# Hello 2021. Let's Do This. Going from Thought to Results in TheBrain ![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eDKbjLfR3wc/maxresdefault.jpg) ## Intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=0s) - The video is titled "[[Hello 2021]]. [[Let's Do This]]. Going from [[Thought]] to Results in [[TheBrain]]". [(00:00:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=3s) - The speaker's name is Matt Cayton. [(00:00:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=9s) ## Welcome [(00:00:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=12s) - The webinar will cover methods for achieving goals and bringing visions to life using TheBrain software. [(00:01:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=75s) - Attendees will receive a link to download a copy of the presenter's [[Brain | brain]] and a brain from Omar, containing methodologies and further details on the topics covered. [(00:01:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=119s) - The webinar will not cover the basics of using [[TheBrain]] software, but attendees can join a separate Brain 101 webinar held every Friday for that information. [(00:03:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=181s) ## Brainstorming [(00:03:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=220s) - There are four steps to brainstorming: focus on quantity, withhold criticism, get everything you need into your brain, and combine and improve ideas. [(00:04:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=250s) - It is important to get all of your ideas into your brain, no matter how ambitious they may seem, as they can lead to new passions and career choices. [(00:05:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=312s) - David Allen's [[Getting Things Done]] (GTD) methodology is a system for cataloging, categorizing, and managing information, which emphasizes getting information into a trusted source. [(00:06:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=389s) ## My Brain [(00:09:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=587s) - The speaker has been using PersonalBrain for almost 15 years and believes it is a valuable tool for organizing thoughts and maximizing productivity. [(00:10:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=615s) - The speaker's PersonalBrain is structured around five main "focus areas": loved ones, self-improvement, content creation, work, and building wealth. [(00:11:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=718s) - The speaker is interested in the "smart notes" methodology and uses PersonalBrain to create a digital "slip box" to store questions and individual thoughts. [(00:16:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1001s) ## Areas of Interest [(00:18:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1104s) - A new [[Thought | thought]] type was created within a slip box to capture emerging topics of interest. [(00:19:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1146s) - Smart notes are grouped together based on their topic and can be used to create presentations and other materials. [(00:22:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1326s) - Version 12 of the software includes a notes pane that can be used to store information related to a specific thought. [(00:24:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1440s) ## How to Take Smart Notes [(00:24:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1476s) - Smart notes are created by copying and pasting notes taken elsewhere into the notes pane and linking pre-existing thoughts. [(00:25:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1550s) - Smart notes should be kept separate from project notes to avoid creating one large data bank. [(00:28:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1723s) - Smart notes can be used to create workbooks by compiling proven exercises from previous coaching engagements. [(00:30:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1830s) ## Question 1 Color Coding [(00:32:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1932s) - Dollar signs represent a "treasure trove of ideas". [(00:33:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2018s) - "At" symbols imply items on a to-do list. [(00:33:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=1997s) - The letter "Y" is used to indicate actions from a previous time period. [(00:34:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2097s) ## Question 3 References [(00:35:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2156s) - The most recommended resource for learning mind mapping is the book "How to Take Smart Notes". [(00:36:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2184s) - While "How to Take Smart Notes" is based on a physical system, its principles can be effectively applied to digital mind mapping. [(00:36:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2192s) - Personal experience and continuous use of mind mapping tools are crucial for improving mind mapping skills. [(00:37:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2267s) ## Question 4 Thought Types [(00:37:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2274s) - [[Brain | The Brain]] will include "slip box" [[Thought | thought]] types, which are thoughts that will become smart notes, and references. [(00:38:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2286s) - A "thought" is a developing idea that is not yet a smart note, potentially needing further refinement or rewording. [(00:38:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2294s) - The shared Brain will include a reading list and associated thought types, as well as some smart notes for illustrative purposes. [(00:38:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2336s) ## Question 5 Cleanup [(00:39:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2355s) - The speaker does not plan to manually clean up a large list of projects in their digital brain, but will instead rely on organic cleanup as they create new projects and recategorize relevant older projects. [(00:40:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2412s) - The speaker believes in indexing information for retrieval rather than archival, aiming to encounter information naturally when needed. [(00:40:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2451s) - The speaker's digital [[Brain | brain]] contains 46,000 thoughts and 60,000 links, indicating a high level of cross-referencing. [(00:42:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKbjLfR3wc&t=2555s)