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Outsource your memory, keep your genius
ChatGPT
Your brain is meat. Beautiful, magical meat.
But it loses things. Important things like “brilliant 4 a.m. business idea” slip into the gray matter of the most sophisticated organ on the planet.
That’s why the smartest people I know (including me!) have a “second brain.” A digital vault that catches ideas, plans, reminders and projects before they vanish into the void.
If you’re still trying to keep it all in your head, it’s time for an upgrade. Here’s how second-brain apps like Notion, Evernote and Apple Notes can help you work smarter, not harder.
🧠 Step 1: Pick your tool
- Apple Notes (free and probably already on your iPhone/Mac): Fast, simple, searchable. It’s the one I use.
- Evernote: Great for organizing notes, web clippings, PDFs and images.
- Notion: For power users who want to build an entire “command center” for their brain. I’m talking about tasks, notes, databases, even project dashboards.
👉 Only rule: Pick one you’ll actually open and use daily. Don’t overcomplicate it.
🖊️ Step 2: Dump everything
Scribble half-formed shower thoughts. Save quotes, links, screenshots of tweets you laughed at too hard. Whatever needs saving, get it in there before you forget it.
Save quotes, book ideas, article links or random tech tips you want to try later. Snap a picture of handwritten notes, and drop them into your app. Dictate quick thoughts using voice-to-text if you’re driving or walking. You get the gist.
👉 Tip: Don’t overorganize. The goal is to catch ideas, not perfect them.
✅ Step 3: Build simple systems
💻 Speed up startup: Is your PC booting up slowly? Too many apps may be launching when you turn it on.
💵 A dollar here, a dollar there: It seems like every subscription is more expensive than when I signed up. Use the Rocket Money app to see what you’re paying for. I do! They’ll even cancel a subscription for you if it’s not worth the money anymore.
What’s that song’s name? The YouTube Music app can help you track it down. Just hum, sing or whistle the tune. Open the app, tap search and hit the audio wave icon (top right) and give it a try. Heads up, it works best with popular or catchy tunes, not indie ones.
🔊 Master volume control: Is the volume too loud or too quiet but never just right? You can change it in smaller increments.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want to silence a call in a nanosecond? Just press the power button on your phone once. Poof, off to voicemail the person goes.
😃 “My knees feel so much better in only one month!” That’s what Julie wrote to me since she’s been taking NativePath’s collagen. You ought to try it, too. Go here now to claim your 45% discount, free shipping and a free gift bundle, exclusive for my listeners.
🏊 Pool safety tip: Drowning is the top cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4. Sadly, 88% happen with an adult nearby. That’s why the Y-M-C-A launched Phones Down, Eyes Up. Take their pledge and get a free lock screen reminder, pool safety tips and a “Water Watcher” lanyard for the grown-up keeping watch.
Stop Kindle fumbles: Disable your touchscreen so taps don’t register, but swipes to turn pages still work. Open a book, tap More options (three-dot icon) > Disable Touchscreen and hit OK. Want it back on? Just press the Power button to sleep and wake your Kindle.
🖼️ Bring doodles to life: Got a great idea? Canva’s Sketch to Life app turns your drawings into AI images. Go to Apps > Sketch to Life > pick either Use in existing design or Use in new design. Then, draw your idea, describe it and tap Generate. You get seven free credits per day.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Got kids? Set up YouTube Kids with age filters and disable the search bar to avoid sketchy content.
45-day risk free trial: Thanks to tech, these hearing aids have two tiny smart processors that analyze the sound around you to make conversations crystal clear. Incredible. If your ears had a software update, this would be it. See if you qualify today for a 45-day no-risk trial!
Don’t know what to watch? Hit up moviewiser.com. Type in the mood you’re going for in their AI tab. It’ll spit out a list of movies that fit the bill. I searched for “summer love story,” and the winners include The Notebook and About Time.
📅 Alexa, what’s on my calendar? Link it to your Amazon Echo to add or delete events hands-free. Open the Alexa app > More (three lines) > Settings > Calendar. Tap Add Account, choose your provider and follow the prompts. FYI, your events may be seen by anyone using your Alexa.
Email déjà vu: Stop rewriting the same message. Create a template in Gmail to save time. On your computer, go to Settings > See all settings > Advanced. Click Enable next to Templates and Save Changes. Next time you hit compose, select More options (three dots at the bottom) > Templates > Insert template.
👂🏼 AirPods aren’t the only option: Check out Raycon. Their Everyday Earbuds sound great, get a ton of battery life and are a fraction of the price. Get 15% off sitewide today with my exclusive deal!
Tidy text: Ever copy and paste and get weird fonts? Here’s how to cut the formatting. On a Mac, press Cmd + Option + Shift when you paste. For PC, it’s Ctrl + Shift + V in most apps. Pro tip: If that doesn’t work, first paste into Notepad, then copy that into your document. Neat.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use MyActivity.google.com to see and delete everything Google knows about you. It’s a wild ride.
🎉 You’re invited! This weekend, my award-winning national radio show is broadcasting on 420+ stations across the U.S., and I’d love for you to join the fun. I’m talking tech tips, digital life hacks, wild stories I can’t fit in the newsletter and taking calls from listeners just like you. Find your local station or get the podcast.