I use the word Building Block Note to describe a unique note that I have placed into my Note-Making System.
To get into the Note-Making System, a note must be of potential Lasting Value. Ascribing Lasting Value to a note is my way of cordoning off my attention from items which are merely ‘interesting’ but are likely of no Lasting Value.
The reason I am doing this is so as I can avoid the catastrophe of my previous ‘knowledge management systems’, that have been the perfect illustration of the Collectors Fallacy.
I use the Information Flow I have designed to permit a note to enter my Note-Making System.
I use the concept of Lasting Value as a gateway that filters access to my Note-Making System.
I use two apps, Instapaper and DEVONthink to help manage my Zettelkasten which is one element of my Personal Knowledge Management System.
Here is the complete note nomenclature I use.
A Particle Note is either:
- a note about a Source Data Point (article, web cliiping, email, etc) or
- a note about a Fleeting Thought– a concept, idea, or feeling
- either of which should have potential Lasting Value.
The word ‘particle’ is used because a particle is the smallest discrete portion or amount of something.
A Particle Note can bind to other ideas and concepts as you think and write about it. As this process evolves, structure emerges:
- a Particle Note: a note about a Source Data Point or Fleeting Thought
- a Building Block Note: the initial recorded annotations about a Particle Note
- a Concrete Note: an evolved Building Block Note which contains Actionable Information. A well developed Concrete Note may evolve into a Cornerstone Note.
- a Cornerstone Note: the most up to date summation of what you understand about a concept, idea, thought or feeling.
