You might be suspicious that Building a Second Brain is just yet another self-help program, promising the moon with productivity tips, life hacks, and “one weird trick.”
We get it.
There are far too many feel-good, wishy-washy “secret systems” cooked up by people looking to make a quick buck.
So we want to address any doubts in your mind head-on.
There are 7 critical differences between Building a Second Brain and so many other courses and programs out there.
1. Building a Second Brain isn’t abstract and theoretical
This system was developed in the trenches of dealing with real-life problems, not in a laboratory or classroom, which means it is highly practical and immediately useful.
While we focus on practical skills, we don’t stop there: The course also cultivates the deeper mindset and paradigm shifts necessary to thrive in an age of information abundance.
2. Building a Second Brain isn’t a random collection of disconnected “tips and tricks”
It’s based on how the fundamental creative process works (and has worked for thousands of years):
- Capturing information from the outside world
- Organizing it in a way that lets you easily find and use it
- Distilling it down to the best ideas
- Expressing your ideas in your unique voice through writing, speaking, designing, or teaching
This is what we call the CODE method – our 4-step process for consistently turning the information you consume into creative output and concrete results.
3. Building a Second Brain doesn’t require you to work even harder and do even more
Organizing information for the sake of it isn’t the goal of a Second Brain. We teach you how to do more with less, to use the sources of leverage available to you, and to offload as much effort as possible to technology. As a result, you get more time and freedom to pursue the things that are important to you.
4. Building a Second Brain isn’t about optimizing or perfecting yourself
This is actually the opposite of self-improvement. Building a Second Brain is about optimizing a system outside of yourself – a system not subject to your limitations and constraints. It’s designed to leave you happily unoptimized, free to roam, to wonder, to wander toward whatever makes you feel alive here and now in each moment.
5. Building a Second Brain isn’t fixated on any particular app or software
Building a Second Brain is tool-agnostic, meaning it works with any app or platform you prefer to use. In our community, students use Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes, OneNote, Craft, Roam, Obsidian, Bear, Google Keep, among many other notetaking tools.
6. Building a Second Brain doesn’t require any pre-existing knowledge or skills
Building a Second Brain only requires you to have the most basic familiarity with how to use a computer or smartphone. And because we’ve noticed that so many people begin the course without knowing which notetaking app to use, we’ll guide you through choosing one before the first live session.
7. Building a Second Brain isn’t a “take it or leave it” ideology where you must accept all or nothing
Applying even one or two of the methods I teach can revolutionize your productivity and learning. And if any part doesn’t make sense or doesn’t resonate with you, put it aside. You can mix and match the tools and techniques you learn to suit your needs.