The Ultimate Second Brain System Inside Kortex

(With 21+ Free Templates, SOPs & AI Prompts)

In this Ark Letter, you’ll learn…

↱My EXACT step-by-step system to transform your Kortex workflow from scattered ideas to impactful content

↱ The exact tools and processes to build a powerful Second Brain inside Kortex

↱ How to get free access to my entire Second Brain Setup: with Templates & SOPs to implement everything like a pro

If you want to watch the video version of this article, click here:

The Ultimate Kortex Second Brain System

9 months ago, Dan Koe released Kortex, and it's been a game-changer for creators.

Imagine if Obsidian and Notion had a baby – that's exactly what Kortex is.

A revolutionary second brain app that finally solves the eternal struggle of creators:

Centralizing your notes, writing, and content in one place.

Over the past three years, I've been deeply invested in both tools.

I built my entire life management system in Notion with comprehensive systems for data tracking, journaling, tasks, projects, goals, and content creation.

Meanwhile, I constructed a second brain in Obsidian with 400 permanent notes using the Zettelkasten method.

Between courses, templates, and systems for both platforms, I've invested over $3.5k.

When Kortex opened for beta testing, I immediately saw the potential.

Having your notes and content creation in one unified workspace just makes sense.

After two months as an early beta user, I've refined and optimized my existing systems specifically for Kortex.

In this guide, you'll discover the exact three-part system I use to:

• Feed your Kortex library with high-quality content

• Transform highlights into valuable permanent notes

• Create impactful content from your knowledge base

Why Systems Matter More Than Tools

Let’s start by getting things clear:

Kortex is incredibly powerful, but without a proper system, it won't deliver results.

The biggest mistake people make when switching from tools like Obsidian or Notion is focusing on templates rather than building an integrated system.

Templates are just the surface, what you need is a complete workflow that transforms how you learn, think, and create.

Today I'll share three proven systems that will transform your Kortex workflow:

1. Content Acquisition System – systematically feed your library with high-quality content

2. Zettelkasten Method – convert highlights into valuable permanent notes

3. Content Creation System – use your knowledge base to produce impactful content

Step 1: The Content Acquisition System

Feed Your Brain with Quality

The foundation of great output is high-quality input.

You need a systematic approach to prioritize what you consume and how you capture insights.

Mental Models for Content Selection

Use the Content Hierarchy Mental Model to prioritize your consumption:

Books > Studies > Articles > Newsletters > YouTube Videos > Tweets > Short Form Videos

This isn't absolute, but it's an excellent framework for decision-making.

Combine this with the Lindy Effect:

Older content often has more universal, timeless value.

Classic books and foundational essays should form your core consumption diet.

That said, follow your curiosity.

Your current interests and passions are valid guides for what to explore.

The Essential Tool Stack

Building an effective Kortex library requires four key tools working in harmony:

1. Readwise (The Keystone) This is absolutely crucial – the foundation of everything. Readwise syncs all your highlights across devices and content types, creating a centralized hub for all captured insights.

2. Amazon Kindle The best investment I've made for learning. The Kindle offers flexibility, eye-friendly reading anywhere, and automatic highlight syncing with Readwise. If you don't have one, get it – it's transformative for consistent reading habits.

3. SnipD The game-changer for podcast learning. Before SnipD, I avoided podcasts because insights would vanish without a trace. Now I can capture key moments with transcripts and AI summaries, finally making podcasts a valuable learning medium.

4. Reader by Readwise Your personal read-it-later hub with superpowers. Save articles, PDFs, newsletters, and YouTube videos with their Chrome extension. The killer feature? Watch YouTube videos while simultaneously highlighting key insights from the auto-generated transcript – absolutely amazing for content creators.

You can also create custom feeds by subscribing to newsletters with a dedicated email address and adding RSS feeds, building your own curated content stream independent of algorithms.

The Daily Learning Routine

Here's how to implement this system consistently:

Morning, Afternoon, Evening Reading

Follow Tai Lopez’s reading routine:

• 15 minutes in the morning

• 15 minutes after lunch

• 15 minutes before bed

This creates 45-60 minutes of daily reading without overwhelming your schedule.

Smart Content Saving

Throughout the day, save valuable articles, newsletters, and RSS content to Reader.

This creates your personalized, intention-driven content feed.

