What Clint Eastwood (In Gran Torino) Can Teach You About Personal Knowledge Management Systems.

Build your toolbox over time…accumulate tools as you need them.

In the movie Gran Torino, Walt Kowalski (Eastwood’s character) had a bothersome neighbor who kept wearing out his invitation. One day Kowalski finally allowed him to come into his garage. His neighbor was stunned.

Kowalski had a garage full of tools. He built his collection of tools over 30 years.

You can use this analogy for Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) systems. I’m assuming in these writing and productivity circles, most have heard about it.

Personal Knowledge Management can grow into a complex beast. But you should take a similar approach Kowalski did when it came to his tools- only add them as you need them.

Here are some other items to think about:

• Don’t worry about other people’s toolkits. Some of them have a ton of tools. If you’re a beginner mechanic (PKM-er), you have no business handling those tools, yet.
• Let your tools serve you. If your tools are just getting in the way of actually fixing cars (producing content), then ditch those tools (archive them). Keep the ones that you are comfortable with.
• Periodically, reflect on how your tools are bringing you closer to your goals. If they’re not, reduce the complexity of your tools.
• Don’t add tools if your toolbox isn’t big enough to hold it. Your tool box will grow over time. The tools that occupy that tool box will grow as well. Don’t get a big tool box if you’re just starting out.

Build your toolbox over time…accumulate tools as you need them.

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