Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will)

Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will) 🔗 **Source:** [Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhzqxQ_kyk0) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [note-taking, obsidian, digital-pkm] > author: Curtis McHale > source: YouTube > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhzqxQ_kyk0 > date created: 2024-12-19 14:32 > > # 🏷️ Title: Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will) >  ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Configure quick switcher for both opening and creating notes — eliminates separate hotkeys #obsidian - [H2] Install Smart Random Note plugin to force serendipitous note discovery — mimics physical note cards #pkm - [H3] Focus on quality output over speed — one good thing beats six terrible things #productivity ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### 🔗 References - [Curtis McHale](https://curtismchale.ca) - [Smart Random Note Plugin](https://github.com/erichalldev/obsidian-smart-random-note) ## 📝 Summary - **What happened**: Curtis responds to a question about physical note cards vs digital systems, explaining why tools alone don't make you smarter - **Why it matters**: Many people fall into "magical thinking" expecting tools like Obsidian to automatically improve their thinking without changing their processes - **Key stakeholders**: PKM enthusiasts, Obsidian users, note-taking practitioners - **Risks and tradeoffs**: Tool-switching without process improvement leads to repeated failure; speed vs quality in output - **Bottom line**: Intentionality and good process matter more than the specific tool you use ## 📖 Main Content Curtis addresses the common misconception that digital note-taking tools will automatically make you smarter. He responds to a viewer's question about physical note card systems used by authors like Robert Greene and Ryan Holiday, explaining that while these systems have value due to their friction and forcing functions, digital systems can achieve similar benefits with the right approach. The core issue is "magical thinking" - believing that simply adopting a new tool (whether Obsidian, Zettelkasten, or any PKM system) will automatically improve your thinking. This parallels the common pattern of task manager switching, where people blame the tool rather than examining their underlying processes. Curtis provides specific techniques for making digital note-taking more intentional: using the quick switcher for both opening and creating notes (forcing you to see existing notes), implementing the Smart Random Note plugin for serendipitous discovery, and focusing on quality output over speed. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=0) — [H1] Response to note card system question - Key idea: Physical note cards have undeniable forcing factors but digital systems can achieve similar benefits - Evidence: "You have to grab a new note and you have to go through some of your other notes to even figure out where you're going to put it" #### ⏱️ [01:30](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=90) — [H2] The magical thinking problem - Key idea: People expect digital tools to automatically transform poor inputs into good outputs - Evidence: "You cannot dump a bunch of stuff into obsidian and expect to get good stuff out" #### ⏱️ [02:45](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=165) — [H3] The tool-switching pattern - Key idea: People abandon tools when magical thinking fails, just like with task managers - Evidence: "Things 3 hasn't changed in years but people cycle between it and OmniFocus thinking each will be better" #### ⏱️ [04:30](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=270) — [H2] Quick switcher configuration technique - Key idea: Using the same hotkey for opening and creating notes forces note discovery - Evidence: "I often go 'ooh, this other thing' and open up another note first, and I cross reference them all" #### ⏱️ [06:15](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=375) — [H3] Smart Random Note plugin demonstration - Key idea: Random note discovery mimics the forcing function of physical note cards - Evidence: Shows plugin configuration with filtered paths, tags, and sources #### ⏱️ [08:00](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=480) — [H3] Additional connection tools - Key idea: Graph analysis and other plugins help surface relationships between notes - Evidence: Demonstrates citations, graph analysis plugin, and Strange New Worlds plugin #### ⏱️ [09:30](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=570) — [H2] AI limitations in note retrieval - Key idea: Current AI tools aren't effective for finding specific ideas in personal notes - Evidence: Failed to find notes about police and activism despite trying multiple AI approaches #### ⏱️ [11:00](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=660) — [H1] The speed vs quality trap - Key idea: Focusing on fast output rather than good output undermines the value of your note system - Evidence: "I'd rather see one really good thing a year rather than six terrible things in a week" #### ⏱️ [12:30](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=750) — [H2] The