Let's get you ready to build your second brain.
A few quick things to set up first, so on Thursday we go straight to building, no waiting around.
About 15 minutes, one step at a time. You'll check off each step as you go. If you can download an app and answer a few questions, you've got this.
Use a real computer.
Be on a laptop or desktop, Mac or PC. Not your phone or a tablet, because we're actually building something.
Where should your brain live?
Your second brain is just a folder. Pick where you want it. Not sure? Most people choose the cloud.
Pick one, make a free account, then download the desktop app and sign in:
📂 Google Drive easiest with GmailDownload → 📦 Dropbox what Phil usesDownload → 📚 OneDriveDownload →Make one empty folder.
Create a new folder and name it something like "My Second Brain" (use your own name). Put it wherever you decided in the last step.
Install Claude on your computer.
This is the one people miss, so let's get it right.
- aGet a Claude account on at least the $20/month plan ("Pro"). The free version won't work.
- bDownload the Claude desktop app and sign in (button below).
- cDo not use Claude in a web browser. It has to be the app.
Download Obsidian.
This free app shows your brain as that cool connected map. You don't have to do anything with it, just install it. Phil sets it up with you.
🗨 Download Obsidian (free)Download →Grab a few things to feed it.
On your desktop, make a folder called "to-add" and drop in a small handful of things you know you want in your brain.
A few meeting notes, one or two important PDFs, an export of your notes. Five to ten files is plenty.
Run the onboarding prompt.
This builds your folder structure ahead of time. Totally fine to skip and do it live with Phil. If you try it, these 3 things matter most:
Then paste this prompt and answer its questions:
Your onboarding prompt will appear here.
Which "rivers" do you have?
These can feed your brain. You don't need all of them. Tap the ones you have so you arrive knowing what you want.
No need to clean anything up.
You don't have to sort, organize, or delete a single thing before Thursday. If you want to tidy something up, go for it, but honestly it's not necessary.
Claude organizes all of it for you. The only real mistake is thinking "I can't start until it's clean," because that's the thing that stops people before they begin. You can start exactly as messy as you are.
What Thursday looks like.
Watch Phil's screen, then do it on yours. Building takes time, so there will be quiet stretches where everyone's just working. That's normal.
You're all set!
Nice work. You're ready to build your second brain on Thursday.
Stuck on anything? Email admin@philstringer.com