Why information doesn't stick
An honest look at how working memory and long-term retention actually function. Understanding the mechanism clarifies why most note-taking habits fail.
- The forgetting curve in a professional context
- Why re-reading and highlighting don't work
- What a knowledge system actually needs to do
Building a capture habit
The tools and triggers for capturing information reliably across different work contexts — from deep reading to fast-moving meetings.
- Designing your capture workflow
- What to capture and what to skip
- Inbox zero for knowledge
- Capture templates for different input types
Structuring for retrieval
How to organise your knowledge base so it serves your future self. The distinction between organisation for storage and organisation for use.
- Folder structures vs. linked networks
- The PARA method and its alternatives
- Tagging strategies that scale
Finding what you need, fast
Retrieval is the point of the whole system. This module focuses on search strategies, linking habits, and the mental models that make finding easy.
- Building a personal search vocabulary
- Bidirectional linking for knowledge graphs
- Retrieval under time pressure
- When to search vs. when to browse
Turning notes into thinking
Raw captured information isn't knowledge. This module covers the process of connecting, synthesising, and developing ideas from your notes.
- Progressive summarisation
- Evergreen notes and permanent notes
- From notes to writing and presentations
Keeping the system alive
A knowledge system is only useful if it stays current. Learn the lightweight review rituals that prevent decay without consuming your schedule.
- Weekly and monthly review protocols
- Archiving without losing access
- Adapting the system as your work changes
- Signs your system needs a reset
