Note-taking with Zettelkasten - An Introduction

hello my name is Misha I'm a devops hello my name is Misha I'm a devops engineer from the Netherlands and I engineer from the Netherlands and I engineer from the Netherlands and I changed my career to Tech in record time changed my career to Tech in record time changed my career to Tech in record time by leveraging my not taking system that by leveraging my not taking system that by leveraging my not taking system that is my secret weapon two weeks ago I is my secret weapon two weeks ago I is my secret weapon two weeks ago I introduced you to the P method and introduced you to the P method and introduced you to the P method and hopefully you have started to build the hopefully you have started to build the hopefully you have started to build the habit of taking notes in your own words habit of taking notes in your own words habit of taking notes in your own words and today we're going to be making the and today we're going to be making the and today we're going to be making the first step towards note taking Mastery first step towards note taking Mastery first step towards note taking Mastery we are going to be diving to a life we are going to be diving to a life we are going to be diving to a life altering approach to managing knowledge altering approach to managing knowledge altering approach to managing knowledge which is called the tle Casten method which is called the tle Casten method which is called the tle Casten method after thousands of hours of trying after thousands of hours of trying after thousands of hours of trying different no taking systems I finally different no taking systems I finally different no taking systems I finally have arrived at this about a or year ago have arrived at this about a or year ago have arrived at this about a or year ago that's when I really started to that's when I really started to that's when I really started to implement the settle CM method implement the settle CM method implement the settle CM method completely and I can tell you after completely and I can tell you after completely and I can tell you after these thousands of hours this is the these thousands of hours this is the these thousands of hours this is the right one this is the one to shoot for right one this is the one to shoot for right one this is the one to shoot for it's difficult but it's it's it's it's it's difficult but it's it's it's it's it's difficult but it's it's it's it's going to be giving you so much if you going to be giving you so much if you going to be giving you so much if you adopt adopt adopt this so in our information Rich world this so in our information Rich world this so in our information Rich world the ability to process and retain and the ability to process and retain and the ability to process and retain and synthesize knowledge is crucial synthesize knowledge is crucial synthesize knowledge is crucial especially for us devops engineers and especially for us devops engineers and especially for us devops engineers and software software software Engineers our field is just constantly Engineers our field is just constantly Engineers our field is just constantly changing and there is always new changing and there is always new changing and there is always new developments coming up there's always developments coming up there's always developments coming up there's always new things that we need to learn and you new things that we need to learn and you new things that we need to learn and you just can't keep up with it if you try to just can't keep up with it if you try to just can't keep up with it if you try to remember everything that's why we need remember everything that's why we need remember everything that's why we need to to to externalize our our learning our our externalize our our learning our our externalize our our learning our our thinking our memory that's what a good

thinking our memory that's what a good thinking our memory that's what a good notetaking system comes into so the tle notetaking system comes into so the tle notetaking system comes into so the tle Caston method is the crown jewel of not Caston method is the crown jewel of not Caston method is the crown jewel of not taking taking taking methods this is a horrible attempt at a methods this is a horrible attempt at a methods this is a horrible attempt at a crown so this is crown so this is crown so this is a it really is the crown jewel of noing a it really is the crown jewel of noing a it really is the crown jewel of noing methods it was created by Nicholas Lumen methods it was created by Nicholas Lumen methods it was created by Nicholas Lumen he is a German sociologist lumen he is a German sociologist lumen he is a German sociologist lumen and he is seen as one of the most and he is seen as one of the most and he is seen as one of the most prolific scholars in prolific scholars in prolific scholars in history Pro by prolific we mean that he history Pro by prolific we mean that he history Pro by prolific we mean that he produced a lot of output he was very produced a lot of output he was very produced a lot of output he was very productive he wrote almost seven yeah he productive he wrote almost seven yeah he productive he wrote almost seven yeah he wrote 70 books and more than 400 wrote 70 books and more than 400 wrote 70 books and more than 400 academic articles now 70 books that's academic articles now 70 books that's academic articles now 70 books that's almost two books a almost two books a almost two books a year two books a year that's a lot and year two books a year that's a lot and year two books a year that's a lot and and usually like if an academ MC and usually like if an academ MC and usually like if an academ MC produces a book every 3 years that is produces a book every 3 years that is produces a book every 3 years that is considered to be a significant considered to be a significant considered to be a significant achievement so this guy was producing achievement so this guy was producing achievement so this guy was producing two books a year and like I highly two books a year and like I highly two books a year and like I highly suggest taking a look at his writing suggest taking a look at his writing suggest taking a look at his writing let's take a look at his writing this is let's take a look at his writing this is let's take a look at his writing this is an an an essay uh called communicating with slip essay uh called communicating with slip essay uh called communicating with slip boxes it's his essay on the settle cast boxes it's his essay on the settle cast boxes it's his essay on the settle cast method and uh let's see method and uh let's see method and uh let's see um here let's the point I want to make um here let's the point I want to make um here let's the point I want to make is that this is not just just fluff is that this is not just just fluff is that this is not just just fluff writing this is very deep thinking that

