Welcome
The door is open. Come in.
This community is a space I’m building for everyone. It’s where people who think visually, or want to, can share what they’re working on, ask questions, and discover things together.
Whether you’re deep into Obsidian and Excalidraw, building a visual Zettelkasten, in the field for a long time, or just starting to explore how sketching helps you think — you belong here. Know you’re in good company.
These guidelines exist to keep this a space where genuine conversations can happen and where everyone feels safe to share, ask, and grow. Think of them less as rules and more as the shape of the sandbox we’re playing in together.
What Matters Here
Discovery over certainty.
The biggest treasure in life is the ongoing joy of discovery — asking questions and finding answers that open up ten new questions. That’s what we’re here for. Questions are as valuable as answers. There are no stupid questions.
Share what you’re building.
Visual thinking comes alive when you show your work. Share your sketches, your maps, your messy first attempts. The more we put into this space, the richer it becomes for all of us.
Respect the journey.
Everyone is at a different point. Some of you have been at this for 30 years. Some of you started yesterday. Both have something to offer.
Build each other up.
When you give feedback, make it the kind you’d want to receive. A simple practice: name what you genuinely appreciate first, then offer an invitation to go further. Not “this doesn’t work” but “I love that you shared this — what if you tried X?”
Quality over quantity.
A thoughtful contribution beats posting for the sake of it. Take your time.
The Practical Stuff
1. Be kind
Treat people the way you’d want to be treated. Disagreements are fine. Disrespect is not.
2. Stay on topic
Each space has a purpose. Keep conversations relevant to where you’re posting. If you’re not sure where something fits, post it in General Discussion.
3. Share your work — in the right place
There’s a dedicated space for sharing what you’ve built. Use it. We’re here to see what you make.
What doesn’t belong: dropping links into unrelated threads, undisclosed affiliate links, or promotional content in spaces meant for learning. If you’re not sure whether something counts as self-promotion, ask a moderator.
4. Credit your sources
If you share templates, frameworks, or images — note where they came from. Don’t share copyrighted course content from Sketch Your Mind or anywhere else.
5. Give feedback like a gift
When someone shares their work, appreciate first, then invite. “I love how you’ve structured this — I wonder what would happen if you simplified the second layer” opens something. “I don’t like this” closes it.
6. No hate speech or harassment
Zero tolerance. This includes language targeting race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic.
7. Respect privacy
What’s shared here stays here. Don’t share personal information about other members outside the community.
And if you think you know exactly the right person to introduce someone to — ask first. Most people will say yes. They’ll also appreciate that you asked.
8. Engage in good faith
Don’t argue to win. Engage to learn.
Before you reply to something that’s bugging you, ask yourself:
- What might they be seeing that I haven’t seen yet?
- What’s true from where they’re standing?
- What’s the most generous interpretation of what they just said?
You don’t have to agree. You do have to stay curious.
9. Use the right channels
- Questions → relevant pillar space or General Discussion
- Feedback about the community → Community Feedback
- Platform issues → Community Feedback
10. Follow moderator guidance
Moderators are here to help the community thrive. If they ask you to adjust something, please do.
Free vs. Premium Spaces
The free spaces are open to everyone. Premium pillar spaces are available if you subscribe to that area. You can see they exist and choose to unlock them — we’re not going to advertise them aggressively.
Premium members: the same guidelines apply everywhere. Your subscription doesn’t change the rules.
What Happens If Something Goes Wrong
I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt. Moderation works like this:
- Friendly reminder — A moderator reaches out privately.
- Public note — If it continues, we’ll address it in the thread.
- Temporary suspension — For repeated issues.
- Permanent removal — Reserved for serious violations (hate speech, harassment, persistent bad faith).
A Note on AI
AI is part of how many of us think and create now. It’s welcome here.
What I ask is that you stay the author. AI can generate, suggest, remix, and speed things up — but you’re the one who decides what’s true, what fits, and what represents your thinking. You’re the curator. The discernment is yours.
Share AI-assisted work openly. Say so when you do. What we don’t want is work where the authorship has been handed over entirely — because this community is here for your thinking, made more visible.
Questions About These Guidelines?
Post in Site Feedback or reach out to a moderator. These guidelines will evolve with the community. They’re not set in stone.