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The Invisible Mentor Weekly Newsletter: Brain Food Wednesdays Number 112: What is Zettelkasten, and How to Use it to Take Better Notes
Dear Reader,
I’m always looking for ways to improve, so that I can better serve my clients. A few months ago, I learned about network note-taking and networked thinking and I wanted to learn more about the two concepts. Network note-taking is about connecting your notes based on keywords and tags. To me, the concept is game-changing because you could be seen as a thought leader based on the quality of articles you wrote, the presentations you created and so on.
Whenever you connect your notes, you get to see what others miss when you connect the ideas and thoughts from the various books you read. There are several software available, such as Roam Research, Obsidian, and Logseq that will do that for you. But I wanted to understand the fundamentals. After I conducted research, I came across the book, Digital Zettelkasten by David Kadavy that’s supposed to teach you a system that does that.
A few years ago, I read How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t pay close attention to the text because it talked about having notes on index cards. I incorrectly thought the book was useless. Now I’m seeing so many people recommending this book. I have to return to How to Take Smart Notes with a more open mind. All I have to do is replace index cards with a computerized note-taking system. Don’t make the same mistake that I did.
Network note-taking is an important topic. Imagine what might happen if you took the time to connect your notes in a meaningful way?
The membership fee for the Art of Learning is low right now as I build out the content, and as I identify more benefits to add to support your success. Gift yourself a membership. You’re worth it.
In the Ask Avil section of this newsletter, I’ll introduce Zettelkasten, and next week I’ll write about how to create your own Zettelkasten. In addition, I’ll have information from How to Take Smart Notes. It’s important to get this information, so you can start using network note-taking. At a later date, I’ll tackle network thinking. I cannot find a suitable book.
Join my Facebook group Reading Rocks: Read a Book, Discover Solutions, Change the World.
In the News
Here are some podcasts I have appeared on and magazines I’ve been featured in. They’re packed with a lot of information. I’ll also be appearing on a few podcasts, so I’ll let you know when I’ve done them.
Leaders Must be Readers (Here’s the link to the article http://magazine.diversityprofessional.com/publication/?i=735345&ver=html5&p=66)
208: Have You Been Reading Books Wrong? https://elkinsconsulting.com/sarahs-blog-podcast/2021/12/21/208
Ellevate Network: http://ow.ly/s8pR50GCBTy
Envision2BWell: https://blog.envision2bwell.io/post/1157/envisionwell-podcast-invisible-mentors
313 Challenge with Ryan Foland: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/avil-beckford-read-and-get-new-ideas/id1484382840?i=1000523572323
I would appreciate your support in growing my YouTube channel.
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Ask Avil
What is Zettelkasten?
As I mentioned in the introduction of the newsletter, I’ll introduce you to Zettelkasten, so you can take better notes. I’ll finish reading Digital Zettelkasten today, so next week I can explain to you how to set up your own Zettelkasten.
“In analog form, a Zettelkasten is literally a box filled with slips of paper, each slip with a note on it, as well as metadata used to organize those notes. The Zettelkasten method is a way of organizing paper in a non-hierarchical way. The purpose of a Zettelkasten is not to find an individual note, but rather to explore the connections amongst notes.
“This can help you collect knowledge to write papers and books quickly, and find areas you may need to research further. Additionally, the act of organizing a Zettelkasten often leads to unexpected insights that spring from the process of linking notes to one another, or assigning keywords to a note.”
A Zettelkasten helps you to retain what you read as well as access new knowledge. But it also helps you to use that knowledge to write the caliber of articles that will showcase your thought leadership.
When you’re taking notes, you’re doing several things simultaneously, though you may not realize it. You have to decide if what you’re reading is essential or nonessential information. Then you have to paraphrase the essential information as you write it down. To do this, you have to be engaged with the words on the page. And it doesn’t need to be boring. Another important point is that you’re writing the notes in your own words, so you’re connecting the new information to what you already know.
And when you’re taking notes the Zettelkasten way, you have to come up with keywords and linking notes to tie your various notes together. Therefore, you’re thinking associatively..
Reading List
The 100-Day Project challenge has started. Each week, I’ll drop the book recommendations for that week here.
- Day 1: Never Stop Learning, Bradley R. Staats
- Day 2: Big Little Breakthroughs, Josh Linkner
- Day 3: Make Your Own Cheese, Imad DeirAtany (This book is a response to Who Moved My Cheese)
- Day 4: The Strangest Secret: Earl Nightingale
The Invisible Mentor Blog/Articles Written
Blog Posts
Valentine’s Day Story: Build General Knowledge for Creative Solutions
Before and After You Learn Effective Reading Strategies for Nonfiction Books
Thinking About Investing in Art of of Learning Leadership Academy
15 Things You Never Knew About Reading Nonfiction Books
10 Common Mistakes Professionals Make When Reading Nonfiction Books
How I Came to Teach Courses on Effective Reading Strategies
The One Problem
I’ve published 45 podcast episodes already. How time flies. You can also find these on my YouTube channel.
- Carol Walkner, Life Guide, Energy Healer, and Clairvoyant
- Mariett Ramm, Founder, the Powerful Woman, International Bestselling Author
- Sarah Elkins, Storytelling and StrengthsFinder Coach
- Debbie McKiver, Founder of the Strong and Healthy Temple
- Hedieh Safiyari, Founder, Prompt Health, Healthcare Solutions
- Benita Lee, Trade Consultant, Founder, Benita Lee Professional Corporation
- Jenny Siede, Chief Design Thinker, Green Neurons
- Pamela Jeffery, Founder, The Prosperity Project & Women’s Executive Network
- Alta Odendaal, Financial Coach and Consultant
- Larissa Russell, Founder and CEO Queer Voicez and Creative U Business
- Glain Roberts-McCabe, Founder, the Roundtable, Group Coach Academy
- Dr Marsha Carr, Professor, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
- Gabriella O’Rourke, Business Consultant, Borden Ladner Gervais
- Stefanie Booker Atchison, Wisdom Coach & Motivational Speaker
- Michelle Griffin, Founder Brandthority, Building Your Personal Brand
- Donna Knutson, Founder of Write Journeys
- Sophie Gray, Founder of DiveThru: Being Disconnected from Yourself
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Product Alert
7 Day Reading Makeover Challenge
This is an affordable program to get started on leadership reading. Leaders read to learn what they need to know. You’ll also learn how to synthesize information.
Art of Learning Membership Site
How would you like to access the best, most useful information I have, that’s better than book summaries? Buy monthly access to the Bookish Note that’s behind my paywall. I group Bookish Notes together by a common theme, turning them into a course. Imagine reading themed Bookish Notes and starting to lay the foundation for a new skill.
Until Next Week,
Avil Beckford, Founder, The Invisible Mentor!