Tony Ramella
Tony Ramella
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The REAL reason most Obsidian zettelkastens fail
Enroll in Zettel Monetizer to get unstuck and start publishing with your notes: zettelmonetizer.com
Free zettelkasten vault for Obsidian + email course: flowlabs.co/flow-vault-for-obsidian
Most ADHD users struggle with Obsidian, but not for the reasons you might think. After surveying thousands of note-takers and coaching hundreds of writers, I discovered a surprising truth about why we overcomplicate our PKM systems.
In this video, I share how studying a "messy" professor's analog note-taking system helped me transform my relationship with Obsidian and turn my scattered thoughts into valuable content. Learn why fighting against your brain with complex workflows isn't the answer, and how a simple shift in approach could change everything.
00:00 The Truth About Obsidian & ADHD
00:40 The Plugin & Feature Trap
01:33 Survey Results: Top PKM Challenges
02:27 Finding Zettelkasten
03:26 Learning From Luhmann Directly
03:53 Inside Luhmann's "Messy" Office
04:47 Chaotic Order: Working With Your Brain
05:42 Bottom-Up vs Top-Down Systems
06:31 Why Simple Systems Win
07:01 My Journey: Writing More, Organizing Less
07:29 Turning Notes Into Income
08:23 Final Thoughts
Переглядів: 1 436

Відео

Analog zettelkasten from start to finish | Note-Making Workshop
Переглядів 3,2 тис.Місяць тому
Analog zettelkasten from start to finish | Note-Making Workshop
AI note-taking is making you dumber. Do this instead.
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AI note-taking is making you dumber. Do this instead.
5 ways I use Obsidian to write viral notes
Переглядів 1,3 тис.2 місяці тому
5 ways I use Obsidian to write viral notes
Am I overcomplicating zettelkasten? [Reddit reaction]
Переглядів 2,3 тис.3 місяці тому
Am I overcomplicating zettelkasten? [Reddit reaction]
Supercharge your research in Obsidian with Zotero 7
Переглядів 10 тис.4 місяці тому
Supercharge your research in Obsidian with Zotero 7
Digital note-taking is broken (5 ways you can fix it)
Переглядів 6 тис.5 місяців тому
Digital note-taking is broken (5 ways you can fix it)
I am quitting Zettelkasten [Obsidian Reddit post reaction]
Переглядів 3,8 тис.6 місяців тому
I am quitting Zettelkasten [Obsidian Reddit post reaction]
How I make money from note-taking (and you can too)
Переглядів 2,2 тис.6 місяців тому
How I make money from note-taking (and you can too)
Kill searching in Obsidian with note sequencing
Переглядів 6 тис.7 місяців тому
Kill searching in Obsidian with note sequencing
Second Brain in Obsidian and Beyond | Live Workshop
Переглядів 2,4 тис.7 місяців тому
Second Brain in Obsidian and Beyond | Live Workshop
How to stop being a perfectionist as a creative
Переглядів 6477 місяців тому
How to stop being a perfectionist as a creative
What Obsidian gurus get wrong about Zettelkasten
Переглядів 59 тис.8 місяців тому
What Obsidian gurus get wrong about Zettelkasten
Leverage ADHD to your advantage with a second brain
Переглядів 1,9 тис.8 місяців тому
Leverage ADHD to your advantage with a second brain
How to write source notes with zettelkasten
Переглядів 8 тис.9 місяців тому
How to write source notes with zettelkasten
This pocket notebook saved me from scrolling
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This pocket notebook saved me from scrolling
Migrating to Obsidian for Academic Note-Taking (PKM Coaching Session)
Переглядів 3 тис.10 місяців тому
Migrating to Obsidian for Academic Note-Taking (PKM Coaching Session)
Hack your ADHD with Obsidian Daily Notes
Переглядів 15 тис.10 місяців тому
Hack your ADHD with Obsidian Daily Notes
turn your phone into a portable university
Переглядів 82710 місяців тому
turn your phone into a portable university

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @desireco
    @desireco Годину тому

    I don't think you are selling this as viable tehnique here...

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella Годину тому

      @@desireco it was viable for half a century for Luhmann among many others. Feel free to propose a more long term viable technique that has stood the test of time and I will explore it.

    • @desireco
      @desireco 58 хвилин тому

      @@TonyRamella I am not saying that a method is bad, just how you are showing... you sound confused and don't show how this can bring clarity. Which I could understand, I am sometimes like that but then what are you showing and why you would post this?

