DeveloPassion's Newsletter #160 - KM for beginners Pre-order

Edition 160 of my newsletter, discussing Knowledge Management, Knowledge Work, Zen Productivity, Personal Organization, and more!

DeveloPassion's Newsletter #160 - KM for beginners Pre-order

Welcome

Another week, another newsletter! I hope that you all had a great one 🤩

Sorry for last week. I've been unable to find time to prepare and publish the newsletter. What a shame. But I'm with you now ❤️

I'm making good progress on my latest project, I'll share everything in the lab section below.

Apart from that, life is sweet. The sun is back, nature is adding beautiful colors again, and I'm feeling great. No better context to continue working towards my goals 🚀

I've finally decided to order an electric bike. I can't wait to receive it and wander all around Belgium ;-)

Alright, let's gooooo 🚀

Knowledge Management for Beginners now available for pre-order

I've focused my time and energy on the Knowledge Management for Beginners course. And I'm happy to announce that the course is now available for preorder. You can learn everything about in on the landing page I have created:

Knowledge Management for Beginners
Your ultimate video course to mastering Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)

There is also a Gumroad product page with more details:

Knowledge Management for Beginners (PREORDER)
Who is this for?The Overwhelmed Learner: Feel like you’re drowning in information but starving for knowledge? This course is designed to help you filter the noise, focus on what’s important, and turn information into actionable knowledge. Say goodbye to feeling overwhelmed and hello to clarity and efficiency.The Innovative Thinker: Creatives, thinkers, and innovators know that great ideas are born from well-managed knowledge. If you’re looking to harness your insights, connect disparate ideas, and foster innovation, this course will guide you through creating a system that nurtures creativity.The Lifelong Learner: If you’re committed to continuous personal and professional growth, understanding the principles of Knowledge Management is indispensable. This course will equip you with the tools to curate a personal learning journey that’s both enriching and manageable.The Knowledge Worker: If you’re a knowledge worker seeking ways to manage the deluge of information you encounter daily, this course is your beacon. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an entrepreneur, mastering Knowledge Management will set you apart in your journey.The Productivity Seeker: For those who are always on the lookout for ways to optimize their workflow and enhance productivity, “Knowledge Management for Beginners” offers a roadmap. Learn how to streamline your processes, make informed decisions, and leverage your knowledge for maximum impact.Whether you’re looking to overcome information overload, enhance your learning efficiency, or simply get more organized, “Knowledge Management for Beginners” is your first step towards transforming how you interact with knowledge. Join us, and unlock the full potential of your intellectual assets.What is this course about?“Unlock Your Intellectual Potential with Knowledge Management for Beginners”, a video course that will Transform Your Intellectual Landscape, Learning and Thinking. Are you ready to take control of your learning and thinking in a way you never thought possible?“Knowledge Management for Beginners” offers an immersive experience into the world of Knowledge Management. This video course is designed to empower you with the skills, strategies, and tools necessary to master the art of Knowledge Management (KM) and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), where managing your Knowledge effectively becomes second nature.At its core, this course is about turning chaos into order, complexity into simplicity, and information into actionable knowledge. This course breaks down complex concepts into digestible, actionable lessons. From understanding the vital distinction between Information Management and Knowledge Management to mastering the art of creating a Personal Knowledge Graph, each module is crafted to provide not only theoretical insights but also practical applications.This course is not just a collection of lessons. It’s a blueprint for building your own Personal Knowledge Management system. From understanding the foundational principles of PKM to implementing practical tools and techniques such as Atomic Notes, Knowledge Graphs, Tools for Thought (TfTs), Maps of Content, and effective note-taking strategies, you’ll emerge with a clear, customizable framework for managing your knowledge at scale. You’ll also understand the importance of transitioning from analog to digital, centralizing your Knowledge sources, and choosing the right tools and platforms to secure and enhance your Knowledge.“Knowledge Management for Beginners” ensures a comprehensive learning experience. You’ll gain hands-on knowledge on creating smart notes, designing a knowledge base with compounding value, and leveraging digital tools to minimize reliance on memory and maximize intellectual and creative output.This course is your gateway to achieving clarity of mind, overcoming information overload, and embracing a structured approach to lifelong learning and Knowledge Work. It’s about transforming how you think, learn, and organize—equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to build a Personal Knowledge Management system that not only serves your current needs but also evolves with you over time.Join us on this transformative journey to not just manage, but to master your knowledge, enhancing your personal and professional life with strategies that last a lifetime. By the end of this course, you’ll have a clear roadmap for managing your knowledge effectively, with practical skills in note-taking, organizing knowledge, and eliminating busywork. “Knowledge Management for Beginners” is more than a course. It’s your first step towards mastering the digital landscape and unleashing your full intellectual potential.Enroll in “Knowledge Management for Beginners” today and start your journey towards becoming a master of your knowledge. Your future self will thank you for the investment you make today.FeaturesEngaging Video Lectures: Dive into the heart of Knowledge Management and PKM through high-quality videos that combine compelling visuals with expert narration, making complex ideas accessible and engaging.From Theory to Practice: Move seamlessly from understanding the ‘why’ behind Knowledge Management to implementing ‘how’. This course includes demonstrations