You collect information. Lots of it. But nothing seems to click.

You’ve heard about Obsidian. You’ve seen others using it to do incredible things—managing their ideas, using connections to unlock creative breakthroughs, and building incredible workflows that look effortless. You’ve thought to yourself:

"If I just learn this tool, everything will finally fall into place."

So, you gave it your best shot:

You downloaded Obsidian, but had trouble figuring out where to even begin.

You started capturing notes, articles, and ideas… but the overwhelm only grew.

Each new note made the old ones feel heavier, creating a mess you couldn’t keep organized, let alone use.

You tried folders, plugins, and pre-built workflows… but nothing worked.

Instead of feeling empowered, you feel stuck:

You can’t find the information you need when you need it.

Good ideas are there somewhere, buried beneath endless clutter, never to see the light of day.

You feel like you’re spending more time managing your notes than doing anything meaningful with them.

You’re not alone. This is where most people get lost. You have the tool, but don’t have a system.

And without a system, every note you take feels like one more drop in an overflowing bucket.

One more step into chaos.

It’s frustrating because you know…

You could do so much more if you could just get some clarity.

Your ideas have potential but they’re buried beneath the noise.

You need a clear path to create, think, and organize effortlessly.

Right now, every new note you take just adds to a general sense of overwhelm.

You don’t have to feel this way forever!

You have the tools, you’re just missing the right map—a clear process that can help you:

Demystify Obsidian

Turn your notes into actionable insights

Build a system that works the way you think

Free yourself to do your best creative work

This isn’t about spending more time "managing" your notes. It’s about building a custom PKM system you can trust—one that supports your work, your ideas, and your life.

Imagine this for a moment…

You sit down to work, and instead of staring at a jumbled mess of notes, you see clarity

Your best ideas are intentionally connected, ready to spark inspiration

Every note serves a  purpose — creating actionable insights & creative breakthroughs

You trust your system to handle anything life throws your way

You think better. You create effortlessly. You move forward with confidence.

This is possible!

I’ve helped hundreds of people transform chaos into clarity. Their journeys all started right where you are—but it ended with systems that freed them to do their best creative work.

You’re just a simple, proven framework away from crafting a PKM system you can actually trust.

The Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort

Your proven path to clarity, creativity, and control.

A self-paced program that teaches you how to link your apps and workflows together, master Obsidian, and build a personal knowledge management system you can actually trust.

Through both pre-recorded video lessons and live Q&A calls, you'll have everything you need to transform scattered notes and ideas into your best creative work.

This cohort isn’t just about learning Obsidian; it’s about creating a system that empowers you to think clearly, act decisively, and bring your best ideas to life.

Introducing...

Obsidian is amazing, flexible, and insanely powerful... once you overcome the massive learning curve. If you are trying to learn Obsidian yourself, STOP. Stop fiddling. Stop experimenting. Mike has a better way, trust me. He is the premiere authority on Obsidian. There is just nobody who knows it better, AND knows how to explain it in a way where you really feel like you get it.

Practical PKM testimonial
Bodie Quirk
Practical PKM testimonial

The ROI for this course is off the charts as far as I’m concerned. Both in terms of dollar value invested to take the course, and much more importantly, the attention and time invested to take the course which are immensely more important to me. Mike's Obsidian cohort gets five stars in terms of its contribution to my personal knowledge management system. I’m thankful that I chose to take the course, and I appreciate Mike Schmitz’s efforts to deliver this product not only as an general Obsidian course, but as an ongoing space for Obsidian learning and development.

Practical PKM testimonial headshot
Michael Gilstrap
Practical PKM testimonial

Who is this hybrid cohort perfect for?

This is NOT for you if...

You’re looking for a one-size-fits-all template or a done-for-you solution

You like learning the technical details but don't care about figuring out how to apply them

You’re unwilling to dedicate time to learning and implementing the workflows

You’re not using or planning to use Obsidian as part of your person knowledge management process

You’re expecting instant results without putting in the work

You are not willing to personalize your systems and want something you can just copy and paste

This IS for you if...

You’re a knowledge worker, creator, or lifelong learner who wants to harness the full potential of Obsidian

You’ve struggled with disconnected notes and want a system to organize your ideas and spark creativity

You value alignment between your work, goals, and personal vision

You’re ready to invest time and energy into building a custom system that supports your productivity and creativity

You believe in learning by doing and want actionable guidance to shortcut the learning curve

You’re excited to join a supportive community of like-minded learners

I have used Obsidian for some time now and feel comfortable with its use. I am retired and finding I still need help in being productive. Mike's course is an excellent overview ranging from basics to detailed use cases. Even though I am knowledgeable about Obsidian, I find that I learned something from every segment. It's obviously something Mike is very passionate about and I would highly recommend joining his future cohorts.

