---
aliases: ["Evergreen Notes Created"]
Is A: Measure
Belongs to: "[[responsibility-learning]]"
Unit: "notes/month"
---
# Evergreen Notes Created

Evergreen notes created per month tracks the rate at which raw learning inputs (books, articles, conversations, experiences) are distilled into permanent, reusable knowledge notes in the vault. This is the output metric for [[responsibility-learning]] and measures whether reading and research are translating into lasting intellectual capital rather than being passively consumed and forgotten.

Evergreen notes are the building blocks of original content. A healthy flow of new notes feeds newsletter essay ideation, podcast topics, and long-term thinking. The concept draws from the Zettelkasten tradition: each note should express one idea, link to related notes, and be written in the author's own words.

## How it's tracked

Counted monthly by reviewing new notes added to the vault that meet the evergreen criteria: (1) expresses a single atomic idea, (2) is written in original language (not a copy-paste highlight), (3) includes at least one wiki-link to a related note. Quick capture notes, drafts, and meeting notes do not count. The count is logged in the monthly tracking spreadsheet.

## Targets

- **Minimum**: 5 notes per month. Below this, the learning pipeline is stalling.
- **Target**: 10-15 notes per month. This sustains a healthy ideas pipeline for content production.
- **Stretch**: 20+ notes per month, typically achievable during heavy reading periods or after conferences.

## Notes

- Quality matters more than quantity. A well-linked, deeply considered note is worth more than five shallow highlights. However, a minimum volume ensures the habit is active.
- Track alongside [[measure-books-per-month]]. Expect roughly 3-5 evergreen notes per book. If the ratio is lower, the reading is not being processed deeply enough.
- Since shipping [[2025-ship-laputa]], the note creation workflow has improved significantly. Having the vault open in a dedicated app reduces friction compared to the previous file-browser approach.
- Notes created from podcast guest conversations tend to be among the most original and well-connected. The [[responsibility-podcast]] is an underrated source of evergreen content.
- Review the backlog of unprocessed highlights quarterly. A growing backlog means the creation rate needs to increase or the reading rate needs to decrease.