importance of taking time - Key idea: Good work requires stopping to think, not rushing through processes - Evidence: "It took me 40 minutes to outline, 45 minutes to write, then editing and thinking time" #### ⏱️ [14:00](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=840) — [H3] Multiple passes improve quality - Key idea: First drafts don't contain the connections and insights that emerge through revision - Evidence: "My first pass didn't have all this extra stuff - I only found the links because I took the time" #### ⏱️ [15:15](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=915) — [H1] Intentionality as the key factor - Key idea: Being intentional with your tools and processes produces better results than any specific system - Evidence: "When you are suddenly intentional, it's amazing how good things turn out" #### ⏱️ [16:00](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=960) — [H2] Focus and single-tasking - Key idea: Doing one thing well beats multitasking across multiple activities - Evidence: "If you're going to look through your vault and develop good ideas, stop. Just do that. Don't do six other things at the same time" ## 📚 References - [Curtis McHale's Website](https://curtismchale.ca) - [Smart Random Note Plugin](https://github.com/erichalldev/obsidian-smart-random-note) - [Graph Analysis Plugin](https://github.com/benhughes/obsidian-graph-analysis) - [Strange New Worlds Plugin](https://github.com/TfTHacker/obsidian42-strange-new-worlds) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - Digital note-taking tools won't automatically make you smarter - you need intentional processes and workflows that create the same forcing functions as physical systems - The biggest mistake is "magical thinking" where people expect tools to transform poor inputs into brilliant insights without changing their underlying habits and approaches - Quality matters more than speed in knowledge work - it's better to produce one excellent piece of work than multiple mediocre ones, and this requires taking time to think and revise ## 📰 Newsletter **Stop Expecting Magic from Your Note-Taking Tools** Many WordPress developers and content creators fall into the same trap with note-taking tools that we see with any productivity system: expecting the tool to do the thinking for us. Whether you're documenting code snippets, tracking feature requests, or building your knowledge base, the key isn't finding the perfect tool—it's developing intentional processes that force you to engage with your existing knowledge. Simple techniques like using Obsidian's quick switcher for both opening and creating notes can help you rediscover relevant information. The Smart Random Note plugin adds serendipity to your workflow, similar to thumbing through physical index cards. Most importantly, prioritize quality over speed in your documentation and knowledge work. One well-researched, thoroughly documented solution is worth more than a dozen hastily written notes. **Resources**: [Learn WordPress](https://learn.wordpress.org/), [Developer Docs](https://developer.wordpress.org/), [WP-CLI](https://wp-cli.org/) ## ✅ Action Items #### DevRel - Developer experience: Create intentional note-taking workflows for documenting developer feedback and feature requests - Education: Develop workshops on knowledge management for developer communities - Community management: Implement systems for surfacing and connecting related community discussions #### WordPress - Documentation: Apply quality-over-speed principles to DevHub and HelpHub content creation - Core: Use random note techniques to surface forgotten or overlooked issues in Trac - Meta: Implement better knowledge discovery systems for .org contributor documentation ## 🧪 Hypotheses - Digital note-taking systems can achieve the benefits of physical note cards through intentional friction - Tool-switching behavior indicates process problems rather than tool inadequacy - Quality output correlates more with thinking time than tool sophistication - Random note discovery improves idea connection and creative insights ### 📊 Methodology - A/B testing quick switcher vs separate hotkeys for note creation/opening - Measuring idea connection rates with and without random note plugins - Time studies comparing rushed vs deliberate content creation quality ### ❓ Questions - How can we measure the effectiveness of "friction" in digital note-taking systems? - What specific workflows best replicate the forcing functions of physical note cards? - How do we balance discoverability with focused work in digital knowledge systems? ### 🔮 Future Research - Comparative studies of physical vs digital note-taking outcomes - AI integration patterns that enhance rather than replace human thinking - Long-term retention and application rates across different PKM systems ### 💡 Implications - **Practice**: Focus on workflow design over tool selection for knowledge management - **Education**: Teach process fundamentals before introducing complex PKM tools - **Funding**: Invest in workflow development rather than constant tool acquisition ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: 9th-10th grade (Flesch-Kincaid) #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: Screen recordings of Obsidian interface and plugin demonstrations - Improve: Workflow diagrams showing before/after note-taking processes #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Full video with spoken explanations and examples - Improve: Audio-only version for background listening #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Clear definitions of PKM terms and analogies to task managers - Improve: Glossary of note-taking terminology #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Step-by-step plugin installation and configuration - Improve: Hands-on exercises for implementing workflows #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Cause-and-effect reasoning about tool switching patterns - Improve: Decision trees for choosing note-taking strategies #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Community examples and shared experiences - Improve: Discussion prompts for PKM communities #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Personal reflection on intentionality and focus - Improve: Self-assessment rubrics for note-taking habits #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic discovery metaphors and growth analogies - Improve: Ecosystem thinking about knowledge connections ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: Video has spoken narration throughout - Improve: Detailed alt text for screenshot demonstrations #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Demonstrates keyboard shortcuts extensively - Improve: Screen reader compatible transcript with heading structure #### Contrast and readability - Present: High contrast Obsidian interface in demonstrations - Improve: Ensure subtitle contrast meets accessibility standards #### Media and captions - Present: Auto-generated captions available - Improve: Professional captions with technical term accuracy ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: References diverse author examples (Robert Greene, Ryan Holiday) - Improve: Include note-taking traditions from non-Western cultures #### Inclusive language - Present: Gender-neutral language throughout - Improve: Define technical jargon for newcomers #### Representation - Present: Single perspective from experienced practitioner - Improve: Include diverse voices and use cases ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Tool-switching patterns demonstrate process problems (multiple examples) - Analogical strength: Task manager switching parallels note-taking tool switching - Causal reasoning: Magical thinking leads to tool abandonment when expectations aren't met #### Fallacies - Hasty generalization: "You cannot dump stuff in and expect good stuff out" - overly broad claim without nuance - False dichotomy: Implies choice between speed vs quality without exploring both #### Tone of voice - Overall tone: Conversational and practical, uses personal examples and direct address ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis - No concerning patterns detected - Straightforward critique of common mistakes without attacking individuals - Takes responsibility for his own process development ## 🎯 Conclusion The key insight is that tools don't think for you—your processes do. Whether using physical note cards or digital systems like Obsidian, the value comes from intentional workflows that force you to engage with existing knowledge and take time for quality thinking. Rather than seeking the perfect tool, focus on developing practices that create beneficial friction and prioritize depth over speed. ## 🧱 Refactor Appendix ### 📚 Literature Split Pad ### [H1] Tools require intentional processes to be effective > [!quote] [Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will)](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0) by Curtis McHale via YouTube. Published 2024. Accessed 2024-12-19. > "You cannot dump a bunch of stuff into obsidian and expect to get good stuff out." Applies to all productivity tools, not just note-taking systems. Common pattern across PKM, task management, and other knowledge work tools. [view highlight](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=90#H1) #xref #articleseed ID:rw_001 ### [H2] Quality output requires time and iteration > [!quote] [Obsidian Won't Make You Smarter (This Will)](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0) > "I'd rather see one really good thing a year rather than six terrible things in a week." Counters productivity culture's emphasis on output volume. Writing and thinking benefit from multiple passes and reflection time. [view highlight](https://youtu.be/qhzqxQ_kyk0?t=660#H2) #xref ID:rw_002 --- ### 🔖 Atomic Split Pad (Zettel Candidates) #### [Z1] Friction creates beneficial forcing functions - Applies when friction supports the core purpose of the system - Pointer to 00:00-01:30 timestamp discussion - Links: [[Note-Taking-Systems]] [[Cognitive-Load]] #### [Z2] Tool-switching indicates process problems - Pattern observable across multiple productivity domains - Pointer to 02:45 task manager cycling example - Links: [[Productivity-Systems]] [[Change-Management]] --- ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1] Research graph analysis plugin stability issues — --- ## Full Transcript [00:00] So, in response to my recent video and [00:02] post about slow note takingaking, why I [00:04] take slow notes, why I use um [00:07] handwritten notes uh for my books, [00:09] Robert asked me in the blog post, which [00:10] will be linked uh the video will be [00:12] linked and all that stuff. Um if I like [00:14] that so much, what do I think of the [00:16] note card system that is touted by [00:18] Robert Green, Ryan Holiday, and a few [00:19] other uh authors? Uh if some friction is [00:22] good in your notes, then why isn't more [00:25] friction good in your notes? And today, [00:28] that's what we're going to talk about [00:30] because I do believe that there is an [00:32] uni undeniable forcing factor to having [00:34] a note card where you have to grab a new [00:36] note uh and you have to go through some [00:38] of your other notes to even figure out [00:40] what it is you are [00:43] going to talk like where you're going to [00:44] put it in your notes. You have to do [00:45] that. But I don't think that even though [00:50] digital digital system doesn't require [00:52] this of you, I don't think that it means [00:54] that there is [00:57] no way that this can't happen, that you [00:58] can't do these types of processes in [01:00] your digital notes. [01:03] So, one of the first issues that people [01:05] hit when they talk about their digital [01:06] notes is that they think there's going [01:08] to be some sort of magical forcing like [01:10] forcing factor or forcing thing where [01:12] just because they're using Zettocast or [01:14] PKM or whatever uh PAR that because they [01:18] have that they're going to suddenly put [01:20] a bunch of crap in and good stuff's [01:21] going to come out. And it's just not [01:23] true. It's just not true. You cannot [01:26] dump a bunch of stuff into obsidian into [01:28] pick your log sack whatever other tool [01:32] uh the archive uh whatever I there's so [01:35] many out there but you can't just dump [01:36] stuff in and expect to get good stuff [01:38] out. Um even with I think a lot of [01:40] people do this with AI as well where [01:42] they think I'm going to dump a bunch of [01:43] crap in I'm going to ask my AI assistant [01:45] a question. I've seen this on Obsidian a [01:47] few times where they say they're going [01:48] to ask some AI assistant a question and [01:50] they're going to get all this like [01:51] amazing insight out but you're not. [01:53] you're only going to get some predictive [01:55] text of your existing notes. Now, I [01:57] think there's a place for some AI with [01:59] some of your vaults, with some of your [02:00] notes, but we'll talk about that at some [02:01] point in the future. So, what happens is [02:03] after people have this magical thinking, [02:05] they and you see this in the Obsidian [02:07] Reddit or in Obsidian forums, they say, [02:09] "I got all these notes and this is [02:10] terrible and how do people even use [02:11] this?" And it's not good and and what [02:13] really happened is same with task [02:15] managers when people abandon task [02:17] managers and say whatever their new [02:18] tool, their choice is, right? They're on [02:20] Things three if they're in the Mac [02:22] ecosystem and they go to Omnif Focus and [02:23] Omnif Focus is so much better and then [02:25] like a year later like no way to do is [02:27] the better one and then a year later [02:28] what is it? It's tick tick and then [02:29] they're back to three things three and [02:31] like honestly things three hasn't [02:32] changed in years. There is no uh [02:34] appreciable like change they've made in [02:36] Things 3 that makes it suddenly a better [02:38] choice than when you were on it a couple [02:39] years ago. But there was magical [02:40] thinking. You thought that because you [02:42] picked a new tool suddenly it would [02:43] everything would be better that your [02:45] process would be better. But your [02:46] process is the problem in the first [02:47] place. you had a bunch of crap you put [02:48] into your task manager you were never [02:49] going to do in the first place. So when [02:51] you do it to the next one, you're [02:53] overloaded. You never prune. You never [02:54] threw out all those things. I've talked [02:55] about this a whole bunch of times. And [02:57] the same thing happens with your notes. [02:58] Just because you throw a bunch of crap [02:59] in does not mean you're going to get [03:00] magical unicorns and rainbows out. [03:02] Insert my one of my favorite videos [03:04] about the Squatty Potty here. [03:05] Introducing [03:07] the Squatty Party. Yes, it will give you [03:10] the best poop of your life. Guaranteed. [03:12] I don't just mean you bloated lords and [03:13] hemorrhoidal ladies. [03:16] And how do we do how do we take your [03:18] digital notes from just pushing them to [03:23] like just a dumping ground into [03:24] something that's actually worthwhile? [03:26] And this is not the first time I've [03:27] talked about it. I've talked about I've [03:28] talked about random notes. I've talked [03:29] about it uh a bunch of different