Maybe you’re obsessed with thinking the more features your PKM has, the better you’ll perform.
A long time ago, I thought that too. I changed my mind.
Since then, I’ve performed at my best.
How Did I Conclude Less Is More?
I love biographies.
When you see what geniuses of History produced, you start thinking something’s wrong with you.
See, for example, the huge amount of art pieces Mozart produced.
He didn’t have a digital PKM.
What did Mozart have?
Simple: a quill, ink, and a candle.
You can say the same thinking of Leonardo or Feynman.
That made me think: how the hell am I complicating so much my PKM?
Since then, I started simplifying it (aka, my life).
I’ve never performed better in my whole life.
Here, I share 5 ways you can start implementing today.
1. Plain Text Files
Forget about:
- Complicated databases.
- Filling in fields.
- Chaotic workflows and mental models.
Write it as you think it.
Forget about thinking about where to store it.
Use intuition and just basic principles easy to digest.
2. Local storage
Buy speed.
Bet on flow, trust, and security.
Bet on the long-term.
3. Avoid cool features
They’re cool at the beginning.
Later on, they become obstacles on your way to accomplishing your goals.
You just need time to do, to perform. Organizing should take you nothing.
Forget about cool features that get you nowhere.
4. Reduce the number of apps
Remember Mozart: quill, ink, candle.
You don’t need an ecosystem of dozens of apps.
Try to reduce your PKM’s architecture to the simplest.
5. Avoid continuously changing your PKM architecture
No need to move from one app to another.
You’ll just see the same tasks in a different way.
Focus on taking the best from the apps you bet on. Be sure they’re good enough.
Dig deeper!
Takeaways
- Geniuses and great ancient civilizations didn’t have a digital PKM to rule their lives and projects.
- They built operas, amazing buildings, great inventions.
- Use them as an inspiration to understand life is simple. So simple, you don’t need to complicate it.
Photo by Pierre Châtel-Innocenti on Unsplash.