writing this is very deep thinking that writing this is very deep thinking that this man is doing in his writing here this man is doing in his writing here this man is doing in his writing here information is an INT systematic event information is an INT systematic event information is an INT systematic event it results when One Compares One message it results when One Compares One message it results when One Compares One message or entry with regard to other or entry with regard to other or entry with regard to other possibilities information accordingly possibilities information accordingly possibilities information accordingly originates only in systems which possess originates only in systems which possess originates only in systems which possess a comparative schema even if this a comparative schema even if this a comparative schema even if this amounts only to this or something amounts only to this or something amounts only to this or something else for communication we do not have to else for communication we do not have to else for communication we do not have to presuppose that both parties use the presuppose that both parties use the presuppose that both parties use the same compar ative schema the effect of same compar ative schema the effect of same compar ative schema the effect of surprise even increases when this is not surprise even increases when this is not surprise even increases when this is not the case and when you believe a message the case and when you believe a message the case and when you believe a message like this is deep thick academic writing like this is deep thick academic writing like this is deep thick academic writing it's amazing I love it but the point is it's amazing I love it but the point is it's amazing I love it but the point is that he was not just producing fluff he that he was not just producing fluff he that he was not just producing fluff he was actually like putting out quality was actually like putting out quality was actually like putting out quality content in an insane High insanely High content in an insane High insanely High content in an insane High insanely High degree so I like to say when you learn degree so I like to say when you learn degree so I like to say when you learn painting you look at master of rembrand painting you look at master of rembrand painting you look at master of rembrand and and DaVinci well in terms of writing and and DaVinci well in terms of writing and and DaVinci well in terms of writing productivity Lumen is my productivity Lumen is my productivity Lumen is my DaVinci at the time of his death his DaVinci at the time of his death his DaVinci at the time of his death his ttle cast contained 990,000 index cards ttle cast contained 990,000 index cards ttle cast contained 990,000 index cards and and you can you can see the and and you can you can see the and and you can you can see the thing Lumen settle gasten it uh let's thing Lumen settle gasten it uh let's thing Lumen settle gasten it uh let's see there are pictures yeah this is a see there are pictures yeah this is a see there are pictures yeah this is a picture of his actual settle picture of his actual settle picture of his actual settle cast it then this is just one of the cast it then this is just one of the cast it then this is just one of the cabinets and he had multiple of these

