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PKM, or Personal Knowledge Management, is the practice of organising the things your brain finds important, including what you are learning, thinking, and being inspired by. The aim is to be able to refer to them as needed, and also to forge links between notes that spark new thoughts, solve problems, and perhaps create things you haven’t yet imagined were possible.
But before diving into all or part of someone else’s system, there’s a vital step to take:
Write down what you’re looking for, what you want to do with the things you write, the notes you make, and what is missing from the way you’re doing things now.
Dig deep and be honest in your responses to those questions.
You might be looking for—
—or something else entirely. No matter how great someone else’s system looks, you’ll lose your way if you don’t first understand why you’re drawn to improving your personal knowledge management skills.
Here’s a great little poem from Dr Stefan T. Siegel, an education researcher and lecturer, and self-proclaimed PKM nerd:
You can’t install a mind that’s wise,
No template sees through your own eyes.
True PKM is built, not bought—
It grows with every well-linked thought. source
Stefan is spot-on when he says that “PKM is a Practice, Not a Product: You Can Buy a ‘Done-for-You’ System—But You Can’t Buy the Thinking”
My take is that once you know what it is you are seeking, diving into someone else’s system can be a great way to learn things you may not otherwise have considered.
I loved exploring Kepano’s Obsidian vault, and have learned useful things from Sébastien Dubois, Nick Milo, Nicole van der Hoeven, and Mike Schmitz’ free content.
My own downloadable Obsidian vault will be updated some time this year to reflect how I’ve simplified my processes.
Raw beginners with no clue where to start can benefit from seeing a working system in action, and all going well, will learn how to shape it to fit their growing needs. Or step away from that prefab condo in the city to build their own shack by the beach.
Those more experienced in knowledge management can hone their approach by seeing how other people do things.
Remember that dirt floors are fine when you’re starting out. Tiles and hardwood floors can come later.
Here are some of my past posts with a PKM theme:
How to Escape the PKM Trap of Sophisticated Procrastination
Only when you can work in and with your notes for a solid 2–3 hours or more, on a regular basis, should you even think about structuring them
PTPL 097 · Informed, Intentional Note Makers Value Processes Over Apps Control your notes and have an exit plan
PTPL 101 · Forget Perfectionism — Raw Notes Are Real Notes A reminder to focus on the work, not how neatly you’ve put it together
PTPL 133 · Eventually Consistent: a PKM Allegory on Taking Imperfect Action Now The only right or wrong is how one’s practices help or impede the flow, the connections you are seeking to make between what you know, and what you are seeking to know
PTPL 149 - 3 Tiny PKM-Themed Wisdom Snippets If you’re not sure where to begin or how to continue and you’re feeling in a bit of a mess, cultivate curiosity
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