[[Knowledge management]] [[Method|method]] (or more precisely **mindset**) which consists of: > **Zettel** -  note or slip of paper > **Kasten** - box ^definition #produce my version of folders  It looks a little bit to odd - how on earth with all the technology we have nowadys, a drawer with pieces of paper can be better in terms of [[Knowledge management]]? ![[Methodology over toolset#^the-quote|Methodology over tool]] ## What it solves? Sometimes Luhmann called it [ZettelKasten] a conversation partner and sometimes he described it as a second memory ([[Build a Second Brain]]), cybernetic system, a ruminant, or septic tank. The problem with all existing approaches [notebook, apps, ...] is that **[[Wisdom|they don’t really help you find connections among ideas]]**. Instead, they lock ideas away to be forgotten in a box under your bed, in the cloud, or in a folder somewhere on your [[computer]]. ![[Obsidian Graph - 2023-10-26.png]] ### Problems that other systems do not solve The problems with other tools or methodologies is basically it lack of [[Link|links]]. Let's rewind how we used to making notes before: - using paper notebooks - making notes on margins - taking pictures - using text editors (nowadays some of them support linking!) - drawing mindmaps (paper or digital) - using sticky notes Do you see what is missing?... Connections between ideas. And just imagine how is your brain working - you are looking for analogies, making abstractions, seeking patterns - everything is related to linking information and this is what makes [[Zettelkästen]] incredibly powerful - it reflects how our brain is working, where you can make connections between ideas, and you can easily traverse them, practically moving towards creation of [[Build a Second Brain]] ## Advantages ### Learning [[Zettelkästen]] is basically forcing you to take notes and create connections, which is much way better than all linear ways o putting information (like notebooks, or presentations). You can create any connection, therefore you can **discover** new connections like in [[DIKW]]: #integrate ![[DIKW#^dikw-table]] ### Focusing It is a great discovery by author that focus is also improved, as you are not limited by linearity, such you can jump in any direction, like reading a Wikipedia - first you may think it is wrong, being on track means you are focus, but isn't a track just a path between points? ### Thinking Author decomposes it to 3 parts that will improve your thinking, as [[Zettelkästen]] 1. forces you to write 2. forces you to connect to other notes 3. can store a `train of thoughts` All of them forces you to think, to put down what is in your mind. ### Productivity Cause you are no longer limited what to do with a note! Just write it down. New idea? Take a note. It is so simple, and removes so many unnecessary decisions to gives you a boost in ideas conceptualization. ### Creativity Therefore all of them put you in the state of Creativity Zen - only you need to do is basically discover new connections that matter. All the required [[Knowledge]] is already here, if not, write it down and connect - then after some time you will discover how big your knowledgeis, and how many paths are to be discovered ## Principles There are many principles widely explained in [[12 principles of notes management]], but I wrapped them into smaller ones: - [[Make atomic notes]] - [[Your thoughts, your words]] - [[Always link your notes and explain why]] - **[[Don’t worry about structure]]** (my favourite) - [[There is never too many notes]] ## How to implement? ### Paper-based solution Ofc, why not? :D But, I'm not gonna review it, we live in 21th century and we can use digitalised solutions like [[Obsidian]]. For training it is great for sure, but you can perform in tools as well. ### Digitilized solution There are many solutions available [^1], author mentions some of them, I won't write them down here as they change each decade. For know I highly recommend [[Obsidian]] so if you would like to know more, just read my articles: ## Notes: Now image other organizations than links - folders - if you move every page into one bigg folder without links, you will have a one big heap and you will never understand what is happening inside - having multiple folders doesn't solve the problem as still you can't move from one place to another - tags - try to organize it with milions of tags... good luck The WWW makes sense only whether there are links that connect different ideas. [^1]: https://medium.com/p/997e4e0ca125