cabinets and he had multiple of these cabinets and he had multiple of these cabinets and all of those were index cabinets and all of those were index cabinets and all of those were index cards and it when he died it contained cards and it when he died it contained cards and it when he died it contained 90,000 index 90,000 index 90,000 index cards so before I dive what the into cards so before I dive what the into cards so before I dive what the into what these these index cards are and what these these index cards are and what these these index cards are and what they do Etc I just want to briefly what they do Etc I just want to briefly what they do Etc I just want to briefly mention that the price of my school mention that the price of my school mention that the price of my school Community is going to rise to $35 a Community is going to rise to $35 a Community is going to rise to $35 a month on the 1st of August but the way month on the 1st of August but the way month on the 1st of August but the way the school pricing model works is that the school pricing model works is that the school pricing model works is that if you get in for the current price of if you get in for the current price of if you get in for the current price of $29 a month you will always stay at that $29 a month you will always stay at that $29 a month you will always stay at that price level no matter how much more it price level no matter how much more it price level no matter how much more it will rise in the future which it will so will rise in the future which it will so will rise in the future which it will so if you get in for $29 a month now you if you get in for $29 a month now you if you get in for $29 a month now you will always keep at that price level and will always keep at that price level and will always keep at that price level and when you get in you get access to all of when you get in you get access to all of when you get in you get access to all of my not taking courses you get access to my not taking courses you get access to my not taking courses you get access to my full ttle Caston method course and um my full ttle Caston method course and um my full ttle Caston method course and um you can uh get access to me directly by you can uh get access to me directly by you can uh get access to me directly by asking questions in the Q&A calls we asking questions in the Q&A calls we asking questions in the Q&A calls we have Q&A calls every week and you can have Q&A calls every week and you can have Q&A calls every week and you can ask questions by creating posts and I ask questions by creating posts and I ask questions by creating posts and I respond to you uh usually within a day respond to you uh usually within a day respond to you uh usually within a day so this is the this is your way to ask so this is the this is your way to ask so this is the this is your way to ask me questions directly the price is me questions directly the price is me questions directly the price is increasing to $35 on the 1st of August increasing to $35 on the 1st of August increasing to $35 on the 1st of August so if you want to get in for $29 and so if you want to get in for $29 and so if you want to get in for $29 and save $72 a year this is your time to save $72 a year this is your time to save $72 a year this is your time to jump in now let's get back to the settle jump in now let's get back to the settle jump in now let's get back to the settle cast method cast method cast method people like to make this ttle Casten

people like to make this ttle Casten people like to make this ttle Casten method really method really method really complex but it's complex but it's complex but it's actually very actually very actually very simple and the the kiss principle simple and the the kiss principle simple and the the kiss principle applies here keep it simple stupid like applies here keep it simple stupid like applies here keep it simple stupid like people create these elaborate videos and people create these elaborate videos and people create these elaborate videos and and it's very and it's very and it's very simple tlec is a Nott taking and simple tlec is a Nott taking and simple tlec is a Nott taking and personal Knowledge Management personal Knowledge Management personal Knowledge Management System it is a German word where tle System it is a German word where tle System it is a German word where tle means slip as in slip of means slip as in slip of means slip as in slip of paper and paper and paper and Casten Casten Casten meaning meaning meaning crate or box so putting papers in a box crate or box so putting papers in a box crate or box so putting papers in a box that is what tle Casten that is what tle Casten that is what tle Casten means originally it was a physical box means originally it was a physical box means originally it was a physical box holding index cards like we saw in the holding index cards like we saw in the holding index cards like we saw in the picture picture picture and each index card contains a single and each index card contains a single and each index card contains a single idea or unit of idea or unit of idea or unit of information and then the key is that information and then the key is that information and then the key is that each of these cards they would contain a each of these cards they would contain a each of these cards they would contain a number in his physical system so he had number in his physical system so he had number in his physical system so he had multiple cards and all of them had multiple cards and all of them had multiple cards and all of them had numbers and then by referencing that numbers and then by referencing that numbers and then by referencing that number on the cards he could link those number on the cards he could link those number on the cards he could link those cards to other cards and this way he cards to other cards and this way he cards to other cards and this way he could build up arguments consisting of could build up arguments consisting of could build up arguments consisting of these little building blocks and he