    • @desireco
      @desireco 57 хвилин тому

      that is my impression I got after enthysiastically started watching the video

  • @Twinsen_doc
    @Twinsen_doc 6 годин тому

    Thank you! That's it, I feel that complicated folder structure and following the rules of "ideal" graph get me slower, and here is the right explanation.

  • @knw-seeker6836
    @knw-seeker6836 10 годин тому

    Do you recommend any book on Zettelkasten note taking or note making? I really would like to give it a try for my psychology exams

  • @knw-seeker6836
    @knw-seeker6836 11 годин тому

    Thanks for this great video Simplicity beats the most sophisticated and modern tool’s every time in my opinion The question I’m asking myself is do I want to learn the concept or do I want learn how to use a tool? I thought a lot about if the Zettelkasten technique can be used in exam scenarios like college or university exams Maybe there have to be some adaptations here and there

  • @dangernoodle2868
    @dangernoodle2868 13 годин тому

    I'm a bit confused. You outlined perhaps the biggest pitfall of Obsidian as a tool, that people get lost tinkering with customisability rather than actually using it for work, but it's not clear to me what the solution to that was. I'm someone who has ADHD and I didn't get lost tinkering with the tool because I had experience installing huge mod-lists in Oblivion and Skyrim, if you install a bunch of mods at once then you'll end up with game-ending bugs that you won't know how to fix. I therefore took a minimalist approach and didn't use any of the community mods. This is because I know that vanilla skyrim and oblivion are lots of fun and I can have that fun immediately if I don't waste my time with mods. Even now, I still barely use any mods in my Obsidian and I'm getting huge value out of my use of the tool. There's an error of thinking that I was able to avoid because of my prior experiences and philosophy despite also having the ADHD traits that seem to be game-ending for everyone else. So, what's the problem with people's attitudes and philosophies when it comes to highly customisable tools? How can people use the technology without having shutdown customisability options or forcing them into a cumbersome analogue system?

  • @jeffhappens1
    @jeffhappens1 День тому

    Is this going to work?

  • @cfsdocbrown
    @cfsdocbrown День тому

    I'm so excited to see a new video. You are the only Zettlekasten UA-camr who has such an intimate knowledge of the source - the analogue slipbox. I have been using Obsidian for years but never really understood what a Zettlekasten was or how it was supposed to work before I discovered your channel. Thank you for sharing.

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella День тому

      @@cfsdocbrown thank you for the kind words my friend. I’m glad I could help!

    • @theodrak
      @theodrak 13 годин тому

      Hi Tony, great stuff. I’ve tried registering for the free vault a few times today and haven’t received the email (I’ve checked in spam etc) Would it be possible to check the automation as I tried registering a few times over the past 5hrs and haven’t received anything.

    • @theodrak
      @theodrak 13 годин тому

      Hi Tony, great stuff. I’ve tried registering for the free vault a few times today and haven’t received the email (I’ve checked in spam etc) Would it be possible to check the automation as I tried registering a few times over the past 5hrs and haven’t received anything. @TonyRamella

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 9 годин тому

      @@theodrak Hey friend, sorry about that. I fixed the issue so if you want to try again you'll receive the download in your inbox. Thanks for the heads up!

  • @halbrooks7517
    @halbrooks7517 3 дні тому

    I just stumbled upon this video about two weeks after I hit upon the *same idea* for reducing dependence on my iPhone and Obsidian. And like you, I transfer what I need to at the end of the day to Obsidian for archiving. Embrace the sloppiness!

  • @wongsimon2387
    @wongsimon2387 4 дні тому

    Thanks

  • @duodecimalbear
    @duodecimalbear 4 дні тому

    I've come back to this video again after it came to mind months later. It's super valuable. One note that came from it is "Sometimes what appears to be frictionless is adding friction another way". What an important concept in our super low-friction digital world. Connects to ideas I got from Cal Newport's book A World Without Email. Thriving in modern knowledge work I think almost *requires* understanding this. Just thought I'd share this little snippet from my own slip-box. But anyway, thank you and great job.

  • @ben-benedict
    @ben-benedict 5 днів тому

    Problem is obsidian, how marvel it is , add too much setup friction for adhd . IMHO

  • @petrholusa5855
    @petrholusa5855 6 днів тому

    4:15 I have downloaded the sample of the Flow Vault and somehow very heavy for adhd I am going through. :D

  • @cpattullo1
    @cpattullo1 6 днів тому

    very well done!

