our space. That’s why that archiving

We cannot do our best thinking and our best work when all the “stuff” from the past is crowding and cluttering our space. That’s w…

We have a lot to learn as knowledge workers from the system of mise en place. We likewise have to contend with a deluge of tasks, under uncertain co

We have a lot to learn as knowledge workers from the system of mise en place. We likewise have to contend with a deluge of tasks, …

We know from neuroscientific research that “emotions organize—rather than disrupt—rational thinking.”8 When something resonates with us, it is our e

We know from neuroscientific research that “emotions organize—rather than disrupt—rational thinking.”8 When something resonates wi…

What are the knowledge assets you’re creating today that will be most reusable in the future What are the building blocks that will move forward yo

What are the knowledge assets you’re creating today that will be most reusable in the future? What are the building blocks that wi…

What most people are missing, however, is a feedback loop—a way to “recycle” the knowledge that was created as part of past efforts so it can be use

What most people are missing, however, is a feedback loop—a way to “recycle” the knowledge that was created as part of past effort…

When I’m about to get on a call with my lawyer, I’ll often prepare by highlighting my notes from our last call and drawing out decision points and a

When I’m about to get on a call with my lawyer, I’ll often prepare by highlighting my notes from our last call and drawing out dec…

When we are in a space with high ceilings, for example—think of the lofty architecture of classic churches invoking the grandeur of heaven—we tend t

When we are in a space with high ceilings, for example—think of the lofty architecture of classic churches invoking the grandeur o…

When you distinguish between the two modes of divergence and convergence, you can decide each time you begin to work which mode you want to be in, w

When you distinguish between the two modes of divergence and convergence, you can decide each time you begin to work which mode yo…

While the Weekly Review is grounded and practical, I recommend doing a Monthly Review that is a bit more reflective and holistic. It’s a chance to e

While the Weekly Review is grounded and practical, I recommend doing a Monthly Review that is a bit more reflective and holistic. …

With a Second Brain as a shield against the media storm, we no longer have to react to each idea immediately, or risk losing it forever. We can set

With a Second Brain as a shield against the media storm, we no longer have to react to each idea immediately, or risk losing it fo…

Your Second Brain is a practical system for enhancing your productivity and your creativity. While these domains are often seen as mutually exclusiv

Your Second Brain is a practical system for enhancing your productivity and your creativity. While these domains are often seen as…

Your efforts to capture content for future use will be tremendously easier and more effective if you know what that content is for. Using PARA is no

Your efforts to capture content for future use will be tremendously easier and more effective if you know what that content is for…

Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. —David Allen, author of Getting Things Done

Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. —David Allen, author of Getting Things Done – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Building a Second …

always assume that, until proven otherwise, any given note won’t necessarily ever be useful. You have no idea what your future self will need, want,

always assume that, until proven otherwise, any given note won’t necessarily ever be useful. You have no idea what your future sel…

wait until you know how you’ll put the note to use. For example, when I’m preparing to write a blog post or article, I’ll usually start by highlight

wait until you know how you’ll put the note to use. For example, when I’m preparing to write a blog post or article, I’ll usually …

your Second Brain is a private knowledge collection designed to serve a lifetime of learning and growth,

your Second Brain is a private knowledge collection designed to serve a lifetime of learning and growth, – Tiago Forte in ⚟ Buildi…

“I kind of have to capitalize on the excitement of me getting that idea and see it all the way through or else I’ll leave it behind and assume it wa

“I kind of have to capitalize on the excitement of me getting that idea and see it all the way through or else I’ll leave it behin…

“I’m inspired to write songs at any time of day, when I’m going through something or when the dust has settled and I’m over it. It can be anything

“I’m inspired to write songs at any time of day, when I’m going through something or when the dust has settled and I’m over it. It…