WelcomeAnother week, another newsletter! I hope that you all had a great one 🤩 Hello there! This week has been really fun. My kids are at home for the last week of vacation, so there wasn't much time for me to work on the Knowledge Management course, but I've used the little time I had to write, and explore cutting-edge AI image generation models. And woah, I'm super impressed, and I want to tell you more about it. Put your seatbelt on! Alright, let's gooooo 🚀
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The lab 🧪Since my work time was very limited, I've decided to do some R&D work. A while ago, I heard about FLUX.1, the new AI image generation model of Black Forest Labs, and wanted to give it a try. Black Forest Labs is a group composed of people who were behind Stable Diffusion, a popular open-source model. I knew it was worth checking out, and I wasn't disappointed. FLUX.1 is able to generate very realistic faces, and hands. It's also able to generate text much better than previous text-to-image image generation models. It is currently (August 2024) the number 1 model on Imgen Arena. And I can tell you that The Verge is spot on with their article, we're not ready for this. The images that FLUX.1 is able to generate are hyper realistic, and with some effort, it's going to fool everyone. Fake images are now going to be the default in this world. And fake videos will also be the default real soon... It's both awesome for creativity, and scary for the future. As of August 2024, there are three main variants of FLUX.1: - flux-pro: the state-of-the-art model
- flux-dev: a 12B parameter version of FLUX.1
- flux-schnell: a fast variant tailored for local development and personal use
At first, I tried those base models to generate various images, such as this one:  Prompt: obsidian rock in the forest with the word "Obsidian" engraved. Canon pro photo, 50mm, bokeh, flare, vignetting. Image generated using AI I wanted to see how well it was able to generate text, and was amazed, because it's MUCH more powerful than all the previous models I've tried:  Image generated using AI The ability to generate images with text is one that I was really after. It's an enabler to create powerful visuals for my articles. I also tried generating images with different styles:  Image generated using AI  Image generated using AI  Image generated using AI Each and every time, FLUX.1 generated amazing results. It rocks. Even using 'schnell', the fastest variant. I started using Replicate.com, an online platform that enables running machine learning models in the cloud. The models run on their infrastructure, and they provide an API and SDKs to interact with the platform. Using Replicate.com, you can use various AI models, including those hosted on HuggingFace. It's possible to use the models either through their Web user interface, or using the API/SDKs:  Using AI models through the user interface of Replicate.com Here's an example of how to use a model through (JS) code: import Replicate from "replicate";
const replicate = new Replicate({auth: process.env.REPLICATE_API_TOKEN});
const model = "stability-ai/stable-diffusion:27b93a2413e7f36cd83da926f3656280b2931564ff050bf9575f1fdf9bcd7478";
const input = {prompt: "a 19th century portrait of a raccoon gentleman wearing a suit"};
const output = await replicate.run(model, { input });
console.log(output);
Quite straightforward if you know how to code! Then, I read a few articles, and learned more about Low Rank Adapters (LoRAs). I discovered how to train custom versions of FLUX.1 using my own photos, and I realized this was the next level. After a bit of trial and error, my first model was created, and I could use it from Replicate.com (and anywhere else actually):  A FLUX.1 LoRA I trained with my own face And now, I can easily generate images such as these:  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI This image was generated using the following prompt: realistic photography extreme close up of a man called dsebastien with white painted floral profoundly sad contorted pouty face with a angry scowl of a frown defined with black makeup looking directly forward with an extremely sad contorted frown white painted faces  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI
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 Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI  Fake dSebastien. Image generated using AI As you can see, while I know it's not me, it's actually pretty accurate. If you're interested in the "how", then you're in luck. I've published a note explaining how you can do the same using your own pictures: I'll soon post it on the blog as well. Later, I'll try to train custom models locally, to see how hard it is. I don't think it should be too complicated. I've also experimented with creating visuals for LinkedIn and Twitter. I was not disappointed:  Image generated using AI  Image generated using AI  Image generated using AI  Image generated using AI I feel like this can severely impact people who design for a living, to say the least. Hopefully, many of them, including the ones I know, tend to adopt those tools to boost their productivity... I then trained custom models with my kids, and we had some family-time fun:  My son in an action movie. Image generated using AI  My son in an action movie. Image generated using AI  My daughter on a Disney movie poster. Image generated using AI I'm still amazed at how powerful this model is! Imagination is the only limit, or so it seems. ❤️ What matters to generate powerful images is writing clear, and precise descriptions. And since that's just text, LLMs such as ChatGPT and Claude.ai are perfect tools to improve the prompts. One resource I found really useful is MidLibrary, a collection of visual styles, artists, and visual features: Right now, I'm also exploring the possibilities to combine multiple LoRAs, to be able to generate images leveraging different models in a single generated image. This should enable me to generate images combining different styles, different people, things, etc: I'll probably share more about this next week... Aside from that, I've also built an Obsidian plugin to integrate image generation capabilities using Replicate.com. Now, I can easily generate images directly from the Obsidian editor:  Demo of the Obsidian replicate plugin I've built The plugin works great, and I will soon submit a PR to the Obsidian team, to turn it into an official community plugin 🚀. For now, the source code is available if you want to install it already: BusinessThe recent launch on ProductHunt continues to bring more attention to the Obsidian Starter Kit, but sales don't quite follow. I feel like the current price may be judged too high, which I find disappointing given how much effort I've already put into building it, and the overwhelmingly positive reviews/testimonials. I'm thinking about launching a survey, asking the opinion of all past customers, to try and find a better price point...
