The Brainstorm pattern describes how to effectively brainstorm using Personal knowledge management software. Brainstorming is a commonly used method for creating solutions to problems. It aims to create opportunity by breaking limiting thought.
Intent
The purpose of the Brainstorm pattern is to show how brainstorming can be enhanced using Personal knowledge management software for flexibility and extensibility. Instead of a simple list of brainstormed ideas, it is possible to link them into an existing Second brain or research and thereby greatly increase the value of the activity. A single tool can be used for all brainstorming delivering Productive Laziness.
Applicability
Day-to-day activities. If you are simply collecting thoughts as you work then use the Thinktank pattern instead.
Consequences
The Brainstorm pattern can lead to an overwhelm of unprocessed Fleeting notes.
Implementation
- Setup — You may choose to start with a brand new Second brain if you are starting in a new area of research. This helps if you want to keep notes completely separated but can miss connections with existing content.
- Thought collection — Create a new note as your brainstorm jumping off point. This will be where you link to existing notes or external sites. Assuming your Personal knowledge management software can transclude[^1] paragraphs from other notes, use that to bring relevant content to your brainstorming note, then add a comment about why you added it. The page at this point can be considered a Map of Content.
- Inferring — Scan over what has been collected for the themes you are identifying and reorganise around them. Split off content into new notes if it makes sense and identify where further idea collection is required.