What is the Building A Second Brain System?
I’ve been using the Building a Second Brain (BASB) system for about a year now. My system is based on the book Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential, by Tiago Forte.
Forte describes his system as “a methodology for saving and systematically reminding us of the ideas, inspirations, insights, and connections we’ve gained through our experience.” Building a Second Brain: The Definitive Introductory Guide.
All of my files in several apps have been organized according to the PARA system with folders labeled Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archive. I’m using the BASB system as my primary Personal Knowledge System (PKM) system in DevonThink and Craft for file storage and recall (search).
Forte designed his system to not only be a way to organize information, but also to act on it. PARA is about how you organize and store things; CODE is about how you do things, an execution framework.
The letters in CODE stand for Capture, Organize (with PARA), Distill, and Express. This is a system designed to use the information you collect to express yourself in creative work. I use this system to regularly produce blog posts.
For more information about BASB, see my blog post What’s Unique About Building A Second Brain?
In Order for it to Work, Do I Have to Practice BASB Exactly Like Tiago Forte Describes in his Book?
Recently, I read a discussion in a tech forum regarding how people were using the BASB system.
There was a lot of discussion about how some had difficulties knowing what files to assign to which PARA categories. “Projects” and “Archive” were pretty clear, but some were confused about distinguishing between the “Areas” and “Resources” folders.
Several people indicated that they had rejected the entire BASB system because they didn’t see a clear distinction between “Areas” and “Resources.” Rather than modify the system to fit their preferences, they rejected the whole system.
To me, that seemed to be a gross overreaction.
BASB is Not an “Everything or Nothing” System — Feel Free to Modify
The BASB system is made up of many components. Benefitting from the system does not require one to have all the components. You’re free to choose what works for you and discard or modify the parts that don’t.
For instance, some people have decided to collapse the two organizational categories suggested by Forte, Areas, and Resources, into one larger category. Others have kept both categories, but have defined them differently than Forte does. Either is OK.
There’s no reason to “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” If some aspects of BASB don’t resonate with you, you’re free to change or reject them.
In fact, Tiago Forte encourages users to modify the system in whatever way works best for them. “As your needs change, give yourself the freedom to discard or take on whichever parts serve you. This isn’t a “take it or leave it” ideology where you must accept all of it or none of it. If any part doesn’t make sense or doesn’t resonate with you, put it aside. Mix and match the tools and techniques you’ve learned in this book to suit your needs. Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential.
Most Systems Don’t Work for Everyone “Out of the Box”
In the productivity realm, it’s almost stereotypical for people to become aware of a new productivity system, then attempt to replicate it in their lives and expect that they will have the same great results the presenter did. When they don’t, they’re disappointed and start looking for the next system.
For some reason, people don’t recognize that the reason the system worked so great for the presenter is that he designed it for his needs and preferences. In reality, it’s a custom-designed system. We’re all different and have varying needs and ways of working. It’s no surprise that a productivity system designed for one person doesn’t work for everyone else.
Please don’t hesitate to modify any system, including BASB, in ways that fit you better. Craft a system that works for you.