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Tiago Forte
Creator of Building a Second Brain, Founder at Forte Labs
Tiago Forte is the founder of Forte Labs, a company dedicated to enhancing productivity through innovative methods and tools. He is particularly known for developing the "Building a Second Brain" methodology, which focuses on effective knowledge management and digital note-taking systems. This approach aims to help individuals manage information overload, enhance creativity, and streamline their mental workload by organizing their thoughts and insights in a structured way.132
Forte has an extensive background in education and consulting, having taught over 20,000 people worldwide through his online courses and workshops. His work emphasizes the integration of technology with personal productivity, and he has created various educational resources, including online courses and publications on productivity and design thinking.24
He graduated cum laude from San Diego State University with a degree in International Business and has experience working in microfinance in Latin America and serving in the Peace Corps in Ukraine. His diverse background contributes to his unique perspective on productivity and personal growth.24
Forte resides in Long Beach, California, where he continues to develop his methodologies and support individuals and organizations in achieving their productivity goals.24
Highlights
Follow me on BlueSky @fortelabs.bsky.social
Here's my 4-step system to make sure nothing slips through the cracks:
I know when it comes to keeping track of everything—commitments, tasks, and all the tiny details—it can be easy to get lost
To stay on top of it all, I follow a simple mnemonic: Every Commitment Needs Tracking (ECNT)
It stands for the four key areas where I manage my responsibilities: email, calendar, notes, and tasks
Here’s a quick look at my process:
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Email: I start by reviewing my inbox. I check for anything that needs to go on my calendar, save resources to my notes, and tasks that require action to my to-do list. This first step lets me pull essential information from my emails into my downward systems
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Calendar: Next, I review my upcoming week. Any meetings or deadlines I need to prep for get turned into tasks. This way, my calendar and to-do list stay aligned
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Notes: Moving down the ladder, I review my note-taking app (Evernote) to catch any ideas or project notes that need action. Anything relevant gets added to my task list, ensuring no loose ideas or insights are overlooked
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Tasks: Finally, I pull it all together in my task manager (Things). This is where everything actionable lives. I prioritize my day and week here, choosing what’s urgent and what can wait
By following this routine—usually several times a week and especially during my Weekly Review—I gain clarity on what’s on my plate and prioritize with confidence
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try this sequence
By processing each source of information in order, you’ll capture everything you need to move forward with clarity and focus
