6.1 KiB
Feynman's 12 Favorite Problems
A capture filter technique adapted by Tiago Forte for Building a Second Brain
Table of Contents
- The Origin
- The Concept
- How to Use Them
- Crafting Good Problems
- Maintaining Your List
- Common Mistakes
- Integration with Capture
- Sample Problem Sets
- Getting Started
The Origin
Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, described his approach:
"You have to keep a dozen of your favorite problems constantly present in your mind, although by and large they will lay in a dormant state. Every time you hear or read a new trick or a new result, test it against each of your twelve problems to see whether it helps. Every once in a while there will be a hit, and people will say, 'How did he do it? He must be a genius!'"
The Concept
What Are Favorite Problems?
Open-ended questions that:
- You're deeply curious about
- Don't have easy answers
- Connect to your goals and values
- Span years or decades
- Guide your learning and capture
Why 12?
- Enough to cover major life areas
- Few enough to remember
- Forces prioritization
- Creates a filter for information overload
How to Use Them
As a Capture Filter
When you encounter new information, ask:
"Does this relate to one of my 12 problems?"
If yes → Worth capturing If no → Probably skip it
As a Learning Guide
- Direct your reading toward your problems
- Choose courses that address them
- Seek conversations about them
As a Creation Prompt
- Write about your problems
- Share your findings
- Build projects that explore them
Crafting Good Problems
Format
Frame as questions starting with:
- "How can I...?"
- "What would it take to...?"
- "Why does...?"
- "What is the relationship between...?"
Characteristics of Good Problems
- Open-ended: No single correct answer
- Personal: Genuinely matters to you
- Evolving: Deepens over time
- Cross-domain: Connects multiple interests
- Long-term: Not solved in a week
Examples by Category
Career & Work
- How can I do meaningful work while maintaining financial stability?
- What would it take to become an expert in my field?
- How do I balance depth and breadth in my skills?
Learning & Growth
- How can I learn faster and retain more?
- What makes some explanations clearer than others?
- How do I develop better judgment?
Relationships
- How can I be a better partner/parent/friend?
- What creates lasting, meaningful connections?
- How do I communicate more effectively?
Health & Wellbeing
- How can I maintain energy throughout life?
- What habits have the highest ROI for health?
- How do I balance ambition with contentment?
Creativity & Expression
- What is my unique creative voice?
- How do I overcome creative blocks?
- What would I create if I weren't afraid?
Systems & Productivity
- How can I do more of what matters and less of what doesn't?
- What's the minimum viable system for staying organized?
- How do I make better decisions faster?
Philosophy & Meaning
- What makes a good life?
- How do I reconcile competing values?
- What do I want my legacy to be?
Maintaining Your List
Regular Review
- Review quarterly
- Problems should evolve
- It's okay to retire problems
- Add new ones as interests change
Integration with PARA
| Problem Type | PARA Location |
|---|---|
| Active exploration | Projects |
| Ongoing inquiry | Areas |
| Collected insights | Resources |
| Resolved questions | Archive |
In Your Second Brain
Create a note: My 12 Favorite Problems
# My 12 Favorite Problems
Last updated: 2025-01-15
## Currently Active
1. **How can I...?**
- Recent insights: [[note1]], [[note2]]
- Active project: [[Project Name]]
2. **What would it take to...?**
- Recent insights: [[note3]]
[...continue for all 12...]
## Retired Problems
- Former problem (retired 2024-06)
- Why retired: Found satisfactory answer
- Key notes: [[summary]]
Common Mistakes
1. Too Specific
- Bad: "How do I fix my sleep schedule?"
- Good: "How can I optimize my energy and recovery?"
2. Too Vague
- Bad: "How do I be better?"
- Good: "How can I develop expertise while maintaining curiosity?"
3. Not Personal
Don't copy someone else's problems. These must genuinely matter to you.
4. Too Many
Stick to ~12. If you have 50 "favorite" problems, you have no filter.
5. Never Revisiting
Review and update regularly. Problems should evolve.
Integration with Capture
Quick Test
New information arrives. Ask:
- Does this relate to a favorite problem? (Yes/No)
- If yes, which one(s)?
- How does it add to my understanding?
Tagging Convention
tags:
- problem/productivity
- problem/learning
Or link directly:
This relates to [[My 12 Favorite Problems#Problem 3]]
Sample Problem Sets
The Knowledge Worker
- How can I produce high-quality work consistently?
- What makes communication truly effective?
- How do I build genuine expertise?
- What's the relationship between focus and creativity? ...
The Creator
- How do I find my authentic voice?
- What makes ideas spread?
- How do I balance creation with consumption?
- What role does constraint play in creativity? ...
The Leader
- How do I bring out the best in others?
- What makes teams high-performing?
- How do I make good decisions under uncertainty?
- What's the relationship between culture and results? ...
Getting Started
Exercise: Draft Your 12
- Set 30 minutes
- Brain dump all questions you're curious about
- Group similar questions
- Select the 12 most compelling
- Refine the wording
- Create a note in your vault
First Week Practice
Each day, when you capture something:
- Pause and consider your 12 problems
- Note which problem it relates to
- Add the connection in your capture
Technique adapted from Richard Feynman, popularized by Tiago Forte in Building a Second Brain.