Thread by @fortelabs

How many times have you forgotten something important?

Over the last 10 years, I've made a system to solve this. And I've taught it to 20,000 people.

It's called Building a Second Brain.

Here are 12 steps to create your own Second Brain:

1. Decide what you want to capture

Think about your Second Brain as an intimate journal.

Decide what you most want to capture, learn, explore, or share.

Identify two to three kinds of content you already value to get started with.

2. Choose your notes app

Your notes app is at the center of your Second Brain.

I recommend you choose an app based on your notetaking style since it's highly personal.

In this video, I will walk you through how to select the best one for you:

3. Choose a capture tool

I recommend you:

Get a read-later app such as @instapaper or @Pocket.

And start saving articles, quotes, and online content you’re interested in for later consumption.

This step will change the way you think about consuming content forever.

@instapaper @Pocket 4. Get set up with PARA

PARA stands for Projects; Areas; Resources; Archives.

And it's the best way to organize your digital environment for actionability.

This blog post will help you get started: fortelabs.co/blog/para/

@instapaper @Pocket 5. Identify your 12 favorite problems

Make a list of your favorite problems, the questions you ask yourself all the time.

Save this list and return to it for inspiration on what content to capture and keep.

@instapaper @Pocket 6. Automatically capture your ebook highlights

Set up an integration to automatically send highlights from your reading apps (such as a read-later or ebook app) to your notes app.

Use @readwise or @IFTTT to make this easy.

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 7. Practice Progressive Summarization

When reading, highlight what resonates with you.

Every time you revisit the note, add another layer of highlights to boil it down to its essence.

Learn more here: fortelabs.co/blog/progressi…

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 8. Experiment with Intermediate Packets

Break down a project you're responsible for into smaller pieces.

Make a first pass at one of the pieces (creating an Intermediate Packet) and share it with at least one person to get feedback.

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 9. Make progress on one deliverable

Choose one project and see if you can make decisive progress on it using only the notes in your Second Brain.

Use these workflow strategies to help you execute your projects more effectively: fortelabs.co/blog/just-in-t…

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 10. Schedule a Weekly Review

Set a weekly reminder in your calendar to establish the habit of conducting a Weekly Review.

To start, just clear your notes inbox and decide on your priorities for the week.

Access the full guide here: fortelabs.co/blog/the-one-t…

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 11. Assess your notetaking proficiency

Evaluate your current notetaking practices and areas for potential improvement using our free Productivity Potential Quiz:

fortelabs.co/productivity-p…

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 12. Join the PKM community

I invite you to join our free Facebook and Slack communities:
fortelabs.co/community/

Share your journey!

There’s nothing more effective for adopting new behaviors than surrounding yourself with people who already have.

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT TL;DR?

12 steps to build your Second Brain:

1. Decide what you want to capture
2. Choose your notes app
3. Choose a capture tool
4. Get set up with PARA
5. Get inspired by identifying your twelve favorite problems
6. Automatically capture your ebook highlights

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT 7. Practice Progressive Summarization
8. Experiment with just one Intermediate Packet
9. Make progress on one deliverable
10. Schedule a Weekly Review
11. Assess your notetaking proficiency
12. Join the PKM community

@instapaper @Pocket @readwise @IFTTT Ready to take the next step?

Get our Second Brain Quickstart Guide –

A free email course to help you build your Second Brain, increase your productivity and lead a more fulfilling life.

fortelabs.ck.page/b0c4d2241a