From Capacities to Craft?

I'm swapping tools for knowledge management

I’ve tested so many note-taking/productivity/knowledge management apps in the past 2-3 years that I lost the count.

But there was one that stuck with me and that I’ve revisited a few times: Capacities. Very powerful and fast navigation to find back your ideas or documents. I recommend it! And the free plan is generous (I never paid)

But I want to have something that integrates everything if possible, such as tasks management, but also whiteboad to create a range of things: vision board, mind map, or just a visual thinking space where I can throw stuff and see everything at the same time without clicking, scrolling, searching.

Craft Docs offers that, plus the interface is super polished. The whiteboard is still in beta but there are working on an improved version that should be released in the next few weeks. I’m pretty excited!

Craft also integrates much better with iOS so I can use it more efficiently on my phone to add a task or a note quickly on the go. Quite important for me.

I’m still testing things out, because as always, there are things I prefer into Capacities that I may miss too much to fully commit to Craft. But so far I don’t.

Side note: I’ve used Notion a lot too, and it’s still the best for databases so I will probably continue to use for specific things such as a content production system/writing hub/someplace where I feel I’m organised.

Body

I’ve continued my weekly routine, with some adjustments again, but I didn’t break my streak, yay!

But I’m not writing about that to brag, rather to share something interesting.

The different activities I’ve set to do each day are diffusing to other days. For example, I tend to do a little bit of yoga every night once my daughter finally sleeps.

Or I will do some meditation randomly.

I’m surprised because I started this program recently and I didn’t even managed to do full sessions each time.

This is good sign. It means that what I decide to do makes sense to me and I’m naturally integrating them into my daily life.

Next step: integrate in my life to eat less chocolate and cakes!

Mind

I’ve learned a new concept from my current reading (also part of my Self-Mastery program): The book of Ichigo Ichie.

The concept of Kaika: when something unknown starts to blossom within us. For example, discovering a music or a book that makes you want to make music or write a book.

But this need to come with an essential concept: Mankai, the dedicated practice to master the Kaika.

The book then gives an equation (I love equations, I’m a physicist after all):

Ikigai + Kaika + time (practice) = Mankai

You may be familiar with ikigai as it’s more popular. In short, it’s what you love doing and comes easily to you. Some natural talent in a sense.

That’s all nice but you may wonder, like me, what is your ikigai and if you’ll ever experience kaika.

I think I did a few times but I'm not sure about my ikigai either, because I have so many interests and skills that it’s blurred.

If I go deep enough in all I’ve done and what attracts me, I’d say it’s discovering and sharing the beauty of this world, from my scientific work to taking pictures of snotty babies, writing, making music… that could be the unifying ikigai.

But it’s ok if you have no idea. There is a large list of people who discovered their late in life and even became famous very late.

This leads me to…

Quote of the week

What you have to keep in mind is this:

You always have your whole life in front of you.

This will conclude this little letter.

With Love,

Frank