Stop Taking Notes Like This. Your System Is Broken.

The speaker shares a decade-long journey optimizing note-taking systems across multiple parallel projects. Initial attempts using single notebooks proved inefficient for searchability, leading to the development of a "single source of truth" concept—knowing exactly where to find specific information. The evolution progressed through paper notebooks organized by project, handwriting apps on iPad (gaining searchable text), and eventually typed notes in PKM tools like Hepbase. However, walls of text created comprehension problems, prompting adoption of visual notes including diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps.

The core methodology distinguishes between shallow and deep thinking. Shallow thinking uses rapid note capture (meetings, temporary information) in database tools like Hepbase, which support tagging and connection to relevant content (e.g., person databases). Deep thinking occurs in visual tools like Hector or Miro, where complex information is laid out on whiteboards for synthesis and problem-solving.

A critical concept challenges the popular "second brain" approach. Rather than outsourcing brain storage by collecting unlimited information, the speaker advocates for an "optimized one brain with two parts"—physical and digital—where the digital component integrates as a functional extension rather than external storage. This requires building systems around how brains naturally work, eliminating the need for conscious decision-making about information placement.

The speaker introduced "strategic note-taking" as the optimal balance after discovering that attempting to transcribe everything prevented meeting engagement and created post-meeting chaos. Strategic note-taking focuses exclusively on capturing decisions, actions needed, and key insights. The shallow/deep split reduces friction by allowing temporary notes to be calmly transferred to deep thinking systems later, improving both note-taking speed and organization accuracy.