I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of tabs open in my web browser. These tabs represent the wide range of thoughts and activities I engage with in a week (or even a day!). Usually I have an Amazon cart mid-process, three or four articles on leadership in education, a recipe or two “just in case”, a “how-to” blog for fall fashion styling, multiple articles from current school leaders I follow on LinkedIn, Evernote, calendars, and email accounts with all kinds of stars, labels, and priorities in those open windows. My computer always seems to be working overtime to help me remember all the things!

My default is to consume a lot of information. I love to read new books and articles, listen to podcasts, talks, and audiobooks, and discuss good ideas with colleagues. As prepare to defend my dissertation in just a few days, I also find myself considering what might be next – what else can I learn?! (Yes, there are probably support groups for people like me…)

Here’s the problem. My brain is designed to HAVE and germinate ideas, not just STORE other people’s thoughts and random facts. Yes, memory is a huge part of brain function, but the beauty of humanity is the relationship we have with things around us, the way we find connectedness in all of those things, and then how we SHARE them with others.

Currently I reading “Building a Second Brain” by Tiago Forte. It has really been insightful as I think about keeping information with intention – and letting information go. Yikes. I’ll be honest, that’s a very difficult idea to consider. Forte suggests that we focus on how the new information we gather moves our current projects or initiatives forward. This is a new way of looking at things for me. Until now, I think my information consuming practices were almost reckless. Forte challenges this idea by positing that information kept, but not used, might be considered wasted. (Which is another difficult idea to consider.) This book is helping me refine my process of information acquisition.

Recently, I re-read “Essentialism”. Maybe this is the place where these book ideas converge. The essentialist would only carefully consume information – with intention and with purpose. This is the challenge for me right now, and one I will use LinkedIn to help with! Perhaps specific writing goals will help me focus and I could post my progress in the form of thoughtful content on this platform.

Here’s to an intentional, controlled intake of information that benefits me and those around me. Thanks for helping close the knowledge/idea loop, LinkedIn!