Can One App Run Your Life?


For a moment, we thought about creating an AI that randomly inserts “Just circling back…” into all your emails to keep conversations going forever.

Then we realized… isn’t that how email already works?

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Speaking of email…this month’s theme inside the Second Brain Membership is Streamlining Communication.

Throughout April, we’ll help you establish better habits and clear guidelines for emails, instant messages, and team communication so every interaction serves a purpose.

We also have some exciting guest workshops coming up with experts from Superhuman and SaneBox, as well as thought leaders like Nick Sonnenberg and Nick Milo.

If you want to change how you communicate and finally eliminate that friction, now’s the perfect time to join us.


Applying the Iron Triangle to Unblock Your Projects

Last week, I hosted a workshop on one of my favorite topics in the Second Brain MembershipJust-in-Time Project Management. During the session, I introduced a powerful concept known as the Iron Triangle.

Every project you take on is shaped by three main constraints: time (how long it takes), budget (how much it costs), and scope (what’s included). The key is understanding that when you change one of these constraints, it impacts the others.

Want to finish a project faster? You’ll likely need to spend more money or reduce the scope. Want to expand the scope? You’ll probably need to add more time and/or budget. And if you want to reduce costs, you may have to either spend more time or narrow the scope.

The key takeaway is this: As knowledge workers, especially on digital projects, we often have more flexibility than we think in adjusting these constraints.

Here’s a simple exercise to try:

Think about a project you feel stuck on. Look at it through the lens of the Iron Triangle. What constraints could you adjust? Where’s the bottleneck? What do you need to tweak to get things moving again?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Reply to this email and let me know what you come up with.


Can ONE App Run Your Life? (Testing Amplenote’s LifeOS)

For over a decade, I’ve used 3 core productivity apps: a to-do list app, a calendar app, and a notetaking app.

However, I’ve noticed that we’re entering a new era: all-in-one productivity platforms (often called LifeOS) are on the rise.

We’re talking a single all-encompassing tool that is supposed to handle everything in one centralized place.

I decided to sit down and stress-test one of the most promising apps in this new wave, Amplenote.

Join me and the Amplenote team at 11 am ET today for a live chat on YouTube about the tool.


Book Recommendation: Pasa a la acción by Sofía Contreras

I’ve now been living in Mexico with my family for 7 months, and as a side effect, a fair amount of the content I consume is now in Spanish and focused on Latin America.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how innovative the thinking is here around productivity, education, and digital businesses. In some ways, it’s more advanced than what I’ve encountered in the US, or framed in a different way that shines a light on the blind spots of the American mindset.

Case in point: I recently started following Sofía Contreras, one of the leading experts in Argentina on the topics this newsletter is about.

Her new book just came out last week, and it’s a super practical guide to overcoming procrastination and making real, lasting changes. Through stories, real-life examples, and scientific insights, Sofía offers a clear roadmap to help you reach your goals and build the life you want….and all en español!

You’ll learn how to:

  • Define what you truly want, not just what others expect.
  • Create a personalized plan aligned with your vision of success.
  • Turn intentions into results with clear methodologies.
  • Manage your time and energy without falling into toxic productivity.
  • Use failure as a learning tool and build sustainable habits.

If you’re ready to stop waiting and start acting, this book is for you. Highly recommended for Spanish speakers looking to transform their lives!


From Idea to App—Without Code!

You know that moment when you think, Why isn’t there an app for this? Well, now there can be—because you can build it yourself.

Bubble makes it ridiculously easy. Their AI-powered visual development does the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. It’s like having a designer and developer in one, turning your idea into a working MVP in minutes. No coding. No tech headaches. Just pure creation.

I love how Bubble is lowering the barrier for anyone—whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or part of a team—to go from concept to fully functional app, faster and cheaper than ever. This is the future of building.

Thanks to Bubble for sponsoring this newsletter!

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Tiago Forte

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