  • @petrholusa5855
    @petrholusa5855 6 днів тому

    Strange. Could not get the flow fault to test it. :(( This gave me some kind of anxiety/stress-check later moment.

  • @wallstreetjones
    @wallstreetjones 6 днів тому

    I discovered this book a few years ago, and it opened my eyes to a more effective way of developing my ideas and thought leadership. Though I only committed to learning the Zettelkasten system yesterday, I quickly noticed there were many conflicting interpretations floating around online ands I'm incredibly grateful that you've cleared up these misconceptions early in my journey. Your work in explaining the system properly has helped me avoid heading down the wrong path, and I truly appreciate your efforts in making this method more accessible and clear.

  • @walterwong6970
    @walterwong6970 6 днів тому

    Zettelkasten is idea management not knowledge management.

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 6 днів тому

      @@walterwong6970 I would go as far to say its idea development, there is really not much management involved once the ideas are filed.

    • @walterwong6970
      @walterwong6970 6 днів тому

      Idea development is the long term result, zk is the system to connect and store ideas for the developments. In the process of collecting and connecting loose ideas, we actually have no idea what will come up as the results. New idea development begins when existing interconnected ideas become self meaningful.

  • @carlodichiacchio4043
    @carlodichiacchio4043 6 днів тому

    Hi Tony. Thank you so much for this video. Very instructive. Yet, I'd like to ask your advice on how to get through taking notes from a book I'm studying and then start building a zettelkasten (either digital or analogical). What I mean is that when I read a book there are a lot of concept and ideas; how can I manage taking notes from the book and transform them into a zettelkasten? thank you for your help. Carlo

  • @3Timothy_4-7
    @3Timothy_4-7 6 днів тому

    I've seen the topic discussed before, but not in the context of linear vs. fluid emerging thought, and being able to identify both using Obsidian. Tell me if I'm understanding your thesis correctly ... Emerging thought can develop linearly and/or fluidly. Unless we can devise a way to track individual "lines" of emerging thought, a purely link-based perspective of our archive of notes will have a tendency to only convey (using tools like Obsidian's local graph view) how each note relates to a central / hub meta-topic (MOC note, etc.). Searching for a note will, likewise, not convey if a note in the search results is part of a sequential line of thought. Luhmann's method of note identification is a proven way to convey this. An index note organized by this sequencing scheme will serve as an alternative way of finding entry points for notes into your archive.

  • @victorruiz6835
    @victorruiz6835 7 днів тому

    Hitting rock bottom

  • @blaiseutube
    @blaiseutube 8 днів тому

    He was certainly one of us .

  • @M4XD4B0ZZ
    @M4XD4B0ZZ 8 днів тому

    Can I have that picture? Would like to get it as a desktop wallpaper 😉

  • @stevevitka7442
    @stevevitka7442 10 днів тому

    Thanks Tony, you have given me good constraints for virtual assistant I am designing

  • @akinwunmioluwaseun3772
    @akinwunmioluwaseun3772 10 днів тому

    This has been really helpful, It speaks to some issues I'm starting to see with my notes and it really makes sense as a starting point to rethink my own zettelkasten method. Thank you for making the video.

  • @akinwunmioluwaseun3772
    @akinwunmioluwaseun3772 10 днів тому

    So, what have you written using your own system that is verifiable? In the end, that's what matters, what do you know? what have you produced? The reason we follow Luhmann's zettelkasten method is because it was productive for him, not because it sounded like a good idea

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 9 днів тому

      I have published hundreds of articles and newsletters in the past 2 years, you can read some of them on my website.

  • @adriansrfr
    @adriansrfr 11 днів тому

    Interesting. Im not sure if everything should be sequenced. A comparison between ideas that are better sequenced and ideas that are worse sequenced would be interesting. Im all about finding information faster. This makes the zettel numbering system make more sense. Thanks for sharing, hope you make more on this topic.

  • @MaxwellBuba
    @MaxwellBuba 13 днів тому

    SURROUND YOURSEL WITH THOSE WHO BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOU, NOT THE STRESS IN YOU

  • @chocolatefudge5263
    @chocolatefudge5263 13 днів тому

    Are digital pocket notebooks? Is writing on paper as beneficial as writing on a digital notebook?

