# Nick Milo: The Joy of Thinking and the Rise of the Note Maker ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q0Pf6ZePNGc/maxresdefault.jpg) ## The Purpose of the Presentation - The purpose of the presentation is to encourage active thinking and challenge viewers to think differently, even if they don't agree with everything presented. [(00:01:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=105s) - The speaker tells a story about a riddle his father gave him and his brother, emphasizing the importance of the process of solving riddles rather than just getting the answer. [(00:04:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=260s) ## The Speaker's Background - The speaker worked their way up in the entertainment industry and became an editor for the final season of the show *[[Better Call Saul | Better Call Saul*.]] [(00:09:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=553s) - From 2008 to 2015, [[Evernote]] was used to capture notes, web articles, and manage and grow a fitness boxing business. [(00:05:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=333s) ## The Benefits of Link-Based Note-Making - There are three unfair advantages for link-based note-makers: they increase their surface area of luck, train lateral thinking muscles, and future-proof themselves. [(00:10:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=623s) - Note-making increases the surface area of luck, trains lateral thinking, and helps users future-proof themselves by linking their thinking. [(00:37:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2254s) ## The Dangers of Toxic Productivity - Toxic productivity involves sacrificing the joy of thinking for the sake of getting things done. [(00:12:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=742s) - There is a concern that excessive time spent consuming and collecting information leads to insufficient time spent actively engaging with and reflecting on ideas. [(00:13:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=786s) ## The Consequences of Over-Collecting and Under-Thinking - A potential consequence of over-collecting and under-thinking is the development of a toxic relationship with knowledge, characterized by fear of missing out, a focus on novelty, and superficial engagement with information. [(00:15:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=937s) - People are needed who can think for themselves and develop their own ideas. [(00:39:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2347s) ## Shifting the Ratio of Consuming to Connecting and Creating - Active thinking is a habit that can be developed and strengthened. [(00:17:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1030s) - The goal is not to eliminate consuming and collecting information, but to shift the ratio to favor connecting and creating. [(00:17:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1061s) ## The Value of Note-Making - The speaker believes that the most value is created in the development phase of knowledge management, where ideas are developed and connections are made. [(00:21:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1292s) - Note making creates more value than note taking. [(00:22:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1365s) ## The Zettelkasten Method - Rome Research promotes a bottom-up approach to note taking, starting with individual notes and building connections organically. [(00:27:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1624s) - Index notes were created to organize the abundance of individual notes in a [[Zettelkasten]] system. [(00:27:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1675s) ## The Power of Linking Ideas - The ability to combine ideas in a digital space, specifically using linked notes, leads to accelerated idea generation. [(00:28:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1696s) - [[Niklas Luhmann]], who created the Zettelkasten method, utilized a physical note-taking system with approximately 100,000 index cards, demonstrating that linking ideas can be achieved through analog methods. [(00:46:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2801s) ## The Importance of Fluid Thinking - Applying pre-existing complex systems to personal workflows can be detrimental, as effective systems should evolve from simpler ones. [(00:28:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1739s) - Fluid thinking, a crucial skill, involves adjusting between top-down, bottom-up, and middle-out thinking approaches to problem-solving. [(00:30:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=1837s) ## Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) - Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) helps ground users in a time of information overload and allows them to make sense of things sustainably. [(00:36:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2187s) - PKM supports personal development and empowers users to make sense of the world in a way that can grow with them over time. [(00:36:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2219s) ## Different Approaches to Note-Taking - A "link-based" method of note taking might involve rethinking folder structures and using tags to connect notes to projects. [(00:41:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2471s) - The PARA method assumes a top-down approach to note taking, while a more intuitive, bottom-up approach may be more effective. [(00:43:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2586s) - While acknowledging the practicality of time-blocking for note-taking, the speaker admits to primarily using a more ad-hoc approach for personal note development. [(00:49:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2945s) ## The Non-Linear Creative Process - The speaker described a non-linear creative process that involves a significant amount of time dedicated to "sense-making" which then influences the creation process. [(00:44:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=2685s) ## Maps of Content - A map of content is a note that primarily links to other notes, contrasting with regular notes that contain ideas and writing. [(00:52:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3127s) - Maps of content are intentionally ambiguous in their naming to avoid rigid structure and promote creative thinking. [(00:52:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3152s) - Maps of content can be used to resurface and connect ideas, such as compiling a list of concepts and then linking related concepts together. [(00:54:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3263s) ## Nick's System for Organizing Ideas - Nick has a system for organizing potential [[YouTube]] video ideas and uses the example of a "five decade rule" concept. [(00:55:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3332s) ## Learning More About Nick's Work - The best way to learn more about Nick and his teachings is to visit his website, linkingyourthinking.com/learnmore. [(00:56:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3364s) - The website offers a comprehensive overview of Nick's work, including access to free resources, and a newsletter signup option. [(00:56:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Pf6ZePNGc&t=3370s)