Obsidian is one of my favorite programs that I use every single day. It helps me keep track of my to-dos, my ideas, things I read, stuff I learn, and everything else goes in my own "digital journal / database."

The biggest challenge I had with it?

All the files live on my computer, which is great until I want to write a note on my other computer.

We're so used to using "the cloud" that we assume that it's 'just baked in.' But, when you truly own the data, that's a problem you get to solve.

And this is the way I solve it.

Additionally, I wanted my information to be more secure than just sitting on my harddrive. I have bank accounts, passwords, and all sorts of juicy information in my database. So, how do I keep it safe?

Encrypt the whole damn thing!

So, in the video I explain how I:

1. Made my own personal cloud that I can use on all my devices without using anyone else's computers.
2. Encrypt the whole thing so it's secure regardless of what device I use to see the database.

The meta-lesson is how to find solutions that work for you even if it takes a little bit of effort.

If you want to be the first to know about new videos & ideas like this, then I invite you to join my 6-days-a-week email list where I share tips, tricks, and advanced strategies for building your own personal empire.

This isn't a rhetorical question; I'd really like to know.

👆 Good Monday morning; time for some heaving thinking! Ha!

If you want to know what kinds of things I'm asking for, here are some things I've heard people talk about over the past couple years:

• Having their favorite services shut down for no reason, like Google's RSS reader or Google+ (genuinely my favorite social media platform that got the axe, and I' still haven't found anything like it and I'm still not over it.).
• How you can't buy software & own it anymore; it's all subscription services for the rest of your life.
• How "the other guys" are silencing ideas they don't agree with (Conservatives AND Liberals both believe the platform shadowbans their posts while promoting "the other guys.")
• The amount of spam you get in your inbox.
• Missing out on friends because Facebook shows you posts from people you met once 7 years ago, but not the cute cat photo your wife posted.
• Having all your conversations tracked, tagged, and sold to the highest-bidding advertiser.

Those are just some of the issues that affect millions of people as we all figure out how to use this "internet thing" along with the apps, platforms, and services that it makes possible.

Since this affects so many people in so many ways, I want to know which ways you are most frustrated by. Sound off! Don't hold back!

Best thoughts,
~Jonathan

PS: Here's the note that left me devastated: