About the Course

In a world of increased specialization, a flood of information (and noise), and dozens of different skills to learn and apply, we should also ask: How do all these fit together? What is all this to me (personally)? Why should I do that?

We sometimes feel we need to stop and reflect, to take it all in, to look at the map, and to decide where we want to be. We feel we need work that works for us… work that ‘feels’ right.

The Atlas of Worldly Wisdom is a reflection on our role in the world, and our lifelong work. It is about the continuous, connected, meaningful masterpieces that we all create.

It integrates some of my personal observations with ideas (super ideas) from tens of authors and fields to help the learner draw their own most important map.

From Knowledge to Awareness, From Planning to Intent,

From Actions to Creativeness...

The Atlas is NOT a quick fix or a shortcut. I don’t promise you that you will attract money if you wish hard enough. Nor that you will (easily) become Yoda. This is a compilation of many ideas, fields, and experiences, and an attempt to bring more clarity and order into a very tricky (and wicked) space. Proceed with caution and courage, and remember that your efforts (in this, and elsewhere) determine how much you gain from the experience.

Suggested Approach

Don’t treat the Atlas as you’d treat another online course.

It is more of a long term (a year+ ?) development plan, but hopefully it will remain useful beyond that (actually, it should get more useful with time). ‘Internalization’ is very important here, this means that ‘knowing’ the words isn’t enough – you need to apply the ideas to your own life and work enough so that your natural reactions become more refined.

You can start with scanning the ‘Reading List’ document. It is arranged in 4 to 5 stages (depending on your level of commitment). Maybe you’ve read some of these popular books.

Go through the video lectures, and remember that they intend to show you the big picture, and to introduce and integrate. I hope you look at them as a conversation. Remember that there are so many ideas that are briefly introduced, and that you’ll need to research further and read more about the particular topics that interest you (see ‘Ideas to Explore’).

You can later periodically come back to the video lectures themselves as you advance through the reading list, trying to reach stage 4.

Go through the missions list and the 10 Labors. It is a synthesis of relevant actions. Try to complete 18 tasks out of those included in the missions list within 1 to 2 years of starting the Atlas. As silly as some of the tasks seem, they have a great role in the internalization of many of the course’s lessons.

Between the videos, readings, and missions, everything will make sense… sooner or later.

The Readings List

After going through videos (or while you’re doing it), go through the ‘Reading List’ and see the recommended readings at each stage.

‘Reading List Recommendations’ are a tricky, and frequently dangerous, thing. There is a lot of subjectivity that goes unseen. This is why the selections in this course’s list are designed to allow for a wide understanding and integration of the different concepts that have influenced the design of the course and its key ideas.

Included also is a detailed list of references that includes more data about each of the books and articles quoted.

The Missions List & The 10 Labors of Worldly Wisdom

The missions are a playful recipe of actions that will help in reflecting on the key themes of the course and in reaching its learning outcomes. They will also provide an actionable recipe that will integrate recommendations and tools of the course.

‘The 10 Labors of Worldly Wisdom’ is a fun (I hope) way to reflect on (and remember) the key themes explored here in your daily life, by impersonating a set of colorful characters.

The Personal Knowledge Plan

Included is my own interpretation of the idea of a Personal Knowledge Plan. After you reach that discussion in the video lectures (Unit-2), develop your own based on that template. You don’t have to use the exact same model… change it to fit your own preferences and goals. The template includes a learning plan and a knowledge record.

The key idea here is to have a clear intent about the development and growth of your learning efforts, and the integration of your knowledge

The Personal Leadership Agenda

The Personal Leadership Agenda integrates goals and measures, and serves as a personal planning guide. Use this template periodically (yearly/monthly/weekly/daily) to manage your actions and to keep a clear perspective on your actions and your efforts. Again, begin working on it once you’ve reached the relevant videos in Unit-3.

The Apps List

I’ve included a set of (mobile/pc/web) applications that will help with different aspects and requirements of the Atlas. These include ones related to time management, knowledge management, brainstorming, learning, among others.

They are not essential, but they might be of use. Remember here that the tool is not the priority.

The ‘Ideas & Topics to Explore’ List

This list will include a set of key ideas and fields that are related to each of the Spirals, and that can augment the discussions in the lectures. They are included with the concluding note of unit. Focus on the ones that you like, but remember that this as an exploration, so try to have a basic understanding of all the fields and their methods / core ideas.

Start with reading about the fields in an encyclopedia or by conducting an online research. Read a “The Big Ideas of ----” or “----: A very Short Introduction” or even “ A graphic guide”

book about them if you can find them. There are many online videos and courses that introduce them too. This might evolve into a specific list of courses later, but as a starting point, knowing where to place these topics on your own knowledge map would be great.

Connecting & Sharing

Because of the pervading incompleteness and complexity surrounding interesting environments, all these items will hopefully keep changing and evolving. I’ll update them as I explore more, and as I listen to inputs and ideas.

Please connect (my website has links to different social media) and share your thoughts and any questions.