Before we dive into today's newsletter...
Google just released NotebookLM – a personalized AI, trained on your private notes and documents.
All you have to do is tell it which documents you want to draw from, and then you can ask it questions and have a conversation about anything that's contained in those sources.
Isn't this the dream – a personal AI tutor with access to your memories, research, and notes in a conversational interface?
I already got to try an early version and one feature I really like is that every claim and key point is cited with a link back to the original source.
Google developed the platform in partnership with Steven Johnson, a prolific author who was one of the first people to introduce me to the term "tools for thought." He's been experimenting and writing about them for years and is now helping lead the product development at Google.
For now, NotebookLM is only available in the US and for users 18 and up.
Try NotebookLM
Here's a fantastic challenge you can try with it: Find a surprising connection between two specific ideas, with correct citations, in 20 seconds flat.
My Updated Digital Productivity Pyramid
This is my ongoing attempt to create a grand unified theory of productivity that ties together all the various productivity tools and concepts into one overarching model of how humans create value in the digital age.
It's basically my conspiracy theory that I 100% stand behind 😉
Here are the 5 levels:
- Digital Literacy: The basics of how to use computers effectively
- Time Management: How to deploy your most fundamental limited resource, which is time
- Task Management: How to organize information to maximize the use of an even more limited resource, which is your attention
- Knowledge Management: How to use ideas and knowledge, both your own and others, to create reusable assets that deliver value even when you're not there
- Still developing: Pivotal elements will include project management, working "just-in-time," creative endeavors, and AI
Keep reading for the full explanation of each level.
Solve Everyday Challenges with Your Second Brain (Sleep Training Case Study)
A Second Brain is not only useful for your career or creative endeavors, it can help you solve everyday challenges.
For example, the one all parents face: Trying to get a newborn to start sleeping through the night.
In this video, I'll show you how I used my CODE Method step by step to take notes from the book The Happy Sleeper and turn them into an action plan that helped us get enough sleep as a family.
Watch on YouTube.
Ask These Prompts to Hack Your Brain
Nick Milo interviewed me on his podcast about the ins and outs of how my first brain works. We had a fun, wide-ranging conversation, covering...
- Why building a Second Brain almost didn't happen
- My approach to reading books and which ones have been most memorable
- My journey to becoming a writer
- How to find common ground in an altercation
- Turning annoyance into self-reflection
- Abundance vs. scarcity mindset
- And much more
Watch on YouTube.
Also, Nick just launched his "knowledge management system in a box" for Obsidian.
Obsidian is quickly becoming the go-to market leader when it comes to Second Brain apps, and no one's gone deeper for longer on how to use it effectively than Nick.
He's created Ideaverse Pro as a starter kit for anyone to be able to adopt all his best tips and tricks for Obsidian in one fell swoop.
Check out Ideaverse Pro.
Hiring Second Brainers: Entry-Level Operations Assistant (Part-time, 100% Remote)
We're back with another job ad for Second Brainers:
My name is Nicholas, and I’m a Forte Labs newsletter reader like you.
8 months ago, I saw this same job post from this same company – and I was hired. It’s been a crazy journey, and now I’m sitting on the other side of the table offering you the same opportunity I had.
This role requires zero experience – we’ll teach you everything! It’s part-time and flexible, perfect for freelancers, parents, students, etc. I myself was hired during my Masters program (though I dropped out to work here full-time).
Check out the full job post here.
Even if you have no interest in this role, I still recommend checking it out for a refreshing take on how a job description can look like.
