Second Brain

A Second Brain is not about collecting and categorizing, but building a system that lets information flow naturally into action.

My Interpretation (Wisdom)

Many people build a Second Brain by collecting articles, creating folders, and adding tags, and then… nothing happens. A real Second Brain is a system where knowledge drives action, not digital hoarding.

Tool choices directly affect the ceiling of your capabilities. Do not look for one all-purpose tool; combine multiple specialized tools. You would not hire one person to do every job, and tools are the same. The process of choosing tools reflects your thinking: how you think affects which tools you choose, and those tools in turn affect how you think. Investing in digital tools means “buying time” and “freeing attention.” Hand non-specialist tasks to tools so you can focus on what truly matters.

Strategy and Methods (Knowledge)

PAI System

• Situation: You need a complete architecture for managing knowledge and tasks.
• Method: Projects → Actions → Inbox; let action drive knowledge management. Center the system on projects, break large goals into specific executable tasks, and create a network of connections instead of linear categories.
• Example: Knowledge should fuel action, not remain a static collection. Avoid conventional linear categorization.
• Source: Raymond’s personal system, evolved from GTD and PARA.

Digital Tool Team

• Situation: Selecting and configuring tools for everyday work.
• Method: Combine specialized tools instead of looking for one all-purpose tool. Treat digital tools as an assistant team so one person can reach the productivity of a ten-person team in the past.
• Example: Hand non-specialist tasks to tools and focus on your strengths. Using tools correctly can greatly increase productivity.
• Source: Raymond’s core concept.

Tools Extend Thinking

• Situation: The underlying logic for deciding whether to adopt a new tool.
• Method: Look beyond features to how a tool affects your way of thinking. Tools do not only speed up workflows; they raise the ceiling of your capabilities.
• Example: Professionals should keep exploring new tools and treat them as extensions of their abilities.
• Source: Raymond’s core values.

Related Content (Information)

Course Scripts

• 08 | How to choose tools directly affects the ceiling of your capabilities
• 09 | My best-value investment: a digital tool team
• 18 | How to build a Second Brain (Part 1): not through collecting, categorizing, and tagging
• 19 | How to build a Second Brain (Part 2): knowledge extraction, PAI, projects, and task management