based on my own PKM system, alongside advice to design and implement your own system.Lifetime Access to Course Materials: Revisit the course content at any time, with lifetime access to all videos and resources. This course will continue to serve as your reference as you grow your knowledge management skills.Evergreen content: Once released, the course will continue to evolve over time. Its value will continue to grow.Community and Support: Join a community of like-minded learners, engage in discussions, and receive feedback and support throughout your learning journey.What problem does this course solve?In a world where information never stops flooding in, learning to manage, organize, and leverage Knowledge becomes more than a skill. It becomes a necessity. We are all bombarded with a crazy volume of information daily. This constant influx, while rich in potential knowledge, often leaves us overwhelmed, disorganized, and with a sense of drowning in data rather than swimming through knowledge.The traditional methods of managing information (e.g., documents, basic note-taking, Post-It notes, etc) prove inadequate in effectively capturing, organizing, and leveraging this vast sea of data for personal growth or professional advancement. The challenge isn’t just about dealing with the quantity of information but about transforming it into structured, accessible, and actionable knowledge. Without the skills to navigate this complex information ecosystem, you will continue struggling to retain, recall, and utilize the valuable insights that could otherwise enhance your decision-making, creativity, and productivity.Why let your precious insights and ideas fade away when you can capture, organize, and leverage them? “Knowledge Management for Beginners” addresses this critical gap by introducing a structured approach to Knowledge Management, and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). The course acknowledges that while our brains are incredible at processing information, they are not optimized for the storage and retrieval of the vast amounts of data we encounter. Memories fade, and the cognitive load of managing information can hinder our ability to think deeply and critically. This course offers a lifeline by equipping learners with the tools and techniques to design a personalized PKM system. Through this system, learners can transform the chaotic stream of information into a well-organized knowledge base, enabling not just improved retention and recall but also the capacity for innovation and deep, analytical thinking.By addressing the root causes of information overwhelm, this course empowers individuals to take control of their learning journey, making knowledge a powerful ally in achieving personal and professional goals.What benefits should I get?Increase your Potential: Leverage Knowledge Management (KM) and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) to grow your personal life and your career.Accelerate Future Learning: Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to stay ahead, adapt to future needs, and leverage your knowledge for new opportunities.Overcome Information Overload: Discover strategies to manage information efficiently, eliminating the feeling of being overwhelmed by the vast amounts of data encountered daily. Understand how to manage cognitive load effectively to enhance your mental capacity for Deep Work and Creativity.Reduce your Cognitive Load: Learn how to stay on top of everything without feeling overwhelmed.Enhance your Clarity and Focus: Achieve a state of mental clarity and focused thinking, freeing yourself from the clutter and chaos of unorganized information.Understand Knowledge Management: Gain deep insights into Knowledge Management and Personal Knowledge Management. Learn practically about PKM systems, Knowledge Graphs and Tools for Thought (TfTs). Discover the ideas, applications, and the immense value they bring to managing and enhancing your knowledge.Master PKM Practices: Acquire knowledge of the most effective PKM practices and techniques.Create and Leverage your own Personal Knowledge Graph: Learn how to effectively ingest new knowledge and integrate it into your Personal Knowledge Base. Connect your knowledge, ideas and inspiration, enhancing your ability to draw insights and innovate. Organize your Knowledge Efficiently: Understand how to organize information and knowledge systematically and at scale, making it easily accessible and usable, through methods such as tagging, linking, and categorizing.Think Deeper: Develop techniques for deeper, more reflective thinking, enabling you to analyze information critically and creatively.Retain More of What You Learn: Learn how to effectively use digital tools and systems to store knowledge externally, moving beyond rote memorization to meaningful understanding.Use Journaling for Growth and Productivity: Discover the power of journaling as a tool for learning, personal development, and professional growth.Integrate Knowledge Management into Your Life: Discover strategies to seamlessly integrate continuous learning and Knowledge Management into your daily routines, making lifelong learning a habit.What’s included?WARNING: The Knowledge Management for Beginners course is NOT READY YET. If you buy access now, you’ll benefit from the lowest price. You will also get early to the course.Draft table of contents:IntroductionInformation Management vs Knowledge ManagementPersonal Knowledge Management (PKM)Main parts of PKMPersonal Knowledge Management SystemsCore concepts of Personal Knowledge ManagementNote-takingNote-makingDumb vs Smart notesThe power of externalization and centralizationAtomic notesConnecting ideasKnowledge GraphsMaps of ContentCapturing information and knowledgeJournalingPeriodic reviewsPersonal Knowledge Management SystemHow to Organize your KnowledgeThe need for having a Single Source of TruthThe need for centralizingKnowledge typesKnowledge StoresMethodsPARAJohnny DecimalNaming conventionsOrganizing it allStructuresTagsMetadataHow to design your own Personal Knowledge Management systemHow to pick your toolsWhat to pay attention toWorkflowsOverview of my systemWhy and how to go from analog to digitalHow to ingest new knowledgeHow to remove busyworkHow to avoid losing your informationRefunds policyIf you’re not 100% satisfied, then just let me know, and I’ll issue a full refund. I’ll only ask you a single question: How can I improve the product?If you think about asking for a refund, consider reaching out to me with your issues, questions, and remarks. I’m always available and happy to help. My goal is to help you succeed.

