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- The RNDM: Longform
Hello and welcome to The RNDM: Longform, a weekly newsletter which consists of articles written by the RNDM team.
Each week we'll aim to share more in-depth articles written by our team on the same interesting topics as we cover in our usual newsletter.
Please let us know what you think of this new format. Did you like it? Would you change anything? Feedback is a gift so let us know by replying to the email or leave a comment below.
From Forgetful to Resourceful: How Building a Personal Knowledge Base Can Change Your Life
Have you ever come across an interesting article or fact, only to forget it later on?
Or maybe you spend hours searching for information that you've previously read, but can't seem to locate it? If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.
In today's information age, we're bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information on a daily basis. It can be difficult to keep track of everything we come across, let alone remember it for future reference. That's where building a personal knowledge base comes in.
What is a personal knowledge base, you might ask?
Simply put, it's a collection of information that you've gathered and organised over time. Think of it as your own personal encyclopedia, with everything you've learned and want to remember in one place.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider starting a personal knowledge base:
Increases your productivity: By having a centralised location for all of your information, you can quickly and easily access what you need without wasting time searching for it.
Encourages learning: When you actively seek out new information and add it to your knowledge base, you're constantly learning and expanding your knowledge.
Enhances your memory: By organising and categorising the information you come across, you're more likely to remember it for future reference.
Improves decision-making: When you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips, you can make more informed decisions and take more calculated risks.
So, how do you go about building a personal knowledge base?
There are a variety of tools and methods available, depending on your personal preference. Some people prefer to use a note-taking app like Evernote or OneNote, while others use a wiki-style platform like Notion. The key is to find a system that works for you and stick with it.
As you begin building your personal knowledge base, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Be consistent: Set aside time each day or week to add new information to your knowledge base. The more consistent you are, the more valuable your knowledge base will become.
Categorise and tag: Organise your information into categories and add tags to make it easier to search and find information later on.
Review and update: Regularly review and update your knowledge base to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.
Building a personal knowledge base may seem daunting at first, but the benefits far outweigh the effort. Not only will you become more productive and informed, but you'll also have a valuable resource at your fingertips for years to come. So why not start building your own personal knowledge base today?
Knowledge isn't Enough
To move towards your goal you need to take action regularly. It might sound easy but the majority of people get stuck in motion.James Clear describes motion as planning, strategising and learning, whereas action is the type of behaviour that delivers an outcome. Motion feels like you're being productive by getting more information before taking action. But there comes a point where this becomes a form of procrastination. You feel insecure and put off taking action. Thinking to yourself, "I need to know more about this". Fear of failure forces you to put it off further thinking you're not ready. Action forces you to get over your fear and get a result. You may succeed or fail from the action, either way you get a result. You can learn more from a failure in action than you would spending more time in motion. All the greats learnt this and achieved success with it. As the saying goes"Knowledge is not enough, you must apply".This post is a form of action. I could spend this time learning more about how to improve my writing, but if I don't actually write and post then I won't know whether my writing is improving. Learning from the results of the action will allow me to understand my weak points and improve upon them. The RNDM Longform is a way of forcing me into action. Committing to and scheduling an issue once a week forces me to work on writing a post once a week. Making it public increases the stakes and allows me to gain feedback. It forces me to get over my fear of criticism and failure. Which state are you in with your goals? Are you taking action?
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