2b3 - Thing notes and statement notes

Last updated Aug 15, 2023

When it comes to notes about ideas, there are two types:

1. Thing notes are concepts and any other noun-like “thing”.
2. Statement notes are opinions and observations.

• You can make both of these types of notes into living, evergreen notes.
• Many evergreen notes should be statements with a strong opinion. That’s because it forces you to really think about what you’re trying to say.
• However, these statements need things to talk about!  What are these things?

Thing notes are concepts and any other noun-like “thing”.

All of the following are examples of thing notes:

• Concepts: A concept is a pattern, truth, or mechanism recognized and given a name.
  • This can also include definitions, terms, and topics (even people, if we want to conceptualize someone).
• Nouns: People, places, or generally any other nouns.
• Knowns: The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 (which we can gently call “facts”).
• Standards: Manuals, best practices, and other things that follow a process.
  • Examples include anything from mathematical formulas, to the basics of language, to the process of putting a bike together.

Statement notes are opinions and observations.

Statement notes force you to sharpen and evolve your thinking in rapid succession. ==If you want to generate more value, try sharpening your statement notes. ==

Here are some random statement notes:

• Note-making is about the pursuit of truth
• The LATCH model doesn’t leave out “relevance”
• Nothing tastes as good as a sharp mind feels

• How do thing notes and statement notes interact?
• As you make thing notes, you will naturally spin out ideas of your own.
• Convert some of your written ideas into new statement notes (preferably with strong opinions). For example:
  • Evergreen notes »»» Linking your thinking encourages leaps of insights
  • Positive Feedback Loop »»» Habits carry a ton of hidden inertia
• In this way, thing notes are sturdy dots—they are ==cognitive scaffolding==—that we build to support the leaps of insights that come from crafting statement notes.
• It can also go in the other direction too. While watching something on Rodin’s “The Thinker”, I had a personal insight and made the statement note:
  • Great works are flavored by early works »»» Rodin and Beethoven
• Sometimes things generate statements. Other times statements generate things. This is the LYT way: sensemaking through note-making!