After nearly a decade of working 60+ hours a week pushing hard to realize my entrepreneurial dreams, I was exhausted. Actually, I was completely burnt out. Besides my internal struggles, I sat in a growing load of debt. Then, the pandemic hit. Sales from my small brick-and-mortar business plummeted (Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha). I was forced to shut down one of two shops and to layoff half of my team.
Pursuing my dreams not only put a tremendous strain on me, but more importantly on those I deeply cared about and who were counting on me—my wife, family, and employees. I was falling short of my visions of success and making a positive difference. With all of the world’s abundant opportunities and all my privileges in life, how could I feel so trapped and heavily burdened with a sense of scarcity? I doubted the future. Most of all, I doubted myself.
While cooped up in my small apartment during the early months of the pandemic, my transformation story began - all thanks to a YouTube video by a guy named Tiago Forte. There I was… peering intently into my laptop’s screen learning about “personal knowledge management” and “Building a Second Brain” for the first time.
Since my junior year in high school over a decade-and-a-half ago, I have earnestly implemented a hodge-podge of tools and techniques from dozens of books and classes to improve myself and enhance my productivity. I was searching for a way to more effectively realize my personal potential and achieve my goals. Some ideas helped, but only temporarily and after putting in a ton of time and effort. Could this Second Brain thing really be much different?
After weeks of internal debate and reading Tiago’s blog, I decided to make the biggest investment I ever made in an online course by enrolling in Building a Second Brain. Something was different about this. I wanted to and needed to change. I approached the course as my long-desired “spiritual retreat”. My Second Brain “Nosnorb Kroy” was born. In the end, I found not only relief but breakthrough (as captured in these videos).
My story of transformation is about going from being overwhelmed by information to surfing in its abundance. I am still discovering the incredible power of personal knowledge management or “PKM” to remember what matters and achieve my goals. But more than that, I am uncovering how a Second Brain can unleash the most valuable part of any human being: their heart.
I believe one’s unique heart is one-in-billions AND it vibrates as part of One Heart beating for all. I believe, therefore, that Second Brains are one of the most practical tools for personal empowerment and growth. Second Brains are one of the most promising forces for collective awakening in this 21st Century. And I sincerely support the vision of BASB:
🌎 ”Every single person in the world has the opportunity to create a Second Brain – a personal system of knowledge management – of their own.” -Tiago Forte from “Building a Second Brain: The 10-Year Vision”
If any part of my story resonates, then dive in further below. Let’s build our Second Brains together and make it happen!
“Nosnorb Kroy” (Bronson York, my first and middle names spelled backwards) is the name I have affectionately given my Second Brain. No two Second Brain journeys will be the same. And that’s a wonderful thing. Here is my journey so far:
👋 Hi, I’m Bronson York… 👋 Hi, I’m Nosnorb Kroy.
2020
‣ Discovered Tiago and PKM on YouTube
‣ Completed BASB course as a “spiritual retreat”
‣ Learned new tools (Evernote, Notion)
2021
‣ Nosnorb Kroy growth spurt!
‣ Learned new tools (Roam Research)
2022
‣ Read BASB Book
‣ Launched my newsletter “The PAD Lifeletter”
‣ Designed a journal
‣ Became a father and writing a book on wisdom for my son
2023
‣ Supporting more Second Brains—around the world and in my community of Hawai’i—through Two Brains, One Heart
I view my Second Brain, Nosnorb Kroy, as still an infant with unlimited growth potential. Nosnorb Kroy is also my lifetime companion. In fact, as a digital entity, my Second Brain will actually outlive me. All this to say: I will be building Nosnorb Kroy for as long as I can as best as I can - to benefit present and future generations.
1️⃣ Watch YouTube (GOOD)
Tiago and the Forte Labs team create high-quality free content. You can learn a lot from these YouTube videos just like I have. That said, reading the book or joining the membership can save you a lot of time and effort to get your Second Brain built well and right away.
2️⃣ Get the Book (BETTER)
BASB became an instant best-selling book. It’s BASB distilled into a book that will be a constant companion for building my Second Brain in the years and even decades ahead. The book is available in hardcopy, digital, and audio formats. Remember to highlight and take notes!
👉 Buy the book (hardcover)
3️⃣ Join Membership (BEST)
This is the “All Access Pass” to build, sustain, and leverage your Second Brain. This is the route I took which allowed me to fast-track my Second Brain journey. It is the most expensive, but it has been hands-down the best investment I’ve made in my personal growth and learning.
The Membership combines the energy and momentum of live cohorts taught live by Tiago personally with the accountability of a supportive always-on community committed to the same goal as you.
There is an exclusive, one-time offer for the inaugural launch of the new Membership: get access to the upcoming cohort (Sep. 13 to Oct. 5, 2022) plus 4 live cohorts throughout 2023. That’s 16 months of Membership for the price of 12! I’ll be joining the next Cohort, so if you decide to join, I’ll see you there!
👉 Join the BASB Membership
By applying CODE and using my Second Brain, these notes express my inner and outer work as I creatively harmonize with technology in order to live humanely with mindfulness, enjoyment, and abundance for myself, family, and greater community.