A Knowledge Index for product builders

Welcome to Lab Notes. This space is dedicated to sharing what we’ve learned from our journey in the tech industry, spanning strategies, ideas, and the direct applications that have shaped our careers and ventures. It’s a compilation of both long-term learnings and emerging thoughts, emphasizing the importance of documenting the process as ideas evolve.

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Knowledge Index, aka “Second Brain” 🧠

Our Knowledge Index, or “second brain🧠 second brain – a method for indexing what you know, experienced, or learned for future reference, especially useful for stuff easily forgotten yet is the basis of your future beliefs. This is an idea coined by Tiago Forte and illustrated and written about by Maggie Appleton while taking a course on it. This concept is adjacent in philosophy to digital gardens. ,” distills pivotal lessons from our experiences, blending enlightening conversations, essential readings, and practical challenges and solutions. It embodies our dedication to documenting the insights and thought processes that shape our actions, teamwork, and strategies. Amidst the fast pace of work, capturing the depth of our learning is daunting, yet crucial. Our goal is to transform these real-time observations into principles and practices that guide us and you, inviting everyone into a journey of continuous learning and growth. This initiative aims to demystify the intricate aspects of our work—our thinking, connections, and what truly leads to success.

Our Content Evolution

In Lab Notes, you’ll encounter articles at various stages of refinement:

🍵 Brew : Emerging ideas and observations, fresh and exploratory.
🧪 Potion : Developed concepts, tested and analyzed.
🌌 Eternal : Fully-realized insights, our evergreen content.

For Every Digital Mind

Recognizing the diversity of our audience, each note is crafted with a specific type of reader in mind:

Aspiring Strategists

Force Multipliers

Entrepreneurial Spirits

Connective Visionaries

These personas ensure that you can easily find content that resonates with your interests and professional focus. Which one do you identify with the most?

Aspiring Strategists are at the budding stages of their careers. They are seeking guidance to navigate the transition from being primarily technical or design-focused to becoming more strategy and product-driven.

Beyond Code: Tools to Connect with Stakeholders as a Technical Leader

Entrepreneurial Spirits have embarked on their own business ventures, and are looking for validation, guidance, and inspiration from experienced individuals who have been through similar journeys.

Exploring Impacts of Generative AI Adoption

Deeply curious and empathetic, Connective Visionaries see everything as interconnected: people, ideas, and industries. They use their wide-ranging knowledge and networks to blend detailed precision with a broad strategic vision.

Context-Pairing: For Long-Lasting Foundational Features

Characterized by a focus on diligent work, a passion for truth and problem-solving, and an emphasis on precision and collaboration, all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

3D rendered figurine with open arms on abstract ascending stones, seemingly AI Upskilling. The pose is similar to climbing a mountain and feeling accomplished.

Do we really need to use generative AI tools?

Force Multipliers have a knack for finding ways to optimize systems and connections to unlock potential. They enhance efficiency and multiply collective force by harmonizing workflows and amplifying interdependencies.

Investing in the Future: The Case for Hiring and Mentoring Junior Tech Talent

With abundant sympathy, Knowledge Guardians internalize their own experiences when learning and seek to create a path to knowledge acquisition for others that's easier, more enjoyable, and encouraging.

On considering the value of humor labor in ai-driven future, we offer a hopeful outlook: the value is rooted in our ability to predict and make decisions, especially that affect humanity.

Does AI threaten the value of human labor?

We plan to write for other audiences too (Holistic Leaders and Fulfillment Chasers), but are not focusing on them at the moment.

Have thoughts? We want to hear them.

Want to see more articles for one of these audiences?

Do you identify as a different audience persona?

Reach out, we’d love to hear from you.

Lab Notes