---
name: twelve-favorite-problems
description: Create or revise guiding questions that filter what to capture in a personal Second Brain.
---

# 12 Favorite Problems Workshop

Guide the user through identifying, refining, and using their 12 Favorite Problems --
the open-ended questions that serve as a personal capture filter for their Second Brain.

Inspired by Richard Feynman, who kept a dozen important problems constantly in mind.
Whenever he encountered a new technique or insight, he tested it against all twelve.

## Why This Matters

Most Second Brain failures stem from one of two problems:
- **Over-capturing:** Saving everything, using nothing (no filter)
- **Under-capturing:** Not saving enough because nothing feels "worth it"

The 12 Favorite Problems solve both: they provide a **personal relevance filter** that
ensures captures are meaningful without requiring judgment on each individual item.

## The Workshop — Creating the List

### Step 1: Brain Dump (5 minutes)

Prompt the user:
> "Write down every question, curiosity, challenge, or aspiration you can think of.
> Don't filter -- aim for 20-30 raw questions across all areas of your life:
> - Career and professional growth
> - Health and well-being
> - Relationships and community
> - Creative projects and hobbies
> - Financial goals
> - Learning and personal development
> - Contribution and impact
>
> Start with whatever comes to mind. I'll help you refine them."

Wait for the user's list before proceeding. If they produce fewer than 15 items,
prompt with category-specific starters:
> "What about [under-represented category]? Is there a question or challenge
> there that's been on your mind?"

### Step 2: Refine Into Open-Ended Questions (5 minutes)

Help the user rewrite each item as a genuine question:

**Transformation rules:**
- Start with "How can I...?" or "What...?" or "How might I...?"
- Must be open-ended (no yes/no answers)
- Must be broad enough to last months or years
- Must be specific enough to recognize a relevant answer

**Before/After examples:**

| Raw Item | Refined Problem |
|----------|----------------|
| Get promoted | How can I develop leadership skills that make me indispensable? |
| Read more books | How can I extract more actionable insight from what I read? |
| Get healthy | How can I build sustainable daily habits that compound into long-term health? |
| Make more money | What skills or assets can I build now that generate income independently? |
| Be less stressed | How can I design my environment and routines to prevent overwhelm? |
| Learn photography | What makes a photograph emotionally compelling, and how can I develop that eye? |

Work through the user's list item by item, suggesting refinements but respecting
their wording preferences.

### Step 3: Select the 12 (5 minutes)

From the refined list, help the user select 12 using these criteria:

1. **Energy test:** Would you be excited to stumble across an answer?
2. **Longevity test:** Will this still matter in 6 months?
3. **Diversity test:** Do the 12 span different life areas? (Not all work, not all personal)
4. **Recognition test:** Could you spot a relevant answer if you encountered one randomly?

Present the selected 12 in a numbered list. Ask:
> "Read through these. Do they feel like YOUR questions? If any feel forced or
> borrowed, swap them for something more personal."

### Step 4: Test the Filter

Validate the list works as a capture filter:

> "Think of the last 3 things you saved, bookmarked, or found interesting.
> Does each one relate to at least one of your 12 problems?"

- If yes: the filter matches actual behavior. The list is calibrated.
- If no: either captures are unfocused OR the problems don't reflect real interests.
  Adjust accordingly.

### Step 5: Save the List

Save the 12 Favorite Problems as a persistent reference:

```markdown
# My 12 Favorite Problems
**Created:** [date]
**Last reviewed:** [date]

1. [Problem 1]
2. [Problem 2]
...
12. [Problem 12]

## Capture Rule
When encountering new information, test it against these problems.
If it provides an answer, a new angle, or a spark for ANY of them — capture it.
```

**Where to save:**
- In the user's PARA system: `Areas/Personal Development/` or pinned at the top level
- If using Obsidian: as a pinned note
- If using Notion: as a favorited page
- The key: it must be **instantly accessible** during capture moments

## Using the List — Ongoing Integration

### During Capture

When the user encounters new information:
> "Does this relate to any of your 12 problems? If yes, capture it and tag it
> with the problem number. If not, ask: is it inspiring, useful, personal, or
> surprising? (The 4 capture criteria.) If neither, skip it."

### During Weekly Reviews

Reference the 12 problems during weekly reviews:
> "Looking at what you captured this week — which of your 12 problems got the
> most attention? Which got none? Are the neglected ones still important, or
> have your priorities shifted?"

This turns the weekly review from a maintenance chore into a strategic check-in.

### During Monthly Reviews

Review and update the list:
- Replace problems that no longer resonate (2-3 changes per quarter is normal)
- Add new problems that have emerged from recent projects or life changes
- Check if any problems have been *answered* -- celebrate and replace them

### During Project Kickoffs

When starting a new project, cross-reference:
> "Which of your 12 Favorite Problems does this project address? This helps
> you stay motivated and recognize relevant captures as they appear."

## Maintenance Schedule

| Frequency | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| Daily | Use as capture filter (quick mental check) |
| Weekly | Review captures against the 12 during weekly review |
| Monthly | Check for problems that need updating |
| Quarterly | Full refresh — expect 2-3 problems to rotate |

## Key Principles

- **These are YOUR problems.** Resist impressive-sounding questions borrowed from
  thought leaders. The best 12 problems are deeply personal.
- **Open-ended, not goal-shaped.** "How can I become a better communicator?" works.
  "Give a TED talk" doesn't -- that's a project, not a problem.
- **Broad enough to last, specific enough to filter.** "How can I be happy?" is too
  broad. "How can I design my mornings to start each day with energy?" is focused.
- **It's normal for them to change.** A list from 6 months ago should look different.
  Life evolves; so do your questions.

## Reference Files

For the complete 12 Favorite Problems methodology and capture criteria:
- **`../para-organize/references/code_framework.md`** -- Full workshop steps, capture criteria, and AI-enhanced capture workflows