I’m going on a writing sabbatical!

For the remainder of 2024, I’m stepping away from my usual work to focus fully on writing my next book on the topic of annual reviews.

After the whirlwind of the Second Brain Summit, I’m excited to dive deeper into bringing this project to life.

As part of the writing process, I’ll host a live Annual Review in December and January.

This will be a chance to walk you through my personal process of doing an annual review—a practice that’s helped me make big decisions, reflect on what truly matters, and set clear goals.

And trust me, it’s even more powerful when we do it together.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can join us!

When a Project Becomes an Area

Projects have clear goals and deadlines, providing a sense of completion and achievement once they're done.

But sometimes, your projects don’t “really” end.

Rather, they transform into an area, evolving into long-term commitments or standards that need to be maintained.

Recognizing this shift is crucial because it changes how you approach that aspect of your life or work.

Take my recent move to Mexico, for example. It started as a project, involving visas and flights, finding a home, and enrolling the kids in school.

Now that we’re settled, the project has dispersed into different areas to be maintained. I have to keep up with the school’s schedule and the house’s maintenance – ongoing responsibilities without a defined endpoint (for now).

To reflect this shift in my notetaking app, I broke up the project folder into several area folders. This way, I can track and manage the associated information more effectively.

What project of yours is evolving into an area? How will you update your Second Brain to reflect this change?

The Road to 300,000 Subscribers: A YouTube Retrospective

After 17 years on YouTube, from humble beginnings to 275,000 subscribers and 12 million views, I'm sharing a comprehensive retrospective of my YouTube journey.

In this blog post, I dive into the different "eras" I've moved through, the team and production process I've built, and the detailed finances.

You’ll get an inside look at the highs and lows, the key lessons I've learned, and practical insights to apply to your own YouTube efforts. Plus, a glimpse at the next era for our channel.

Whether you're just starting out or already creating videos, I hope this deep dive will shorten your learning curve and help you avoid the same mistakes I made.

Book Recommendation: Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis

​Creative Live was one of my earliest inspirations for the model of cohort-based online courses, proving that there was a demand for premium, higher-end educational programs on the Internet.

Besides his pioneering work founding Creative Live, Chase Jarvis has been one of the most prolific and varied artists and creators for many years, long before the term "creator" even existed.

I always look to him for leadership and creative inspiration, and this book is no exception.

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