Brian Andren

I help engineers and teams innovate faster with AI and knowledge systems—manage multiple projects, solve complex problems, scale ideas and automate workflows.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

I found @fortelabs second brain 3 years ago.
How its going:
• 3.8k+ notes
• 25 framework built
• 7 certifications earned ($45k)
• 84 ChatGPT custom scripts
• 282 content templates
• 4 cancelled app subscriptions
• 12 plugins
@obsdmd
#secondbrain #neuralsolopreneur

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

AI readiness:

Manage all your ideas, processes using standard text files today. (I use Obsidian)

Use these to create prompts, custom GPTs and AI agents tomorrow.

LLMs translate natural language giving us the ability to instruct computers with texts instead of code.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

As the workforce enters a period of intense disruption due to generative AI.

Leaders will have to lead with even more purpose, vision, strategy and empathy.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Build a pipeline of fresh ideas in 3 easy steps.

Save for later
- Matter : podcasts and Youtube
- Readwise Reader : articles and emails

Read and Highlight
- Matter
- Readwise Reader
- Kindle
Sync highlights to Obsidian with Readwise Official

Never run out of new ideas again.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Want results like MrBeast?

Think exponentially and non-linearly with a note-taking system like Obsidian.
• Set up linked notes for ideas.
• Map connections between key concepts.
• Explore creative patterns over time.

High quality results requires big-picture thinking.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

The first system an engineer should create is a second brain.

It becomes a personal flywheel amplifying everything you do.

It's where your other systems start as manual processes.
The ones you eventually automate.
Providing leverage to work on harder things.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Does markdown intimidate you?
It shouldn’t.

Would you rather?
Type # for a heading
Or
- take your hand off the keyboard
- go to your mouse
- find a formatting menu
- search for the correct setting
- move hand back to keyboard

How can you chase productivity but fear markdown?

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Did you know you can tune the types of highlights that make it to your daily review?

I like to change it up based on the projects I’m working on.

These keep a consistent flow of fresh ideas into your current projects.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Feeling down?
Like that first time you got sick and had to miss the big party of the year.

It’s crushing.

But let downs are a part of developing new technologies.

Just be glad you tested your hypothesis and didn’t launch a full blown product.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

The crawl, walk, run approach to AI is:

1. Write down your experiences, processes and concepts
2. Build these up into playbooks
3. Use AI to automate your playbooks
4. Use your freed up time to repeat 1-3

This is how you play the 10x is easier than 2x game.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Accelerated learning is about accelerating failure.
(more shots on goal)

Iterative testing is about refining focus
(better shots on goal)

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Worried new technologies like PKM and idea-meritocracy will change your culture?

When we use chat interfaces to query vectorized databases of your team’s intellectual ideas you create innovation that is culture-agnostic.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Impressed by AI?
- AI just made your your bad work average.
- It looks better.
- You're motivated to have it solve more problems.

Inspired by AI?
- You've steered AI with your own ideas.
- You look better.
- You're motivated to have it ask you better questions.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Have you seen?

Brian’s second brain in Obsidian...

It’s like an object oriented programmer and electrical engineer built a hardware accelerated innovation machine.

No.
But I want one.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Why you can’t sell AI

You can only sell AI to people using AI.
They don’t need AI. They already have it.

So you try reaching the early majority.
But they don’t buy unless everyone else is buying.

So really all you can do is sell the idea of AI.
And be another hype person.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Choose to shape your future today

Futures are built, not foretold.
• Set clear goals.
• Make proactive decisions.
• Review progress regularly.

Choosing to act today defines your tomorrow.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

When individuals:
- manage knowledge with linked notes
- store data containers with metadata
- use contextual directory structures.

It makes it easier for data scientists to collect and process data.

Thank you knowledge workers who use Personal Knowledge Management practices.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

How to write Jobs-to-be-done statements.

For (job performer) who is dissatisfied with (current solution) that provides (problem-solving capability) unlike (product alternative), even though they’d have to (switching costs of moving to your solution)

The last part is key.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Talk to anyone who will listen—Coworkers, business owners, friends, or strangers on a plane.

Share your ideas—Present at meetups, conferences, or wherever you can get a stage.

You have good ideas—Conversations refine them into products that people need and want.

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Are you a technology enthusiast or a visionary?

A technology enthusiast:
- experiments with AI
- makes genAI art
- automates basic tasks
- generates content

A visionary:
- unlocks new business models
- creates AI solutions
- transforms industries
- uses AI to solve real-world problems

[Brian Andren @BrianAndrenNS]

Automation doesn't always speed up your workflow.

It often generates bad ideas quickly diluting your good ones.

Sure occasional good results look nice next to your bad ones.

But as a thought leader you want your ideas to stand out against everyone else.