## Intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=0s) - Personal [[Knowledge management | Knowledge Management]] ([[PK machine gun | PKM]]) is considered a solution to a self-created problem, requiring hours of maintenance each day to keep perfect notes, which often fail to provide answers when needed in real-world situations [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=0s). - The concept of PKM can be compared to an old advertising quote, where half the money spent is wasted, but it's unclear which half, similarly, half the notes taken may be wasted, but it's hard to determine which ones [(00:00:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=26s). - The process of note-taking often involves creating complex systems, adding tools, and automated processes, which can make things harder instead of easier [(00:00:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=52s). - The idea of "capture now and organize later" is considered a lie, as it can take more time to sort through and organize notes than the time spent reading or learning [(00:01:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=61s). - For every hour spent reading a book, two hours may be needed to sort through and organize notes, which can be a significant time commitment [(00:01:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=67s). - The concept of diverge and converge is important in note-taking, but often results in collecting too much information, creating a vast amount of data that's difficult to process [(00:01:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=85s). - The real problem with [[PK machine gun | PKM]] is being realistic about the amount of information that can be processed, and it's essential to filter information ruthlessly, considering what value it adds [(00:01:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=118s). - It's essential to be okay with not capturing everything, as it's impossible to process all the information available, and it's acceptable to miss things, just like missing social media posts [(00:02:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=152s). ## What am I doing this for [(00:02:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=166s) - When making notes, the first rule should be to ask "what am I doing this for," which helps to limit input and realize that not everything needs to be noted down [(00:02:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=167s). - By being okay with missing a few things, it becomes possible to quickly search for information online whenever needed, which raises the question of what value personal notes are really bringing to one's workflow [(00:03:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=182s). - Many people never respond to messages or forget about others because they are not constantly thinking about them, and it's fully accepted in the real world that people forget things all the time [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=205s). - Forgetting stuff is okay, and people don't really care, which can help alleviate frustration when others don't respond or follow up [(00:03:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=218s). - Keeping fewer notes means less maintenance, similar to how having less stuff around the house means less work to organize and find things [(00:03:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=232s). - Having fewer tasks, notes, and actions means that the structures built to manage them are less needed, and productivity systems can still help but only when used to slow down and free up time [(00:04:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=248s). - The real benefits of productivity systems are seen when they are used to free up time to think, relax, and be human, rather than trying to do more in less time [(00:04:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=266s). ## Accept the chaos [(00:04:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=277s) - Accepting chaos is essential in personal [[Knowledge management | knowledge management]], and one should not spend too much time organizing notes to create a perfect, polished set [(00:04:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=277s). - Instead, focus on taking notes and accept that organizing them is a task for the future, as it's unclear which notes will be useful [(00:04:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=287s). - Notes can be split into topic notes and journaling, with topic notes being simple and consisting of a notepad with the topic name and relevant information [(00:04:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=298s). - Journaling is more about keeping track of daily activities and getting thoughts out of one's brain, rather than creating organized notes [(00:05:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=315s). - Journal notes are already organized by date, making further organization unnecessary [(00:05:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=329s). - The process of writing down thoughts and reflections can be more important than the output, and sometimes it's about relaxing and enjoying the writing process [(00:05:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=343s). - Notes don't have to be perfect and can be a bit messy, as they are a brain dump and a way to have a conversation with the paper [(00:06:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=365s). - The goal of notes is not to create a pristine, organized system, but to relax and think about what's in one's head [(00:06:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=379s). - Paper journals can be useful for writing down thoughts and reflections, and it's okay to discard most of the content and only keep the valuable gems that pop up [(00:06:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=397s). - Keeping a collection of paper journals can be nostalgic, but it's unlikely that one will regularly read through them, and it's not necessary to create a system for them [(00:06:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=403s). ## Workflow [(00:07:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=426s) - The key to effective personal [[Knowledge management | knowledge management]] lies in the workflow, not the app used, as a well-designed workflow can eliminate unnecessary steps and make information management easier [(00:07:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=427s). - A simple tool like Notepad can be sufficient for a workable solution, and some people even use paper to effectively manage their notes [(00:07:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=441s). - Software like Lseek can help streamline the process, but it is not essential, and limiting the amount of information written down is crucial [(00:07:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=447s). - Writing down information by definition limits what can be written, forcing users to focus on the highlights, which is a key step in effective note-taking [(00:07:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=475s). - The first step to effective note-taking is letting go of the obsession with finding the best app and focusing on what is actually valuable to write down [(00:08:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=486s). - When deciding what to write down, it is essential to consider what your future self will find valuable, and most of the time, unnecessary information can be left unwritten [(00:08:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=490s). - Information can be categorized into two types: important and memorable, or unimportant and not worth writing down [(00:08:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=498s). ## Conclusion [(00:08:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=504s) - The key to effective personal [[Knowledge management | knowledge management]] is to be selective about what information is captured, ensuring it truly adds value [(00:08:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=504s). - It's unnecessary to create a personal copy of [[Wikipedia]], as search engines can still find relevant information, even if their quality has decreased over time [(00:08:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=525s). - Instead of capturing all information, focus on writing down personal thoughts, notes, and ideas, and link back to the original source [(00:08:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=531s). - This approach reduces the amount of information that needs to be written down, as there's no need to replicate the internet [(00:09:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=540s). - Personal knowledge management should focus on what's truly interesting and relevant, rather than trying to solve all the world's problems or capture all available information [(00:09:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=556s). - It's acceptable to not have all the information and to rely on [[Google]] searches or research when needed, as it's unlikely that all information will be needed in the future [(00:09:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=563s). - Simplifying personal [[Knowledge management | knowledge management]] systems and taking fewer notes can lead to a better life, as it reduces the complexity and time required to maintain these systems [(00:09:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=572s). - If existing systems are not working, it's essential to abandon them or make them work for the individual, rather than the other way around [(00:09:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg&t=582s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlniB27j4Yg)