Mobile Learning

Listen to podcasts during commutes or workouts, saving key snippets with SnipD for later processing.

Daily Review Habit

Readwise creates a personalized daily review of your highlights, gamifying the process and enabling spaced repetition.

This daily touchpoint reinforces learning and keeps insights active in your mind.

The result?

A rich library of highlights flowing automatically into Kortex, creating the building blocks for your future notes and content.

Step 2: The Zettelkasten Method

Turn Information into Knowledge

Most note-taking systems fail because notes remain isolated, rarely get reviewed, can't be used for future content, and lack meaningful connections.

The Zettelkasten method solves all these problems through a structured process that transforms highlights into an interconnected knowledge network.

The Four-Stage Process

1. Fleeting Notes These are your initial captures – quotes, highlights, and ideas from consumed content using the acquisition system above.

2. Literature Notes Summarize and synthesize key insights from your highlights in your own words. This isn't copy-pasting; it's active processing that helps you truly understand and internalize concepts.

3. Permanent Notes Break down synthesized concepts into atomic, interconnected notes following the principle: one note equals one concept. Each permanent note should be self-contained but linked to related ideas.

4. Connections Use links, tags, and trigger questions to build a network of related ideas, creating a web of knowledge greater than the sum of its parts.

Implementation in Kortex

Library Foundation

Your Readwise-synced library becomes the source of all highlights from Reader, SnipD, and Kindle, creating a centralized knowledge repository.

Literature Note Processing

Using predefined templates, summarize major ideas from highlights. For example, my literature note on "Flow" includes metadata for classification, copied highlights, and a summary section where I rewrite insights in my own words.

Permanent Note Creation

Extract atomic concepts from literature notes. Each permanent note includes metadata, the core synthesized idea, and links to related documents that create meaningful connections.

Network Building

While Kortex doesn't yet have a graph view (like my Obsidian setup with 400+ interconnected notes), the linking system creates the same knowledge network that sparks creativity and reveals unexpected connections.

Step 3: The Content Creation System

From Knowledge to Impact

With your system in place, you now have a rich library of insights, synthesized literature notes, interconnected permanent notes, and a bank of ideas ready for development.

Never Run Out of Ideas

Use Kortex's Capture feature as your idea inbox.

Every inspiration gets saved and tagged, creating a searchable database of potential content.

When it's time to write, filter by tags to find the perfect starting point.

The Three-Part Writing Workflow

1. Choose Your Idea: Open Capture and select an idea that resonates with your current goals or interests.

2. Create Long-Form Content: Write one substantial piece weekly (like a newsletter) using structured templates. My long-form template includes:

   1. Metadata for linking and classification

   2. Topic selection and brain dump section

   3. Research section with relevant highlights

   4. Ideation area for organizing thoughts

   5. First and second draft sections

3. Repurpose into Short-Form: Transform your long-form content into notes, threads, or other short-form pieces using templates and proven copywriting structures.

Build Your AI Second Brain Today:

This system represents months of refinement and thousands of dollars in learning investments, but you can implement it immediately.

I've created Noah's Ark Bank – a complete collection of templates, tools, and SOPs for implementing everything covered in this guide.

Inside you'll find:

Implementation SOPs:

• Content acquisition system guide

• Zettelkasten method for Kortex

• Ultimate writing and content system

Essential Templates:

• Tag taxonomy for organized knowledge

• Copywriting structures for compelling content

• Literature and permanent note templates

• Long-form and short-form writing templates

And dozens of powerful AI prompts and tools to build your own AI Second Brain for free.

This isn't just another template collection, but a complete system that transforms how you learn, think, and create.

Conclusion

Kortex is an incredibly powerful tool, but without proven systems, it becomes just another app you'll abandon.

The three systems I've shared – The Content Acquisition System, The Zettelkasten Method, and The Content Creation System – work together to create a knowledge engine that compounds over time.

🧠 Click here to join Kortex for free, and if you have questions about implementation, the Kortex Discord community is an excellent resource for support and discussion.

The SOPs, templates, and tools mentioned are completely free and will help you implement this entire system efficiently.

Over the next three weeks, I'm releasing detailed articles for each system component, showing exactly how I use these workflows in practice.

Remember: you won’t get perfect execution from day one.

Start with one system, build consistency, then expand.

Your future self will thank you for beginning today.

Welcome back to the Ark,

Noah