Obsidian Starter Kit and community
Who is this for?You are just getting started with note-taking or you’ve recently switched to ObsidianYou wonder how to take smart notesYou want to know how to properly organize your notes and avoid creating an overwhelming messYou want a solid system that scalesYou wonder what Zettelkasten, the PARA method, and the Johnny decimal system areGetting started with Obsidian is not the hardest thing in the world, but it takes a lot of trial and error to figure out how to structure and organize your knowledge base. You have a busy life, and you don’t want to spend weeks or even months figuring out the “right” approach.Note that this product is included in the Knowledge Worker Kit.What is this?This is NOT just a template. It’s a complete system with a detailed user guide.I’ve been passionate about information, knowledge management, and PKM for more than 20 years. As an author, blogger, knowledge worker, and entrepreneur, I needed solutions to store and organize an enormous amount of information.Over the years, I’ve explored, used, and advocated many tools but have been using Obsidian extensively since 2020. With the Obsidian Starter Kit, I offer you the result of my own research and experimentation. It’s like a cheat code to jump straight to stress-free note-making.I’ve spent months refining and perfecting my Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system, and have spent countless hours tweaking my system. I’ve published a few articles to share some ideas about this. My system combines the Zettelkasten approach, the PARA method, the Johnny decimal system, and other ideas to create a solid basis for my work as an author, blogger, and content creator.The Obsidian Starter Kit is a ready-made Obsidian vault that includes my recommended organization system and plugins, as well as example notes to help you get started. It also comes along with a user-friendly guide.What’s included?If you buy access to the Obsidian Starter Kit, you’ll get:The Obsidian vaultA comprehensive and solid structure with support for Journaling and ZettelkastenLeveraging the PARA method and the Johnny Decimal systemMany recommended plugins to boost productivity and automate actionsA clear system for Journaling, Meeting Notes, Periodic reviews, etcMany templates to improve consistency and productivityA powerful dashboardA solid book management systemMaintenance notes (e.g., find duplicate and orphaned notes)Automation rulesVarious examplesThe user guideLifetime access to the Personal Knowledge Management community for support and knowledge sharingIn addition, you’ll also get free access to all future updates. Over time, I’ll expand it step by step to include tutorials about the various aspects; from exploration/curation to summarization and reuse.ScreenshotsI have published some screenshots of this product here.What’s in the user guide?The user guide is a growing and evergreen knowledge base about how to take smart notes. It includes:Installation instructions.Details about the contents of the Obsidian Starter Kit (i.e., Obsidian vault structure, key design principles, included plugins, etc.)A clear overview of Obsidian and its core concepts (everything you should know and care about)Clear explanations about...The Zettelkasten methodAtomic notesProgressive summarizationThe PARA methodThe LIFT principleThe Johnny Decimal systemJournalingMaps of Content (MoCs)Periodic reviewsWhy and how to tag notesTemplatingThe Markdown syntaxWhy you need a single source of truth for everythingThe collector’s fallacyThe Inbox Zero principleHow to capture informationHow to capture quotesHow to capture information about persons of interestHow to extract knowledge from daily notesHow to save mental contextsObsidian tips and tricksWhat’s in the video course?The Obsidian Starter Course is a video course (~2h20) of content covering:Obsidian: installation, user interface, key features, plugins, automation, tips and tricks, etcThe Markdown syntaxYAML metadataPersonal Knowledge Management techniques and principles: the Johnny Decimal system, the PARA method (e.g., the Zettelkasten method, the LIFT principle, Atomic notes, Maps of Content, knowledge capture & extraction, etc)JournalingPeriodic reviewsTemplatesAutomationTask managementBest practices and recommendationsHands-on explanationsand more!Evergreen contentThe Obsidian Starter Kit evolves all the time. I regularly add new templates, plugins, automations, and more!The user guide of the Obsidian Starter Kit is expanding day after day, week after week. It regularly includes new guides, tips and tricks, processes, theory, and more.Refunds policyIf you’re not 100% satisfied, then just let me know, and I’ll issue a full refund. I’ll only ask you a single question: How can I improve the product?If you think about asking for a refund, then consider reaching out to me with your issues, questions, and remarks. I’m always available and happy to help. My goal is to help you succeed.Testimonials”Finally clickeđ how awesome @Obsidian is! Thanks to your excellent Obsidian Starter Kit!”