Practical PKM testimonial headshot
Ranny Welton
Practical PKM testimonial

What’s included in the Practical PMK Hybrid Cohort?

The benefits you will walk away with

Clarity and control

Finally make sense of your notes and ideas, turning scattered information into an organized, actionable system you can trust.

A tailored PKM system

Build a custom system using a framework that supports your goals and aligns with  your vision and values.

Confidence with Obsidian

Master the tool, shortcut the learning curve, and create workflows that feel natural and sustainable.

Creative breakthroughs

Uncover new connections between your ideas, unlocking insights and sparking creativity like never before.

Intentional productivity

Shift from reactive note-taking to purposeful idea management, empowering you to focus on what truly matters.

A system you can rely on

Gain a trusted structure that handles everything life throws at you, freeing up mental space for meaningful work.

Mike's the one to learn Obsidian from. Of the 1,577 contacts on my phone, there is only one that I message when I have a question about Obsidian: Mike Schmitz. If you want to know the real-world ways to benefit from using this tool, he’s the one you want to learn from.

Practical PKM testimonial headshot
Joe Buhlig
Practical PKM testimonial

What makes this hybrid cohort different?

Hands-on, live learning

Practical PKM isn’t just a passive video course—you’ll actively build and refine your system through live feedback & custom AI agents.

Proven frameworks

Learn how to apply the PKM Stack and Creativity Flywheel frameworks, actionable models to help you think better and create effortlessly.

Personalized approach

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. You’ll craft a system that fits your unique workflows, goals, and style.

Practical focus

Forget abstract theory. Every lesson & live session is geared toward implementation, so you’ll leave with a fully functional system.

Supportive community

Join a group of like-minded learners who share your goals and are there to collaborate, motivate, and grow together.

Real-world application

By the end of the program, you’ll not only understand how to manage your knowledge but also see measurable improvements in your creativity, productivity, and clarity.

This isn’t just another course—it’s the start of a transformation in how you think, work, and create.

Start Mastering Obsidian Today

Mike Schmitz excels as an instructor, simplifying complex processes and plugins for easy understanding and application, thereby transforming one's life and approach to Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) systems. Knowing what I know now about Mike's Practical PKM cohort, I would undoubtedly make the same investment again. The learning and implementation gains have been profound.

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Ward Roef
Practical PKM testimonial

Practical PKM is…the smarter choice

Practical PKM Cohort
Other solutions
Actionable results
Focused on step-by-step implementation. Create a functional, custom system by the end of the cohort
Often abstract or rigid frameworks that are hard to apply
Customization
Tailored to your unique needs, workflows, and goals
One-size-fits-all templates that don’t adapt to you
Live, hands-on guidance
Real-time feedback, live sessions, and direct access with Mike
Usually pre-recorded, offering little to no interaction
Learn with AI
Custom AI agent that can quickly surface key ideas and links from course material
Lots of content that has to be manually consumed and processed
Creative breakthroughs
Helps connect ideas and unlock creativity using proven frameworks like the PKM Stack &  Creativity Flywheel
Focused on information organization, often missing creativity
Vision and values alignment
Integrates your personal vision and values into your PKM system
Rigid blueprints that don’t reflect individuality
Community support
Join a collaborative cohort of like-minded learners
Typically solo learning experiences

With the Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort, you won't just learning about PKM—you’ll build a trusted system that transforms how you think, work, and create.

Start Mastering Obsidian Now

Mike Schmitz, who is a brilliant Obsidian master, explains everything in detail and in-depth. From the basics to plugins to advanced working methods, there is something for everyone. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an advanced user. And the weekly Q&A sessions are the icing on the cake. There you can discuss everything you need to know about Obsidian in a relaxed atmosphere and you can also find out how other participants from around the world use the app.

Practical PKM testimonial headshot
Thomas Mathoi
Practical PKM testimonial

You don’t need another app.
You need a system.

Practical PKM

REFLECTION

Identity
Actions
Ideas
Information

You don’t need another app
You need a system

The perfect PKM app doesn’t exist. Yet most people think,

“If I just find the right app, everything will click”

But the truth is, apps are tools—not solutions. What you’re missing is a system—a clear framework where your information flows seamlessly, turning random notes into actionable insights and your best ideas into creative breakthroughs

That’s where the PKM Stack comes in.