Articles and Newsletters

• 2024-09-23: Was my note-taking method wrong? The misunderstood Second Brain, why Notion is hard to use, and the PAI template
• 2023-09-19: Why I no longer use PARA: stop falling into the collection and categorization trap; one core principle of knowledge management and an original Notion template
• 2024-11-19: Escaping algorithmic control: how I use the new-generation RSS reader Follow (invitation code)
• 2024-08-12: Free serial-number giveaway and essential creator tools: more than asset management, Eagle becomes an AI toolbox in version 4.0
• 2024-07-08: Mac screenshot and screen-recording app recommendation: CleanShot X also supports OCR and one-click sharing
• 2025-10-22: Replace Spotlight and Alfred: ten useful Raycast tips everyone should know
• 2024-04-08: Readwise Reader adds custom Chinese AI summaries with Ghostreader prompts
• 2024-03-31: Readwise Reader guide: improve focus and automate notes; use tags correctly
• 2024-05-23: I built a subscription-management system in Notion: payment reminders, calendar integration, and amount calculations; get the template
• 2023-12-24: My task-management workflow: using Notion Calendar to integrate Google Calendar and task management
• 2024-08-14: Notion launches in Chinese: six major features, charts, updates, and learning resources
• 2025-09-19: Notion 3.0 upgrade: AI Agent arrives, database permissions, offline mode, map view, and release notes
• 2021-04-26: The productivity tools you use determine the gap between you and the average person
• 2024-08-23: Productivity is not doing more things, but being able to do enjoyable things: notes from Raymond Hou’s interview with Global Connect Morning News
• 2023-10-26: Three stages of learning: internalize knowledge and rebuild confidence, a solution to information anxiety
• 2023-10-24: A modern daily reading-input workflow: how to use Readwise Reader to manage fragmented reading across platforms
• 2021-02-18: The highest-productivity work methods: lessons from interviewing over 100 entrepreneurs—organizing work, focus, goals, and faster completion
• 2026-03-20: Issue 176: Four sources for learning AI, Notion AI bonus livestream, automation requires a business first — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-03-08: Issue 175: Notion beginner in-person class, a non-engineer’s Claude Code journey, Manny joins — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-03-01: Building a paid membership community for five years: a full record of Lifehacker Island and its subscription service
• 2026-02-26: Issue 174: AI double at work, in-person Notion classes, repricing my own salary — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-02-02: Vibe-coding learning notes: why reinvent the wheel? I made a practical mini-tool website
• 2025-11-06: Complete AI learning path: prompts, knowledge bases, and AI Agents from beginner to advanced in three stages
• 2025-08-05: How I started freelancing and raised my rates: highlights from Raymond’s interview with Lufan
• 2024-11-24: Start here: a 100-hour automation-work-method series using Zapier and n8n
• 2024-03-18: ChatGPT tutorial: learn prompt principles and the TRIRO framework to use AI tools
• 2023-11-29: ChatGPT tutorial: registration and upgrade principles explained simply, 2026 edition
• 2023-10-10: How to follow trends and build your own service or product: meet these supervisors earning more than NT$400,000 per month
• 2023-10-10: Asynchronous communication is a skill everyone should learn: the key to regaining focus at work, not only for remote workers
• 2023-09-25: What remains when you remove your job title? How to design distinctive labels and keywords for yourself
• 2023-09-05: Are you burned out? A product expert’s advice on combining expertise and business — interview with Han Han, Digital Life Atlas #22
• 2023-08-15: The purpose of daily creation: writing only for yourself — interview with Little Goldfish, Digital Life Atlas #21
• 2023-07-11: How to build a personal brand after work: four years of writing led to a book invitation — interview with Zhu Qi, Digital Life Atlas #20
• 2023-05-16: Behind ten years of writing by the Computer Playthings site owner: how to relax after work and turn life into projects — interview with Esor, Digital Life Atlas #19
• 2023-04-25: From overwhelmed by trivial work to creating small wins: how educators can keep building a sense of accomplishment — interview with Lily, Digital Life Atlas #18
• 2023-04-11: Canva product designer and education entrepreneur: finding long-term collaborators and keeping a remote team motivated — Digital Life Atlas #17
• 2023-03-28: How to choose a café to work in: remote work and digital-nomad experiences of a software engineer — interview with Conch, Digital Life Atlas #16
• 2023-03-14: The choices not made along the entrepreneurial path: the real life and underlying logic of a serial entrepreneur — interview with Lawrence Lin Yiru, Digital Life Atlas #15
• 2023-02-28: From forgetful to simply automating life: a graphic designer who loves the outdoors overcomes anxiety — interview with Jinbo, Digital Life Atlas #14
• 2023-02-14: Don’t turn a hobby into a job: creation and practice create business value — interview with Waki, Digital Life Atlas #13
• 2023-01-31: How can a post-2000 university student surpass their peers and find balance among multiple identities? — interview #12
• 2023-01-30: How a professional instructor optimizes workflows so organizations can invite them comfortably and efficiently — interview with Zheng Guanzhong, Digital Life Atlas #07
• 2023-01-09: Every experience becomes part of you: moving from sociology to user-experience design — interview with A-Mao, Digital Life Atlas #11
• 2023-01-01: Thomas Frank’s five principles for sustained creation: the impossible list
• 2022-12-31: What I learned about speaking logic and relationships from Chen Ming
• 2022-12-31: The 22-year-old lifehacker I admire most: He Tongxue changes what we expect from technology unboxings and reviews
• 2022-12-31: From law to software engineering: continuous documentation and minimalism enabled his rebirth — interview with Kyo, Digital Life Atlas #03
• 2022-12-31: Working under pressure in Hong Kong while making time for writing, exhibitions, and dance — interview with Ruby, Digital Life Atlas #04
• 2022-12-29: Running a podcast as an amateur: from single-digit listens to number one, retrospectives, and work–life integration — Digital Life Atlas #05
• 2022-12-29: How a quiet, introverted person can gain a manager’s trust and exceed expectations in a fully remote workplace — interview with Hanyu, Digital Life Atlas #06
• 2026-05-11: Issue 180: The meaning of an AI double, Esor livestream, Notion all-day workshop — Raymond Weekly
• 2025-09-03: Who is Paul Millerd? Giving up a US$200,000 salary to self-publish the bestseller The Pathless Path
• 2023-06-28: About Raymond Weekly, advertising and sponsorship, and newsletter performance data
• 2021-05-30: Reflections on tools: let tools serve your goals _4547688131912702
• 2026-06-02: Issue 181: Codex desktop tutorial, free currency converter, Little Tiger’s voice course — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-06-19: Issue 182: Followed a star with my wife for 20 years, nearly migrated my AI brain, Waki’s AI thinking-collaboration course — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-06-25: Why does Notion need a Taiwan market lead? Understanding the strategy behind a job description
• 2024-06-24: Lately I have been in my second most confused and anxious period since starting my own business _8413205605360916
• 2026-06-28: Issue 183: Turn a course into an AI assistant, analyze Notion’s Taiwan market-lead role, choose an Agent — Raymond Weekly
• 2025-06-30: I saw a social post; it must be talking about my course _24687981634123388
• 2026-06-30: What is an AI Agent? Understand harnesses through the seven-layer architecture of Hermes
• 2026-07-02: Computer Playthings’ Esor: decades of Evernote notes were not wasted—AI Agent and the Second Brain
• 2026-07-12: Issue 184: Midyear reflection, an AI-sounding-prose removal tool, Esor’s AI Second Brain — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-08-08: Issue 185: Half-month-late birthday, why I gave the flagship course to another platform and raised the price, Alley Guide housing map — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-08-30: Issue 186: Featured on the App Store, a trip without a laptop for the first time, an AI Agent course that keeps growing
• 2022-01-01: Rain Island Hostel seven-person room review: a perfect space and four days and three nights of nomadic work in Keelung
• 2021-09-29: Not just an online course, but the beginning of changing online learning
• 2021-07-08: The design story of Notion synced blocks
• 2021-07-01: Setapp for Mac: one subscription gives access to 200 useful apps
• 2021-01-30: Digital Life Atlas #02: freelance work, a media business, and graduate school; forced rest is key
• 2021-01-29: Digital Life Atlas #01: plastic-free city living and a simple life without company afternoon-tea perks
• 2020-09-02: What is a company of one? The free association of free people and the Raymond Thirty community
• 2026-09-08: Issue 187: Connecting AI does not automatically make you stronger; love life itself; video adapter and charger — Raymond Weekly
• 2026-09-23: Issue 188: To my 32-year-old self, six years of paid subscriptions, I fired myself — Raymond Weekly

Social Posts

(To be tagged using the Facebook post curation tool.)

Data

• Tiago Forte, Building a Second Brain — the original model for the Second Brain concept.
• David Allen, Getting Things Done — GTD, one of the predecessors to the PAI system.

Related Concepts

Learning Methods, Time Management, AI Tool Applications, Automation