  • @stta7970
    @stta7970 14 днів тому

    Very well explained. I learned bunch of things , thank you

  • @techietoons
    @techietoons 14 днів тому

    The problem with such a setup is it's not sustainable. While the notes in Obsidian in just file based, and will stay, the Zotero collections often changes or we migrate and things will be lost. I suggest using Literature note for each research paper with pdf attached to the note itself

  • @michaelkeaton32
    @michaelkeaton32 15 днів тому

    I wonder what system would be used if he were to create it today? Did he use index cards for their particular purpose or did he use them because that's what he had at a time?

  • @kristinechristlieb1383
    @kristinechristlieb1383 15 днів тому

    I feel like we are kindred spirits. First, I am diagnosed ADHD and I'm a fan of Lamy fountain pens. Isn't this method a little OCD?

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 14 днів тому

      I love to hear that! It can be as OCD as you want it to be, but the way the filing system works is that it adapts to the chaotic way you think and make connections. So if you get too carried away with the OCD, it can case a lot of friction and make the experience more time consuming than it needs to be.

  • @ArnaudCrohen
    @ArnaudCrohen 16 днів тому

    A very clear explanation. Thanks a lot!

  • @Sky-x4l
    @Sky-x4l 16 днів тому

    Just use Obsidian Custom Frames for todoist

  • @theblacknezuko
    @theblacknezuko 19 днів тому

    Very well presented and explained! Thank you so much!

  • @leonnardocr
    @leonnardocr 21 день тому

    Great video! I have ADHD and Obsidian triggers my hiperfocus so much hahaha At least keeps me making notes and trying to improve my note taking skills BTW, can you share your theme? Cheers!

  • @gotdamnski
    @gotdamnski 22 дні тому

    i really like your deep understanding of this method. the other videos I have seen were quite confusing and I never understood the idea of the authors

  • @TheLPfunnTV
    @TheLPfunnTV 27 днів тому

    One thing I started doing was linking my bullet journal with my zettelkasten each bullet journal has it's own volume number and distinct page numbers You can always like zettels you create to the volume & page So you get the powerhouse of bujo and a thinking partner Would love to know if you played around with this at all :D Where did you learn how to start the analog zettelkasten? I would love to learn the analog way too :D

  • @MarceloRodrigues-tv5pn
    @MarceloRodrigues-tv5pn 27 днів тому

    How come only 80 likes on this video? Very helpful! Thanks so much

  • @shenjianhong
    @shenjianhong 27 днів тому

    I wanna know your opinion about 11.2a3c1! Could you please share your idea?

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 27 днів тому

      Yes! It comes from a video interview I saw where they show Luhmann's office which was a total mess. ADHD doom piles of books and papers everywhere and just enough space on his desk to write on note cards-he was definitely not an organized person. I know you cant diagnose historical figures, hence why I made that note a question.

    • @shenjianhong
      @shenjianhong 27 днів тому

      @@TonyRamella Thanks for your reply. I see your point now. Very interesting observation. But I think you are right, it is hard to diagnose historical figure especially when ADHD is kind of complicated and difficult to make proper diagnosis in its own right. Still fascinating though!

  • @Seventh503
    @Seventh503 28 днів тому

    Theyre still on the same level. So it is effectively the sam as the top one.

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella 28 днів тому

      Its about the process, not the outcome.

  • @paconity791
    @paconity791 Місяць тому

    I just hope that people who are discovering Zettelkasten and Obsidian for the first time find your content, bro. I’ve been struggling a lot to understand the workflow because, in Spanish-my native language-there aren’t many good resources. Most of them focus on Niklas Luhmann’s story, which I’ve heard like a hundred times already, and only briefly touch on the core workflow before trying to sell you a course. 😂 On the other hand, English creators explain highly detailed and personalized workflows, which are much better than what we have in Spanish. But for a beginner, it’s just too much information. I don’t know-I just wanted to express both my gratitude and frustration. Your videos provide such a clear and simple explanation of this incredible system, and it’s a huge help. ✌️

  • @TheLPfunnTV
    @TheLPfunnTV Місяць тому

    Do you ever write more than one source note per book?

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella Місяць тому

      @@TheLPfunnTV yes most of the time. There is no rule as to how many source notes you should write, but being mindful of your extraction goal helps you not get too carried away

  • @TheLPfunnTV
    @TheLPfunnTV Місяць тому

    My absolute mad lad brain - just uses the ID as the title in obsidian - since it will be the filename anyways :3

    • @TonyRamella
      @TonyRamella Місяць тому

      I actually think theres a lot of value in doing it this way since it works as a forcing function to make you scan the contents of the notes as you browse them