# How the Top 1% Take Notes | Full Mindmap Guide ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U7MpwlLWyME/maxresdefault.jpg) ## The Tree Notes Technique - The Tree Notes technique is a combination of Mind mapping and concept mapping that maximizes learning while minimizing study time, and it's a key part of the success of students in the Study Quest program, who save about 2 hours of study time per day [(00:00:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=42s). - The Tree Notes technique is an acronym for the four steps, which come from evidence-based techniques, and the first step is T, which stands for Thought Process [(00:01:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=77s). - The Thought Process step involves identifying the main concepts and details of the material to be learned, and using the 80/20 rule to identify the 20% most important keywords that make up the trunk of the tree [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=121s). - To identify the main concepts and details, an outline can be created, and if needed, tools like [[ChatGPT | Chat GPT]] can be used to help with the process [(00:02:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=153s). - The goal is to focus on two to four of the most important concepts, and to lay them out on the page, leaving room to brainstorm the connections between them [(00:03:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=197s). - The connections between the concepts are important to figure out, and a typical mind map would just write the topic in the middle and have branches coming off of it, but this method has limitations [(00:03:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=207s). - The Tree Notes technique is taught in the Study Quest program, which helps students get better grades while studying less, and has students from all over, including Med students, computer science students, and [[Ivy League]] students [(00:00:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=28s). ## Strengthening Connections Between Core Concepts - To strengthen the connections between Core Concepts in note-taking, it's essential to ask evaluative questions that help relate ideas, identify similarities and differences, and establish cause-and-effect relationships [(00:03:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=220s). - Evaluative questions can include inquiries about the chronological order, logical or scientific basis, and bigger picture of the concepts, which can be brainstormed with or without the help of AI [(00:03:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=233s). ## Four Main Concepts in Marketing - Four main concepts in marketing to find more customers have been identified: paid advertising, cold calling, organic content, and warm outreach, all of which are forms of marketing [(00:04:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=269s). - Paid advertising involves paying money to show an advertisement to a large number of people at once, such as TV commercials or [[YouTube]] video ads [(00:04:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=280s). - Cold calling is a one-on-one approach where strangers are contacted, usually via phone or in-person, to try to sell them something [(00:04:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=296s). - Organic content is familiar to most people and includes content like YouTube videos, [[Instagram]] posts, [[TikTok]] videos, or blog posts on the internet [(00:05:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=340s). - Organic content can be viewed by thousands of people at once, similar to paid advertising, but does not require payment to be shown to people [(00:05:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=350s). - Warm outreach involves reaching out to people one by one who already know you, such as friends, family, or social media followers, and is usually free to contact them [(00:06:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=376s). - Warm outreach differs from cold calling in that it involves contacting people who are not strangers, and may not require payment to acquire contact information [(00:06:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=386s). - Asking evaluative questions helps to identify the relationships between these four main concepts, particularly in terms of how many people are being reached out to at once [(00:06:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=416s). - The four concepts of paid advertising, content creation, warm outreach, and cold calling can be visualized as a matrix, with the x-axis representing the cost and the y-axis representing the number of people reached, to help draw out thought processes and connections between them [(00:07:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=442s). ## The Importance of Thought Process - Each person's thought process is unique and personal, and it's essential to evaluate different viewpoints and synthesize them to form one's own conclusions, a process known as syntopical learning [(00:09:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=542s). - Authors and teachers have their own thought processes, and when they teach, they try to convey their thought process to their students, but not all students will understand it in the same way [(00:09:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=574s). - Mastery or expertise on a subject means having a clear and useful thought process that enables one to teach it better, create better content, and deliver more value [(00:09:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=591s). - Thought process is a crucial aspect of learning and earning more money in one's work and career, and it makes up the trunk of the tree in the mind mapping process [(00:10:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=609s). ## Syntopical Learning and Relational Learning - Relationships between keywords are essential in mind mapping, and it's better to add them by relationships rather than in a hierarchical manner to avoid isolating groups and encouraging memorization [(00:10:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=620s). - [[James Clear]] and [[Charles Duhigg]], two famous authors on habits, have similar but slightly different thought processes and frameworks on the subject, highlighting the importance of evaluating different viewpoints [(00:08:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=503s). - Syntopical learning involves evaluating different perspectives, synthesizing them, and forming one's own conclusions, which is a fun and essential aspect of learning and science [(00:08:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=536s). - The brain stores information in a network of connections, similar to a tree with roots and branches, rather than in isolated folders, and to achieve this, keywords should be added in relationships, which is known as relational learning [(00:10:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=654s). - When adding keywords in relationships, it can be done layer by layer, starting with sub-branches and connecting them as you go, focusing on relationships rather than keeping them isolated [(00:11:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=666s). ## Adding Keywords in Relationships - To add keywords in layers, start by ranking them by the number of relationships they have with other keywords, and use valuative questions to compare and contrast terms [(00:11:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=700s). - The thought process can be visualized as a funnel, where the start of the funnel gets the attention, and the customer is taken down a funnel to build a deeper connection with the brand [(00:12:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=733s). - The tree note can grow and evolve as relationships are added, and it is recommended to use an [[IPad | iPad]] or tablet rather than paper and pen to make it easier to erase and move things around [(00:12:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=751s). ## Visualizing and Remembering Notes - The brain remembers visuals better than words, and using visuals can make it more efficient to review notes, especially for exams [(00:13:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=783s). - To make notes more expressive, turn words into visuals using visual frameworks, such as matrices, funnels, pillars, pyramids, cycles, flow diagrams, and charts [(00:13:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=816s). - The brain is already familiar with these visual frameworks, making it easier to remember notes when they are applied [(00:14:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=871s). ## Using Mnemonics and Other Techniques for Recall - To make notes more efficient for review, use techniques such as pneumonics, which can help to instantly remember notes [(00:14:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=880s). - To help remember information, various techniques can be used, such as acronyms, abbreviations, rhymes, and mnemonics, like the "tree method" where each letter reminds the user what to do and in what order [(00:14:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=899s). - If a list of processes or keywords is available, an acronym or rhyme can be formed to make it easier to remember, and tools like [[ChatGPT]] can be used to help brainstorm [(00:15:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=916s). - A mnemonic for a sales script can make it easier to remember all the steps and their order, making it a useful tool for marketing terms [(00:15:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=927s). ## Testing Knowledge and Mastery - To test knowledge, it is recommended to close all notes, pull out a blank piece of paper or [[IPad | iPad]] screen, and draw the mind map from memory, which is similar to the "blurting technique" or active recall [(00:15:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=940s). - Redrawing the tree note complete with relationships, structure, and expressions from memory several times with ease indicates mastery of the information and readiness to use it in various situations [(00:16:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=974s). - Mastering knowledge through this method can translate to more than just good grades, but also leveling up earning potential, as seen in people who are good at creating content, being on podcasts, or creative writing [(00:16:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=1005s). ## Examples and Applications - The tree note example provided was on marketing concepts, but another example is available for medical concepts, and viewers can request examples for other subjects in the comments [(00:16:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=1012s). - This approach to learning is recommended for those looking to turn their knowledge into online income, as it is the method used to build a channel and business around knowledge [(00:17:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7MpwlLWyME&t=1034s).