— Cal Desmond-Pearson (@CalSocialHermit)“Off and running w/ @obsdmd. I’ve installed the app & have @dSebastien Starter Kit & my own fresh start Vault open. Learning from former & putting into practice w/ real content in latter. So far, so good”— Raymond D Sims (@rsims)“Great content - got me up to speed with what I was looking for fast ! Sébastien answered some questions by mail also which was much appreciated ! Thanks”— Sam Gonzales”As someone who has bounced around trying to find the right Knowledge tool, I’ve realized that many of my issues have been related to the complexity of the tools and the processes. The structure, design and explanations provided in the Obsidian Starter Kit have finally given me the foundation I’ve needed. 100% worth it”— Michael Aaron (via e-mail)“I absolutely love your kit and it has been so immensely helpful”— Ashwin Appiah (via e-mail)“The Obsidian Starter Kit gives a solid foundation for newcomers of Obsidian to create intuitive and easy to process notes. The kit throughly explains how to use Obsidian to cultivate a second brain and contains organizational structures for your notes that are baked right in, allowing you to immediately begin note taking rather than spend needless time determining how said notes should be organized. The organizational structures take inspiration from several note taking philosophies and provides ways to automatize your organization. Also, new additions are continually being added to the kit free of charge. Starting as an absolute beginner, this kit allowed me to jump to what I feel is an intermediate level of Obsidian understanding and effective note taking in the span of 1-2 days, and I am grateful that I found it.”— Blake Holder”This is a practical and well thought out tool for organising Obsidian. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s all about function! The kit provided me with a solid framework, some helpful templates, and automations that made it easier to manage my vault without feeling overwhelmed. I tweaked many things to fit my workflow. I just really loved having this quick, straightway that offered me so much value from the app without me needing to spend hours setting things up. Thank you, Sebastian, and best of luck!”— Ghada”Thanks for making the product. I’m making efforts to start using Obsidian more in my daily workflow and having a place to start makes the task much less daunting!”— Liam Weight (via Twitter DM)“I’m very new to PKM, but the Obsidian Starter Kit has been a tremendous help in getting me started”— Fredrik Nordström (via the PKM community Slack)“Sebastien’s Obsidian Starter Kit is a powerful tool for those looking to dive into the world of Obsidian without being overwhelmed. It’s a comprehensive solution that significantly shortens the learning curve, providing an impressively structured way to start capturing notes and facilitating daily journaling. The kit’s integration of automated tasks and pre-designed templates are a boon to beginners, alleviating the initial intimidation of starting from scratch. If you’re new to Obsidian and need a solid starting point, this starter kit comes highly recommended. It doesn’t just help you navigate Obsidian, but also empowers you to harness its full potential right from the get-go.”— Lubos KolouchFredrik (via the PKM community Slack)“Just to thank the work and content that allowed me to discover the background of a custom vault. It was a real boost for me and given the price, it was a real investment of time and learning.”— Trobrillant”Excellent package to get started with Obsidian or optimize what you already have. The developer has tried it all and distilled a core setup that you can use out-of-the-box or adapt.”— Henry F.“Great starter kit, love it!”— Naya Moss”The Obsidian Starter Kit is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and building their own “second brain.” It provides a fantastic starting point, offering a wealth of ideas on how to create and refine your personal life operating system. A must-have for those looking to take control of their knowledge and productivity!”— Franjo Pehar”If you have been wanting to try Obsidian but overwhelmed with options and unsure where to start, Sebastien makes it easy with his “ready to go” vault.”— Andrew Zavitsanos”Extremely comprehensive and most worthwhile!”— Mike Nall”I love this product. Obsidian can be overwhelming with all you can do with it. Sebastien has pulled together a great collection of add-ons and templates and is a great starting point to get productive and begin your personal knowledge management journey”— Todd Walters”The Obsidian Starter Kit is a really great way to get going with Obsidian, and Sebastien’s writing and knowledge is so insightful and helpful”— Rick Eliott”A very good starting point for your Personal Knowledge Management.”— Fredrik Nordstrom”Very helpful to give you a framework to develop from”— Brenton James”Useful learning for Obsidian. Appreciate updates”— Adrian McLachlan”Easy to follow and well done!”— Edouard Kutter”If you have been searching 😖 and searching for the right Obsidian Starter Kit??? This is the answer!!! It’s a great start to set up the foundation of your system in Obsidian.”— Yaaqoub Eliyyahu”Extraordinario para comenzar a trabajar con Obsidian”— Manuel Miguel
Gumroad
I only sold 21 digital products in the past month, and the trend is far from reassuring:  My sales on Gumroad.com in the past 30 days Clearly, my sales engine is rusty. Something is definitely wrong. The problem is that I don't know what and why. It may be because of the way I mention products in articles, because I don't reach new people who could be interested in my products, because of the prices, etc. I really have no clue, and it's tough for me to find out. If you haven't bought anything from me, then I'd really be curious to understand "why". Don't hesitate to reply to tell me, I'm all ears. This newsletter is also on a standstill. We're still at $112/month, with 19 paid subscribers out of 1724:  DeveloPassion's newsletter stats I continue to hope that more of you will decide to become paid subscribers, and actually support the work that I do, making it more reliable as a source of income for me as a creator. Subscribe now ❤️:
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So, it's one more month where I just cannot pay myself, and struggle to keep the business alive. It's scary, but I'm not willing to give it all up just yet. I'm five years in, and I really have this feeling that I could be a few steps away from success. Who knows! New articlesAfter seeing the same questions over and over on the Obsidian forums and on Reddit, I decided to write a small blog post to share my recommendations for newcomers: I feel like many people keep stumbling on the same road blocks, and falling into the same traps. I also published a piece about why you should pick a tool, and stick with it (for long enough): Many people seem to procrastinate, hopping from one tool to the next, looking for the silver bullet. It's an anti-pattern, and I want to help them avoid that. New published notesThis week, I took some time to describe my communications plan. You might want to check that out, if you're curious about how to stay in the know: As I mentioned before, I've also started collecting notes about AI and AI image generation. I intend to expand that part of my knowledge base a lot more in the future: I also shared the ProductHunt launch checklist I've curated while preparing my first launch, along with my lessons learned: Finally, I published some notes about memorization, and Spaced Repetition: And there's probably a lot more I forgot to mention: Note of the weekI'm soon going to turn this one into an article. Quotes of the week- "Responsibility is the price of greatness" — Winston S. Churchill
- "The goal isn't passive income. The goal is active income doing what you like" — Sahil Lavingia
- "Don't just dream for success. Work hard for it"
BooksSummer is often a great period for me to dive into fiction books. This summer, I've read the following ones: "Later" by Stephen King: "Mr Mercedes" by Stephen King: "Miracle Cure" by Harlan Coben: And recently, I've dived into the "Silo" trilogy by Hugh Howey. I've finished the first volume, "Wool": And I'm now reading the second one, "Shift": I strongly recommend it. Thinking and learningA visualization of the evolution of my Knowledge base in Obsidian: https://github.com/dsebastien/images/blob/main/personal-knowledge-graph-evolution.gif?raw=true An interview of Andy Matuschak on the "Clearer Thinking" podcast: Ryan Holiday about the writing process: Never ignore good life advice: An easy way to create aliases for Obsidian notes while adding links: A free example vault shared by Steph Ango, the CEO of Obsidian: My own: Richard Feynman's problem-solving process:
Feynman’s Garden
The best description of my problem solving process is the Feynman algorithm, which is sometimes presented as a joke where the hidden subtext is “be smart”, but I disagree. The “algorithm” is a surprisingly lucid description of how thinking works in the context of hard problems where the answer can’t simply be looked up or trivially broken down, iterated upon in a bottom-up fashion, or approached with similar methods.
Feynman’s thinking algorithm is described like this:
A workflow to capture insights while reading non-fiction books: My own take on this topic: A cool Obsidian plugin to display the local graph in a banner on top of your notes: Zettelkasten success stories: And here's my own: By the way, consider the fact that Zettelkasten, and Knowledge Management in general, are not only for writers and content creators! Above all, those are THINKING tools.
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