What is the PKM Stack?

Think of the PKM Stack as the foundation of your knowledge management system. It helps you:

Filter out the noise: Instantly recognize and leverage what’s useful

Organize information: Make sense of everything you capture

Develop ideas: Turn raw inputs into thoughtful connections

Take action: Create workflows that drive real results

Stay aligned: Connect everything back to your vision and values

When these pieces work together, you get a system that’s tailored to how you think, how you create, and how you work best

LifeHQ Mike Schmitz

BONUS

($197 value)

LifeHQ

Done-for-you Obsidian vault with pre-configured workflows for EVERYTHING you need to be more productive and creative

LifeHQ Reference vault with onboarding + demo content

LifeHQ Blank vault for building your custom PKM foundation on

Access to private Obsidian Publish site with all instructional materials

Complete values-based productivity curriculum (over 60,000 words!)

All Dataview, Task, and search queries preconfigured

Dashboard files, template files, settings and plugins preconfigured

Custom CSS snippets

Built-in onboarinding to help you start applying the workflows right away

100 of my personal book notes (in both mind map + Markdown format)

The Program Agenda

Your 4-step path to …

Step

01

The PKM Stack

You'll learn the personal knowledge management stack and design your custom information workflow. We'll map how information flows through your PKM system and set up a solid foundation in Obsidian to handle anything life throws your way. Here's what we'll cover:

Diagramming how information flows into and out of your PKM system

How to choose from the essential elements as you craft your own PKM stack

How to set up Obsidian as the central hub of your bulletproof PKM system

How to connect Obsidian to the other apps in your PKM stack so information can flow

How to connect notes and ideas in ways that add real tangible value to your PKM system

Step

02

Idea Management & The Creativity Flywheel

We'll refine your information workflow and build a system to develop ideas, keeping your Creativity Flywheel spinning. We'll explore sources like RSS feeds and books, ensuring you have a system to capture and maximize inspiration. Here's what we'll cover:

How to get more value out of the books and articles that you read

How to capture and develop ideas so that they provide you with consistent future value

How to sort through complex ideas and problems by constructing your own idea maps

How to leverage the Creativity Flywheel so you can create consistently and effortlessly

How to develop your ideas using visual thinking tools like mind maps and Obsidian Canvas

step

03

Task & Project Management

We'll turn captured ideas into action and dive into task and project management. You'll explore methods for tracking projects and todos while building a productivity system that helps do more of what really matters. Here's what we'll cover:

How to set up and track habits and routines in Obsidian

Connecting your notes and ideas in Obsidian to actionable tasks and projects

How to make sure that nothing you need to take action on falls through the cracks

How to manage everything from simple checklists to complex projects in Obsidian

How to use time blocking to make consistent progress and make sure you don’t try to do too much

How to set up dashboards in Obsidian to make sure that you’re getting the important things done

step

04

Journaling & Reflection

In the last week, we'll explore the power of reflection to gain clarity and motivation for progressing on what matters. You'll learn journaling methods in Obsidian and how to conduct regular reviews to stay aligned with your vision and values. Here's what we'll cover:

How to set up and use Daily Notes as the foundation of your daily journaling workflow

How to journal using Daily Questions to track your daily intentions and chart responses over time

How to capture things to your Daily Note quickly and easily using Shortcuts and other plugins

How to use Obsidian for your personal retreat to gain clarity & momentum to achieve your goals

How to create personal dashboards to make sure that you are living in alignment with your vision & values

Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort Curriculum Outline

level 3
Task & Project Management

concepts & frameworks

Level 3 - Actions

2:20

4 Types of Actions

3:35

How to Organize Actions

6:43

The Brain vs. The List

4:21

The Essential Lists

6:58

Task Metadata

9:11

Strategic Planning

6:32

Why Time Block?

4:56

How to Time Block

6:31

Time Tracking

9:18

Habits

10:30

Pros & Cons of Task Management in Obsidian

4:03

workflows

[Workflow] Task Basics

3:39

[Workflow] Dataview Tasks

4:13

[Workflow] Obsidian Tasks

7:42

[Workflow] Adding Tasks with QuickAdd

6:03

[Workflow] Task Dashboard

7:41

[Workflow] People & Projects

8:56

[Workflow] Using Checklists

2:36

[Workflow] Weekly Planning

4:18

[Workflow] Todoist & Obsidian

3:08

[Workflow] Time Blocking with Morgen

4:09

[Workflow] Habit Tracking in Obsidian

5:54

level 4
Alignment with Vision & Values

concepts & frameworks

Level 4 - Identity

5:07

What is a LifeTheme?

