Concrete building blocks that make up knowledge work
Core Idea: Intermediate Packets (IPs) are the concrete, individual building blocks that make up your work and can be reused across multiple projects to increase efficiency and quality.
Key Elements
- Definition: Small, completed units of work that can stand on their own while contributing to larger projects
- Purpose: Breaking work into manageable pieces that can be assembled, reused, and shared
Types of Intermediate Packets
-
Distilled notes
- Books or articles you've read and summarized
- Content that captures the essence of source material
-
Outtakes
- Material that didn't make it into past projects
- Ideas set aside that could be valuable for future work
-
Work-in-process
- Documents, graphics, plans produced during projects
- Drafts and planning materials
-
Final deliverables
- Completed pieces from past projects
- Finished work that can become components of something new
-
Documents created by others
- Knowledge assets from team members, contractors, clients
- External resources that can be referenced and incorporated
Benefits
- Interruption-proof work: Focus on one small packet at a time rather than loading the entire project into mind
- Progress in any time span: Create meaningful progress even in short work sessions
- Improved quality: Collect feedback more frequently on discrete pieces
- Compound returns: Eventually execute projects by assembling previously created IPs
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: PARA Method (organizing system for Intermediate Packets)
- Applications: Project Checklists (reviewing and reusing IPs)
- See Also: CODE Method (Express stage uses IPs as building blocks)
References
- Forte, Tiago. "Building a Second Brain"
#productivity #knowledge-management #creative-process
Connections:
Sources: