The video follows three individuals—Ed, Carolina, and Ethan—as they apply Tiago Forte’s CODE productivity method over 30 days to tackle distinct projects, each facing unique challenges like perfectionism, tight deadlines, and rapid business growth. Their experiences demonstrate the flexibility of the CODE framework while highlighting the personal adaptations needed to overcome psychological and practical obstacles in real-world settings.
The video documents an experiment where three individuals were given 30 days to apply the CODE method, a four-step productivity framework created by Tiago Forte, to their distinct projects. The method aims to help users systematically collect, organize, distill, and express information to boost creativity and productivity. The experiment tests whether this approach can withstand real-world pressures such as deadlines and psychological challenges.
The first participant, Ed Vardo, is a writer and executive coach from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, working on finalizing a book manuscript. Ed struggles with perfectionism and neurodivergence, which often leads to difficulty focusing and feeling overwhelmed. He uses Obsidian as his digital tool to organize his thoughts and combat his internal battles. For Ed, success means simply showing up and learning to manage his perfectionist tendencies rather than defeating them outright.
Carolina Aguel, a corporate finance trainer based in Basel, Switzerland, is tasked with designing a four-day AI finance workshop within the 30-day timeframe. With 25 years of experience in corporate finance and seven years practicing the CODE method, Carolina approaches the challenge with a pragmatic mindset. She emphasizes the importance of meaningful work over mere productivity and relies on AI tools to assist her, though she insists on maintaining human judgment throughout the creative process.
Ethan, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Los Angeles, is launching a new Pokémon card vending machine business. Known for his hustle and willingness to work long hours, Ethan uses Google Drive and AI research tools to accelerate his project. His approach is fast-paced and deal-driven, aiming to secure vending machine placements in high-traffic locations. Despite setbacks and challenges, Ethan is determined to make the business succeed by any means necessary.
Overall, the video highlights how the CODE method was adapted by three very different individuals facing unique challenges. Ed battles internal psychological friction, Carolina navigates tight deadlines and the integration of AI, and Ethan pursues rapid business growth. The experiment underscores the versatility of the CODE framework while also revealing the personal struggles and adaptations required to make it work in diverse real-world scenarios.