times. [03:31] I'm going to link to a bunch of blog [03:33] posts uh in the post that is linked in [03:35] this video where you can look at I'll [03:36] link it. I'll you know if there's videos [03:37] I'll try to have them up above [03:38] throughout this video as well. So, one [03:41] of the first and easiest strategies I [03:43] did is to take my notes and um make sure [03:48] that my open note is the same as my [03:54] uh create new note. So, let's show you [03:56] how we do that. I'm going to go super [03:59] shift 7. All right. And then we can [04:02] bring it up. [04:05] So you can see right here if I hit [04:06] control O I'm finder create new note and [04:10] how do we do that command comma to get [04:12] in here and we can come into our hotkeys [04:14] and we can go uh it's what quick [04:17] switcher quick switcher is control O and [04:20] controlN for new note is also in the [04:22] quick switcher that's it I don't have a [04:24] automatically create new note right uh [04:27] new note create new note blank there is [04:31] nothing there there is no create new [04:33] note in current tab. Everything is tied [04:35] in to the quick switcher. So, with [04:38] having everything in the quick switcher, [04:40] uh, new note, right, open note, [04:42] everything there. I've definitely found [04:44] times where I start typing a new note, [04:46] and I some very rarely do I not take it. [04:48] Do I go, "Oh, wait. I already had [04:49] something on this." But I often go, [04:50] "Ooh, this other thing," and I open up [04:52] another another note first, and I open [04:53] up a second note first, and a third [04:55] note, and then I add my new note, and [04:56] then I look at all the ideas together, [04:57] and I cross reference them all. So, [04:59] that's one way. It kind of mimics the [05:01] way you would do it with um note cards [05:04] because you actually have to see your [05:05] notes as you go through them. Another [05:08] great way to do it is the smart random [05:10] note plugin. We can look at that. Smart [05:13] random note. Let's get me in the right [05:16] spot because I don't know everything [05:18] changed on my cameras. So the smart [05:21] random note plugin that is command comma [05:24] and then we go to community plugins and [05:26] we can go to browse and we go random [05:30] smart random note right there. Okay. So [05:33] what does this do? This allows me to hit [05:36] this dice over here. Where is it? [05:42] Did they change it? [05:44] I don't even see it now. Of course, now [05:47] that we're looking here. So what if we [05:48] go to here random open random note. So [05:53] this is faded sun [05:56] random. [05:59] There you go. Pcam weekly random. Now I [06:01] don't actually do it in uh this format. [06:03] Usually I actually have a workspace load [06:07] workspace layout and I have a random [06:09] note one. This is going to take my main [06:11] note off my other screen that I'm using [06:13] as reference. And this actually has this [06:15] search. So, this actually means that in [06:16] here it takes my random note. Uh, here's [06:19] the dice. Now, the dice shows up and it [06:21] takes it and it only show it if it [06:23] matches in these, right? If it's in my [06:24] path of notes, right there. If it [06:26] matches my tags or if it's in my [06:28] sources, right? So, I if I should [06:30] remember from my folders. So, that means [06:32] it's got to be in my tags folder. So, it [06:35] excludes uh some of my writing I [06:36] believe. Uh, it excludes uh a few things [06:39] in here. So, I just don't see it. But it [06:41] does show me [06:44] anything in my sources which is right [06:46] all my books, clippings, omnivore, read [06:48] wise articles, and like any other stuff [06:50] I have in there. It shows me all of [06:51] that. [06:53] All right, so we've done the smart [06:54] random notes, but there's still a few [06:55] other things I do. Uh we can show I've [06:56] showed this all a lot of this in my um [07:00] video on my Obsidian setup. We can look [07:02] at a little bit of it again, right? Uh I [07:05] go in and we can hit over here and we [07:08] can see my citations if there are any [07:10] for this. So what related to it? Right. [07:14] This is the graph analysis plugin. It's [07:17] been having trouble sometimes and [07:18] sometimes it's been working totally [07:20] fine. So I'm not exactly sure what's [07:22] been going on with it. [07:24] Uh we can do that right [07:27] then. [07:30] Uh something else we've looked at [07:33] strange new worlds can be a plugin that [07:35] you use to show you how how everything [07:37] links together. Uh, and I'm playing with [07:39] some of the AI AI plugins lately to see [07:42] uh how they work and if they're actually [07:44] going to be useful for me. Um, although [07:47] I haven't found them to be that useful [07:50] yet because what I want to be able to do [07:51] uh like today I was trying to uh figure [07:54] out for my writing for the newsletter on [07:56] Sunday the book club. Um, I thought I [07:58] had read about [08:01] police being used to police the actions [08:03] of specifically black people in the case [08:05] of this book that I was trying to [08:06] remember and I and that they get to [08:08] decide what is activism and what is um [08:11] terrorism I suppose is not the word that [08:13] Desmond Cole uses because the book was [08:15] the skin we're in. Um, but they're using [08:17] it to p police black lives to make sure [08:19] that they do and indigenous lives to [08:22] make sure that they don't do um [08:25] things outside that would challenge [08:26] power. Uh, and I couldn't remember it. I [08:29] couldn't remember it. And I was trying [08:30] to like use an AI chatbot to say, I [08:31] think I've read this book. I know I have [08:33] this note. And I tried a few different [08:34] ways and I tried to get something [08:35] locally. It just didn't work. end up [08:36] thinking about it when I went on my walk [08:38] with the dog after walking the kids to [08:40] school, which [08:42] really uh is going to get into my [08:44] another point coming up that one of the [08:46] big things to do is to stop and take [08:48] time. One of the pitfalls of focusing uh [08:52] on output. Um which is good. I think you [08:54] should be focusing on output with your [08:55] vault, not input. Things you can get out [08:57] of it, things you can develop from it. [08:58] But one of the pitfalls can be that you [09:00] focus on fast output. I got to get more [09:02] things out. If I haven't got enough out, [09:04] then I have a problem. And that's not [09:06] something you should do. That's not a [09:07] pitfall you should fall into because [09:08] falling into the fast output pitfall [09:12] means is it good? You don't even know [09:13] yet. You've got to make sure it's good [09:15] output. Primary good output. If it's [09:17] good and it's fast, fine. But primary [09:20] good, right? I'd rather see, you know, [09:22] if you're writing, I'd rather see one [09:23] thing, one thing a month, one thing a [09:25] year, one really good thing a year [09:27] rather than like six terrible things in [09:29] a week. Like put out one good thing and [09:32] that's it. That's far more important. So [09:34] taking time is an important thing. So [09:35] writing even this post, it took me about [09:38] 40 minutes to outline. It took me uh [09:40] another 45 minutes to write. Uh and then [09:43] I went through an editing process. Uh I [09:45] went through thinking about it. That's [09:46] how I found all the links that you'll [09:47] find in the blog post version of this [09:48] when I'm linking to my not on smart [09:50] random notes. I'm talking about the best [09:52] tools for connection. Uh a whole bunch [09:54] of other videos. I found a whole bunch [09:56] of other blog posts that I wrote about [09:57] this. I only found that because I took [09:58] the time. My first uh pass at this when [10:01] I had some headings and had some ideas [10:02] in there. did not have all this extra [10:04] stuff. All it had was like here's the [10:06] idea. Here's why I think this might [10:08] work. And then my sec like the second [10:09] pass of the A line also didn't have [10:11] everything I have. So remember, it's not [10:14] about speed, it's about stopping and [10:15] thinking. If you're not going to stop [10:16] and think, then um yeah, you're just, [10:20] you know, you're not going to get good [10:21] work. So yes, while I think that Robert [10:23] Greens, Ryan Holidayiday, you know, [10:25] whoever uses note cards, there is [10:26] something to it. Um I don't think that [10:30] it's a magical solution. I think it's a [10:32] good system and you can develop a good [10:34] system, a good way to use your digital [10:36] vault. Uh so that you get a lot of the [10:39] same benefits that they see out of their [10:40] physical note card where it forces the [10:42] system on you because you have to touch [10:43] stuff. So you have to be intentional. Uh [10:46] you know, I keep coming back to that uh [10:47] at the end of last year and this year [10:48] that when you are suddenly intentional, [10:50] it's amazing how good things turn out as [10:52] soon as you get intentional with it. So [10:54] be intentional with it. Be intentional [10:55] with like honestly everything. If you're [10:56] going to listen to music, listen to [10:57] music. Pick something you're going to [10:59] listen to and enjoy it. Uh, take the [11:01] time if you're going to really write, if [11:02] you want to like look through your [11:03] notes, look through your vault, uh, and [11:05] develop some good ideas, stop. Take the [11:06] time to do that. Just do that. Don't do [11:08] six other things at the same time. Just [11:10] focus on that. That's it. If you like [11:13] the video, thumbs up below. Uh, [11:15] subscribe. Uh, all that YouTube stuff. [11:17] You know where it is. Uh, you want to [11:18] join, get this in, you know, email [11:20] newsletter format. Uh, if you prefer [11:22] that for some reason, you can get that [11:23] curtismale.ca, [11:25] which is the number-reads, or you can [11:27] pick up the book, uh, newsletter, [11:29] curtismale.c ca/book club. I do not talk [11:31] about book club books on YouTube, so [11:33] that's the only way to get that. Three, [11:35] four posts post every week pretty much. [11:37] That's it. Have an awesome day.