2:19

Step 1: Moments of Impact

2:45

Step 2: Think Bigger

3:59

Step 3: Ideal Future

6:34

Step 4: Personal Core Values

7:18

Step 5: Craft Your LifeTheme

6:37

What is a Personal Retreat?

5:25

The Personal Retreat Process

11:23

Types of Journaling

2:41

Journaling for Personal Growth

5:22

3 Pillars of Journaling for Personal Growth

4:48

Journaling Tips

3:04

Journaling Prompts

4:41

Daily Questions

6:06

workflows

[Workflow] Daily Notes

2:40

[Workflow] Journal Entries

1:41

[Workflow] The Calendar Plugin

3:32

[Workflow] Interstital Journaling

4:07

[Workflow] Daily Questions Journaling

3:22

[Workflow] Using the Daily Notes Template

7:34

[Workflow] Daily Questions Shortcut

3:19

[Workflow] QuickAdd Journal Entries

4:46

[Workflow] Journaling Queries

3:10

[Workflow] Daily Questions Data Visualization

3:30

[Workflow] An Example Personal Retreat

16:20

[Workflow] Using the Personal Retreat Template

5:06

level 3
Task & Project Management
level 4
Alignment with Vision & Values
level 3
Task & Project Management
level 4
Alignment with Vision & Values

Choose the plan that works for you

Videos Only

Lifetime access to all course videos & materials (84 videos + all code snippets & template files).

$197

84 total videos

Step-by-step workflow tutorials

Lifetime access to all class materials, resources, and templates

Lifetime course updates

Buy Videos Only for $197
Get instant access

Hybrid Cohort

Lifetime access to all course videos, materials, custom AI agent, & monthly live Q&A sessions.

$497

$397

$100 OFF!

Limited-time launch discount.

84 total videos

Step-by-step workflow tutorials

Lifetime access to all class materials, resources, and templates

Lifetime course updates

Live monthly Q&A calls for 1 year

Direct access to Mike for questions & support

Custom AI agent to help you quickly find and apply information from the course to your custom PKM system

Lifetime access to Obsidian 101 ($97 value)

Lifetime access to The Library Basic Tier (normally $47/year)

BONUS: Lifetime access to LifeHQ ($197 value)

BONUS: Lifetime access to LifeTheme Hybrid Cohort ($397 value)

Buy Hybrid Cohort for $397
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Testimonials

Proof that Practical PKM works

Practical PKM Guarantee
Mike - Practical PKM

My guarantee to you

I truly believe the Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort will change the way you think, work, and create. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and unsure about investing in yourself—that’s why I want to make this decision as easy as possible for you.

Here’s my promise: If you show up, follow the steps, and put in the work, but still feel like you haven’t gained the clarity, creativity, or productivity improvements you were looking for, just let me know within 30 days of completing the cohort material. I’ll either work with you to make it right or refund your investment.

Your success means everything to me, and I’ll be with you every step of the way to help you get there.

Mike - Practical PKM

FAQs

You have questions, I have answers

What is a "Hybrid Cohort?"
How does the custom AI agent work?
Do I need prior experience with Obsidian or PKM to join?
How long do I have access to the hybrid cohort materials?
How much time will I need to dedicate to this?
Is this hybrid cohort right for me if I’m completely new to personal knowledge management?
Can I use these workflows if I don’t use Obsidian?
Do I have to build all these workflows for myself?
What if I alreay have my own Obsidian vault? Do I have to start over?
What kind of results can I expect by the end of the program?

Still there? Let's chat...

I get it—investing in yourself and your growth can feel like a big step. But think about this:

How much time have you already spent trying to figure out a system that works?

How often do you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to make sense of your notes and ideas?

What’s the ongoing cost of continuing to struggle with scattered thoughts and missed opportunities?

The Practical PKM Hybrid Cohort is designed to take you from chaos to clarity as quickly as possible. You’ll walk away with:

A system you can trust to handle everything life throws at you

The confidence to use Obsidian effectively and creatively

A clear framework to organize, connect, and act on your ideas

This isn’t just another course. And it's not a live cohort where you have to put your entire life on pause to get through it. It’s a proven path to unlock your creative potential and start living with intention.

Take the leap. You’ll be glad you did.

– Mike