Pillars and topics are essential elements in your PKM if you want to grow.
Definition
Pillars are consolidated areas in my life.
Things I have to pay attention to.
Examples: my family, my businesses, my growth.
Topics are things that catch my eye, and I want to go deep into them.
They’re like the highways of my life in a certain period.
Examples: PKM, blockchain, leverage.
Differences
1. Time Length
Pillars are here to stay. They’re long-term items. They are and will always be with me.
Topics are more ephemeral. They’re short/mid-term items. They can disappear at any moment.
I cannot avoid paying attention to my family or friends (pillars).
I can stop following a topic whenever I evolve, grow, or set different high-level principles in my life.
2. What I use them for
The most important feature that distinguishes pillars from topics is their use.
What Do I Use Pillars For?
PILLARS equals ATTENTION.
I know I have to pay attention to them because they’re critical and essential elements in my life.
That’s why, in my reviews, I check them to see if everything’s ok.
I need to take care of them at any time in my life.
What Do I Use Topics For?
TOPICS equals FOCUS.
They give me focus, with all the benefits focus has:
- Clarity.
- Peace of mind.
- Control.
- Common sense.
Topics are essential elements to help me overcome the flood of information I “suffer” every day.
I know what I need to capture and process, what I should create projects and actions for, what I must dedicate time to think about.
Topics’ Golden Rule
I have a golden rule talking about topics: I can just have 5 at a time.
That forces me to focus on “just a few things”.
That forces me to prioritize. Decide “what really resonates with me”.
Don’t lie to yourself: 5 are “enough”.
Moving from Topics to Pillars
Topics are dynamic.
They’re kind of an “obsession” in a certain period.
If the “obsession” goes on for a long time, they can become a pillar.
A pillar is something inside my “deepest self”, something if I ignore it, it hurts me. I suffer.
Combining Pillars and Topics to Grow
Pillars and topics allow me to know which goals I set in my life.
From that point, I define projects, tasks, and thinking processes.
Takeaways
Pillars help me be sure I dedicate my energy to the things that matter to me the most.
Topics help me surpass the overwhelming flow of information I face every day.
Both give me balance. Balance is what we should look for in life.
Photo by Chris Brignola on Unsplash.