The course is not ready for prime time yet, but you can already pre-order a copy at the lowest price. If you do, you'll receive the course modules as they're getting produced. I don't want to set a hard deadline for various reasons, but I hope to deliver the whole course by the end of April.

I've worked hard on the sales copy to make it crystal clear and convincing. My goal is to convey the most important ideas about Knowledge Management and Personal Knowledge Management as simply as possible, and to enable as many people as possible to understand the benefits and long-term impact these practices can bring.

I'll regularly share news about my progress 🚀

The lab 🧪

I've focused mostly on the marketing and sales sides for the KM for Beginners course. It's far from trivial, and I realize that it's where I have failed with my previous projects. As I have mentioned a few weeks ago, I did prepare a detailed outline and started working on the content, which means that I have a very clear idea about what I want to deliver. But I am now convinced that the second most important step is to convince others of the value I am going to bring to the table. That's why I have worked on the marketing plan, sales copy and on the landing page. This will help me raise interest and truly validate the idea. This means that I won't spend months working hard only to realize that nobody cares.

Preparing this side of the project is quite involved:

  • Identifying the target audience
  • Identifying the persona corresponding to each target
  • Clearly stating the problems that need a solution and the associated pain points
  • Explaining the solution I will deliver
  • Listing the features
  • Explaining the benefits
  • Defining the pricing
  • Thinking about potential offers, promotions, upsells, etc
  • ...

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Preparing the marketing plan also involves preparing a detailed communication plan: blog posts, tweets/threads, videos, ads, etc. Those will require some more work, but will ultimately make the difference between a quiet launch and one where people can't wait for me to deliver the content.

On the technical side, there are also quite a lot to set up, but most of that is already done:

  • Acquiring the domain name
  • Configuring the DNS servers to point to Cloudflare
  • Pointing the domain to Carrd
  • Creating the landing page, adding images, anchors, links, animations
  • Creating the product page on Gumroad, customizing the homepage, adapting existing product bundles
  • Adding and configuring analytics using Plausible
  • ...

And there's more coming 🥱

Once I'm done with the initial marketing effort, I'll go back to creating the content.

New articles

I have recently published an article about the benefit of setting achievable goals. It's not about aiming lower/dampening your hopes and dreams, but rather about focusing on manageable sub-goals along the way. This has many benefits that I discuss in the article:

The Power of Setting Achievable Goals: How Lowering the Bar Leads to Success
Exploring the transformative power of setting achievable goals, this blog post delves into the art of breaking down grand ambitions into manageable tasks to foster progress and reduce stress

Quotes of the week

  • "The difference between an employee and an entrepreneur is control over your potential" — Dan Koe
  • "An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention"

Thinking and learning

I recently stumbled on this article by Lembran Sar, who tracked his daily life for ten years. In it, he shares some of the benefits he got from doing this for such a long time. As you probably know, journaling is one of the practices I consider really important and impactful in my life. While I don't want to spend a ton of time each day tracking everything that happens to me, I do see the value of at least keeping track of important achievements, ideas, discoveries and life events.

Ten years of remembering every day that passes
I began this process on 17 December 2011 and let the tenth anniversary pass without comment, so the time has come to reflect. Firstly, I con…

I've also enjoyed this article by Barbara Fillip, discussing the close relationship between Knowledge Management and Personal Knowledge Management. As he mentions, there is no Knowledge Management without Personal Knowledge Management, and no Personal Knowledge Management without Knowledge Management:

KM & PKM - Missing Link
I’m a fan of PKM (Personal Knowledge Management) and I’m puzzled by the lack of interest within the community of Knowledge Management practi…

In the following video, Zsolt Viczián introduces and highlights the value of concept diagrams. Concept diagrams are part of my top 10 ways to explore new topics, make sense of ideas and build solid mental models:

Do you retain a lot of what you read? If not, then you might enjoy these articles:

I used to read books but never retain information. Here’s what I changed.
A look at how I make my book notes to ensure that I get the most out of the books that I read.
Why you should take notes while reading non-fiction books
Why it’s critical to take notes while reading non-fiction books
How to capture book notes and turn those into smart notes
How to capture thoughts, ideas, and knowledge to retain more from the books you read

Are you frustrated by your lack of progress or success? Then check out this inspirational video by Jim Rohn: