I just got back from an incredible trip to Mexico for the release of Building a Second Brain in Spanish.

I had the opportunity to do a book signing and Q&A session at a beautiful bookstore called Rosario Castellanos that I used to go to when I lived in Mexico City in 2019.

I gave a talk at Centro University (more on that below) and did my first TV interview in Spanish, live on air!

Here's a 1-minute highlight reel of my trip:

​

Don't forget to grab your copy of Crea Tu Segundo Cérebro on Amazon MX, Amazon US, Amazon ES, or at a local bookstore.

---

From Cluttered to Calm: The Transformative Effect of Capturing Ideas

Have you noticed that your best ideas tend to arrive when you least expect them? They pop up, especially at times when you can't act on them (e.g., in the shower, when rocking your toddler to sleep, or when you're driving).

Don’t play “catch and release” with them. Instead, make it a habit to capture your ideas right then and there so they don't slip away and you can revisit them later.

I call this building a "capture habit." Here's how to do it...

1. Choose a reliable and frictionless way to capture: I add anything that comes up to Things, my task management app, where it lands in an inbox. You could also capture in your notetaking app, by leaving yourself voice memos...whatever works for you!
   ​
2. Practice capturing: At first, you might need to set yourself reminders to do this. For example, make a brain dump of to-dos and ideas at the start of your day, during lunch, and before bed. But I promise, you'll get better at noticing important thoughts and writing them down in the moment over time.
   ​
3. Revisit your ideas: This last part is crucial. Your brain has to trust that you'll come back to what you captured. Otherwise, it won't let go of the thought in the first place. I revisit my inbox at least once a week during my Weekly Review and decide what I'll do about each item (it's also ok to delete what no longer makes sense.)

By building a capture habit, you'll free up your brain from managing the minutiae of your daily life, creating a much calmer headspace.

How are you capturing your thoughts and ideas right now? Hit reply and let me know.

---

An Intro to Notetaking in Mem (with Srini Rao)

I've invited author and podcaster Srini Rao to dive into Mem, one of the most advanced AI-centric networked notetaking apps.

In this intro, we cover the basics of Mem including how to take, filter, search, and organize notes.

Watch on YouTube

Exclusively for our newsletter subscribers, Srini is giving $100 OFF the Done For You Second Brain in Mem with the code MEM2NDBRAIN (valid for one week only).

---

Mexico City's Creative Spark: My Journey to Building a Second Brain

I gave a talk at Centro University in Mexico City last week, sharing how the city's vibrant energy and creative atmosphere influenced the Building a Second Brain book.

In fact, I started writing the book back in 2019, sitting in cafes in the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods which offered me an unparalleled creative environment.

I also covered...

• how I developed the Second Brain concept as a tool for navigating the overwhelming deluge of information we face in the modern world
• what we can learn from the rich history of notetaking and how this practice has become a digital necessity
• practical advice on how to manage your digital notes more efficiently and navigate information overload

Watch on YouTube

(My talk is in English!)

---

BASB in Your Language

Our team started a database to curate content around building a Second Brain in languages other than English.

The goal is to make personal knowledge management more accessible for non-English speakers. We also hope to elevate local content creators who translate these ideas and put their own spin on them.

Check it out here

Do you have a favorite piece of content about building a Second Brain in your language (other than English)? Hit reply and share it with us! It could be YouTube videos, blog posts, or something else.