The Decimal Workbook

In this step-by-step workbook, I’ll guide you through the entire process of setting up your own Johnny.Decimal system.

This 100+ page PDF has been distilled from more than a decade’s experience using Johnny.Decimal across my entire life: multiple projects at home, and at organisations ranging from contemporary dance productions, small consultancy firms, and large government departments.

Lucy and I have spent hundreds of hours putting it together. We’re really proud of it.

In 10-19 Define your project we clarify the nature of ‘a project’, and clearly define that project.

(Spoiler: it’s whatever you want to organise, including your personal life.)

Each workbook area contains the following sections:

1. Overview: I explain what we’re about to do.
2. Before you start: any background that you need so that you understand what you’re about to do, and why.
3. The process: the steps that you need to take.
4. As you complete this process: any other tips ‘n tricks that I’ve learned over the years that will help you succeed.
5. Area complete: each area is accompanied by a video where I recap the area’s tasks and demonstrate any of the trickier concepts.¹

In 20-29 Discovery I explain how to capture everything you need in order to build your system, and describe a few methods of doing so: the ‘analogue’ way with sticky notes, and the ‘digital’ way with a mind-map.

Moving on to 30-39 Create your areas & categories and 40-49 Build your system, this is where you define your system, and organise your stuff.

When you complete this section, you will have your own Johnny.Decimal system. You will be organised.

At 50-59 The index I explain what I consider to be the core of your Johnny.Decimal system: your index.

Your index ties everything together, and serves as your note-taking hub. I show you how you can do this with a number of cross-platform applications.

This workbook is as close to being inside my brain as you can get.

We close out on a lighter note: in 60-69 Working the Decimal way I share all of my techniques for working effectively, being the most organised you can be, and being a good digital citizen.

This is where you gain superpowers^*.

^*Cape not included.

I guarantee your success using this workbook: if you get stuck, every section has a dedicated help post on the Johnny.Decimal forum. You can contact me directly. And if your system still isn’t working, you can have your money back.

Finally, at 70-79 Examples and templates I share exactly that: example systems drawn from my 13+ years of using Johnny.Decimal that you are free to copy, or just use as inspiration.

FAQ

Why isn’t the workbook free?

Because neither is my rent. :-)

I quit my job to focus on Johnny.Decimal. If I hadn’t done that, this document wouldn’t exist.

Johnny.Decimal is just me and my parter Lucy. We’re not some giant corporation. Your purchase of this workbook literally pays our rent and allows me to keep developing this system. Thank you.

Is it meant for home, or work?

Both. The concept is the same whatever you’re organising, and we’ve included a range of examples from home, work, to totally abstract.

Release schedule

We are releasing the workbook in stages as they are completed.

• August 2023: First Edition.
  • This is the current version and contains areas 10-19 through 40-49.
  • By the end of 40-49 you will have developed your own Johnny.Decimal system.
• October 2023: Second Edition.
  • Will be released Friday 6th October.
  • This version includes areas 50-59 and 60-69, as well as the video to accompany 50-59.
  • It includes links to the dedicated forum help posts for each workbook area.
• November 2023: Third Edition.
  • This version will include area 70-79 as well as videos for all remaining areas.

When complete, this package will be 100+ pages/20,000 words in the PDF, and over an hour of accompanying video.

Do I get those updates?

You get all updates, forever, for free. We’ll let you know when they’re released.

What’s the pricing policy?

I hate the lies that are told in order to persuade you to buy a thing.

“$400 value!”, they say. “Yours today for only $5.99!”

It’s all bullshit, and we all know it. I don’t want to play that game, and I trust that my audience is smart enough not to fall for it.

So you’ll find no ‘coupon codes’ here, no made-up ‘value’ propositions: just a product that I believe is worth $37 that I’m selling for $37.

Do you support Purchasing Power Parity?

Yes. So the price is at most US$37, and may be up to 40% cheaper depending on where you live.

The PPP discount is applied automatically on the checkout page.

Is it accessible?

It will be. As soon as we’ve released the Second Edition we will create a plain-text/Markdown version. Expect this mid-October 2023.

All review videos are subtitled, and have been checked/corrected by Lucy.

“Your workbook made it VERY clear how to think about Categories, i.e. the core of the system. Thanks for your hard work!”
— Frank, by email