The productivity app trap protocol

Pick your own source code & stick with it.

If you’re someone who’s deep into productivity systems, personal knowledge management, or the whole “second brain” sphere you’ll know the trap you fall into.

You find a promising new app, watch a 45-minute YouTube video about it then BOOM you’re convinced THIS is the system that’ll finally change your life.

But it gets worse my friend.

You’re not just downloading a new app, you’re migrating your entire knowledge base

Want to try five different systems in the same year?

That’s 200+ hours of setup time SIR.

Do you really want to actually master one system and build compound knowledge?

Or add another just year of nothing on top.

Buy their system, use their templates and you’re golden balls, their framework works for them so it must work for you.

But if you’re an independent thinker trying to build your own system or someone who just wants to capture thoughts without the overhead?

The cruel irony is that most productivity advice is just repackaged common sense.

Tiago Forte courses, productivity guru content and “revolutionary” frameworks ALL created this.

Then they sell it back to you as a transformation.

Fun fact it was actually people like David Allen who started this whole “system will save you” industrial complex.

Getting Things Done.

(Charging people to learn principles they could’ve easily figured out themselves.)

For reference, there are over 10,000 productivity apps on the market.

No matter how much time you have, no one wants to waste another weekend setting up a new system.

But why does picking ONE system and sticking with it matter you might be asking?

Well most people download the app and never look anywhere beyond the initial setup.

Failing to recognize that the valuable progress you make comes from consistent use, accumulated notes over time, and having to actually DO THE WORK yourself.

Hence why it’s so important to not just chase shiny new productivity tools.

Even though we all do it sometimes when we’re bored.

(Grass is always greener)

Here’s the pattern:

Warren Buffett doesn’t constantly look at what Soros and other investors are doing.

He develops his own frameworks and sticks with his own decisions.

Does he optimize every 3 months when a new investment strategy drops?

No.

He masters HIS game.

The actual problem isn’t the tools.

It’s the inability to be present with what you already have.

You believe the solution is external, new app equals new you, but the issue is commitment not capability.

When you’re flaky you get caught in the loop:

New system → Learning curve → Excitement fades → See new system → Switch → Learning curve → Repeat forever.

The consequences?

Information scattered across 10 different apps.

Constant re-learning instead of progressing.

Migration fatigue every few months.

Lost context and connections.

Zero compound growth in your thinking.

Time investment breakdown:

80% switching and learning new tools.

15% migrating old content.

5% actual thinking and creating.

This is backwards my friend.

The solution: Pick your source code.

Source code = Your fundamental operating system for thinking and organizing.

Pick it, stick with it, ignore the noise about other systems.

Refine YOUR system over time.

Stay present with your chosen method when everyone else switches.

It doesn’t matter what you choose.

Valid source codes:

Pen and paper in a box, plain text files, index cards, notebooks, Obsidian, Notion, Google Docs, voice memos, physical filing system.

If for you that means picking up a pen and paper and keeping it in a box somewhere then so be it.

What matters:

You chose it intentionally.

You stick with it.

You actually USE it.

You refine YOUR system not chase others.

Deep > Wide

Flaky approach (wide, shallow): Try 20 different systems, never master any of them, constantly at beginner level, always excited never competent.

Committed approach (narrow, deep): Choose 1 system, master it completely, develop expertise and efficiency, build compound knowledge over years.

The paradox:

Constraints breed creativity, limitations force innovation.

When you commit to ONE system you become ingenious at making it work for everything you need.

Once you choose, STOP LOOKING.

Delete productivity YouTube from your watch history.

Unsubscribe from productivity newsletters.

Stop reading “I switched to [app]” articles.

Ignore “my system” tweets.

Close the door on alternatives.

You can’t be present with your system while constantly dating others.