these little building blocks and he these little building blocks and he could take the cards out and he could could take the cards out and he could could take the cards out and he could move them around and he could build move them around and he could build move them around and he could build things and create unexpected connections things and create unexpected connections things and create unexpected connections by keeping one idea to one card and by by keeping one idea to one card and by by keeping one idea to one card and by all of this interlinking he was creating all of this interlinking he was creating all of this interlinking he was creating this hyper text this Web of Knowledge this hyper text this Web of Knowledge this hyper text this Web of Knowledge which was stored outside of of his brain which was stored outside of of his brain which was stored outside of of his brain this is what Lumen was doing so this is this is what Lumen was doing so this is this is what Lumen was doing so this is what the key of the s cast method so there method so there are several principles of the settle are several principles of the settle are several principles of the settle cast method the first one cast method the first one cast method the first one is atomic notes so this is what I refer is atomic notes so this is what I refer is atomic notes so this is what I refer to already that each index card contains to already that each index card contains to already that each index card contains one discrete one discrete one discrete idea two interconnectedness so there is idea two interconnectedness so there is idea two interconnectedness so there is the linking of the the linking of the the linking of the cards three cards three cards three emergent structure emergent structure emergent structure so structure structure so instead of like in the para method so instead of like in the para method so instead of like in the para method you start with a list of projects and you start with a list of projects and you start with a list of projects and then you put those category your your then you put those category your your then you put those category your your folder your notes into those folders folder your notes into those folders folder your notes into those folders into those categories the tle cast into those categories the tle cast into those categories the tle cast method Works differently you do not method Works differently you do not method Works differently you do not start with a pre supposed structure you start with a pre supposed structure you start with a pre supposed structure you let that that structure come organically let that that structure come organically let that that structure come organically by linking the by linking the by linking the notes and but in digital tools we can

notes and but in digital tools we can notes and but in digital tools we can link these notes by for example creating link these notes by for example creating link these notes by for example creating markdown links but in his physical box markdown links but in his physical box markdown links but in his physical box he did not have a a structure to it it he did not have a a structure to it it he did not have a a structure to it it was um the notes were always staying in was um the notes were always staying in was um the notes were always staying in a fixed place so he would just start a fixed place so he would just start a fixed place so he would just start with a drawer and just add adding cards with a drawer and just add adding cards with a drawer and just add adding cards to it without any sort of structure with to it without any sort of structure with to it without any sort of structure with the the like the philosophy goes in here the the like the philosophy goes in here the the like the philosophy goes in here and gardening goes in here no he didn't and gardening goes in here no he didn't and gardening goes in here no he didn't do anything like that the notes always do anything like that the notes always do anything like that the notes always had a fixed address in the in the box had a fixed address in the in the box had a fixed address in the in the box and he would just keep adding them and he would just keep adding them and he would just keep adding them without regard of placement or without regard of placement or without regard of placement or categories and then he used the linking categories and then he used the linking categories and then he used the linking as the way to provide structure which as the way to provide structure which as the way to provide structure which would evolve would evolve would evolve organically and and number organically and and number organically and and number four a very important part of the four a very important part of the four a very important part of the principles is uh own principles is uh own principles is uh own words so no quotes or very words so no quotes or very words so no quotes or very sparingly Luman never highlighted uh sparingly Luman never highlighted uh sparingly Luman never highlighted uh text in his in his books he always wrote text in his in his books he always wrote text in his in his books he always wrote down the concepts in his own words Lumen down the concepts in his own words Lumen down the concepts in his own words Lumen almost never used quotes on his tettles almost never used quotes on his tettles almost never used quotes on his tettles he always converted to it to his own he always converted to it to his own he always converted to it to his own words so instead of words so instead of words so instead of saying instead of directly quoting the

saying instead of directly quoting the saying instead of directly quoting the author he would just write oh on page so author he would just write oh on page so author he would just write oh on page so and so the author makes this and that and so the author makes this and that and so the author makes this and that compelling argument and I think that it compelling argument and I think that it compelling argument and I think that it is opposed to that argument that you can is opposed to that argument that you can is opposed to that argument that you can find in this ttle that's how he would find in this ttle that's how he would find in this ttle that's how he would use these use these use these tettles so the ttle cast is not just tettles so the ttle cast is not just tettles so the ttle cast is not just just a not taking system like the par just a not taking system like the par just a not taking system like the par method tle Casten is more than that the method tle Casten is more than that the method tle Casten is more than that the tle Caston is a thinking tool tool so the par method and and other no so the par method and and other no so the par method and and other no methods they rely heavily on methods they rely heavily on methods they rely heavily on highlighting text copying quotes but highlighting text copying quotes but highlighting text copying quotes but Lumen never did that like I said it it Lumen never did that like I said it it Lumen never did that like I said it it you always write in your own words and you always write in your own words and you always write in your own words and when you do this you engage in a process when you do this you engage in a process when you do this you engage in a process that's similar to translation as if that's similar to translation as if that's similar to translation as if you're translation translating to a you're translation translating to a you're translation translating to a different language it forces you to different language it forces you to different language it forces you to think deeply about the material and by think deeply about the material and by think deeply about the material and by writing in your own words you ensure writing in your own words you ensure writing in your own words you ensure that you truly understand it before you that you truly understand it before you that you truly understand it before you put it into your notetaking put it into your notetaking put it into your notetaking system so when you find yourself unable system so when you find yourself unable system so when you find yourself unable to rephrase an idea or to to write it to rephrase an idea or to to write it to rephrase an idea or to to write it down in your own words it's it's a very down in your own words it's it's a very down in your own words it's it's a very clear indication that you haven't fully clear indication that you haven't fully clear indication that you haven't fully grasped it yet and as I've discussed in grasped it yet and as I've discussed in grasped it yet and as I've discussed in a previous letter the act of writing a previous letter the act of writing a previous letter the act of writing itself is crucial for understanding

itself is crucial for understanding itself is crucial for understanding writing is writing is writing is understanding so by avoiding to use understanding so by avoiding to use understanding so by avoiding to use direct quotes and crafting each note in direct quotes and crafting each note in direct quotes and crafting each note in your own word you're processing it your own word you're processing it your own word you're processing it you're you're internalizing you're you're internalizing you're you're internalizing it and it and it and secondly when when you have this system secondly when when you have this system secondly when when you have this system of index cards and he would use physical of index cards and he would use physical of index cards and he would use physical index cards I don't use physical IND index cards I don't use physical IND index cards I don't use physical IND index cards although I would like to do index cards although I would like to do index cards although I would like to do it but I do it in in obsidian but when it but I do it in in obsidian but when it but I do it in in obsidian but when you have a series of notes all related you have a series of notes all related you have a series of notes all related to each other about some sort of topic to each other about some sort of topic to each other about some sort of topic when you are building a super complex when you are building a super complex when you are building a super complex argument that this guy was doing then argument that this guy was doing then argument that this guy was doing then you can take these notes and then you you can take these notes and then you you can take these notes and then you can move them around on your desk you can move them around on your desk you can move them around on your desk you can arrange them in different orders and can arrange them in different orders and can arrange them in different orders and you can see how this argument might fit you can see how this argument might fit you can see how this argument might fit better over here it might fit better better over here it might fit better better over here it might fit better over there and this is the power of over there and this is the power of over there and this is the power of making these notes Atomic that every making these notes Atomic that every making these notes Atomic that every note is just one note is just one note is just one idea and then you can you can start idea and then you can you can start idea and then you can you can start seeing structures you can start seeing seeing structures you can start seeing seeing structures you can start seeing relations to notes that were not there relations to notes that were not there relations to notes that were not there at all before at all before at all before by keeping these these ideas by keeping these these ideas by keeping these these ideas bite-sized you can you can really start bite-sized you can you can really start bite-sized you can you can really start to externalize your thoughts and work to externalize your thoughts and work to externalize your thoughts and work with complex arguments which are really with complex arguments which are really with complex arguments which are really difficult to keep in your head

difficult to keep in your head difficult to keep in your head constantly it's much much easier to have constantly it's much much easier to have constantly it's much much easier to have them laid out on the table before you so them laid out on the table before you so them laid out on the table before you so in essence tle Casten transforms no in essence tle Casten transforms no in essence tle Casten transforms no taking from from just passive recording taking from from just passive recording taking from from just passive recording you are not you're not recording you are not you're not recording you are not you're not recording or capturing information you not just or capturing information you not just or capturing information you not just this is why I I don't I always advise this is why I I don't I always advise this is why I I don't I always advise against these these clipping apps or against these these clipping apps or against these these clipping apps or these readwise apps or just highlights these readwise apps or just highlights these readwise apps or just highlights that pull everything straight into your that pull everything straight into your that pull everything straight into your obsidian Vault I'm highly against that obsidian Vault I'm highly against that obsidian Vault I'm highly against that actually instead of like just hoarding actually instead of like just hoarding actually instead of like just hoarding text that somebody else wrote The Settle text that somebody else wrote The Settle text that somebody else wrote The Settle castom becomes a thinking tool you you castom becomes a thinking tool you you castom becomes a thinking tool you you use your own brain you use your own use your own brain you use your own use your own brain you use your own thinking to create your own words you thinking to create your own words you thinking to create your own words you craft your own words you craft your own craft your own words you craft your own craft your own words you craft your own insights so in the coming weeks we are insights so in the coming weeks we are insights so in the coming weeks we are going to be delving more into the ttle going to be delving more into the ttle going to be delving more into the ttle cast method method I'm going to explain cast method method I'm going to explain cast method method I'm going to explain exactly how it enhances your exactly how it enhances your exactly how it enhances your productivity how you can use it to productivity how you can use it to productivity how you can use it to create output how you can um really create output how you can um really create output how you can um really increase your your increase your your increase your your learning your work as a knowledge worker learning your work as a knowledge worker learning your work as a knowledge worker and and your output as a Creator if that and and your output as a Creator if that and and your output as a Creator if that is what you are interested in so that's is what you are interested in so that's is what you are interested in so that's what we'll be looking at in the in the what we'll be looking at in the in the what we'll be looking at in the in the few in next coming weeks but if you want few in next coming weeks but if you want few in next coming weeks but if you want to start taking notes using the ttle to start taking notes using the ttle to start taking notes using the ttle cast method today you should consider my

cast method today you should consider my cast method today you should consider my course I'm totally confident that it's course I'm totally confident that it's course I'm totally confident that it's the most comprehensive resource on the most comprehensive resource on the most comprehensive resource on learning settle learning settle learning settle cast on the internet today it already cast on the internet today it already cast on the internet today it already has what is it 9918 has what is it 9918 has what is it 9918 um students on udemy already it has um students on udemy already it has um students on udemy already it has almost perfect F five star reviews but almost perfect F five star reviews but almost perfect F five star reviews but if you join my school Community for $29 if you join my school Community for $29 if you join my school Community for $29 a day a month if you join my community a day a month if you join my community a day a month if you join my community today you will always keep paying the today you will always keep paying the today you will always keep paying the price you get unlimited access to my price you get unlimited access to my price you get unlimited access to my courses and you can just do the ttle courses and you can just do the ttle courses and you can just do the ttle cast method and ask me questions about cast method and ask me questions about cast method and ask me questions about it directly to me if you get stuck so it directly to me if you get stuck so it directly to me if you get stuck so that's a huge advantage of joining my that's a huge advantage of joining my that's a huge advantage of joining my community instead of just doing a oneoff community instead of just doing a oneoff community instead of just doing a oneoff course purchase so thank you so much for course purchase so thank you so much for course purchase so thank you so much for watching and hope to see you in the next watching and hope to see you in the next watching and hope to see you in the next video have a good week