Overview
PPV (Pillars, Pipelines, Vaults) is a methodology by August Bradley for managing life as a system of interconnected pipelines. We borrow its core insight: everything is a pipeline — a sequence of actions that convert inputs into outcomes.
Pipelines
A pipeline is a repeatable flow from input to output. In this system, every project file in 20_projects/ is treated as a pipeline:
- Outcome: What does "done" look like? Stated at the top of every project file as
> **Outcome:** … - Next actions: The concrete, physical steps that move the project forward. Ordered by priority — the top action is always the next one to take.
- Notes: Ideas, research, decisions — anything that informs the pipeline but isn't an action itself. Lives in the
## Notessection, not cluttering the actions list.
Momentum
The key insight: clarity creates momentum. A stalled project is almost always one whose next action is too vague or too large. The fix is always the same — break it down until the next physical step is obvious.
- Work-in-progress limit: 3 picks on Ongoing at any time. A short list you finish beats a long list you re-read.
- Review cadence: Evening review refills Ongoing for tomorrow. Weekly alignment reconciles the whole plan with reality.
- Real deadlines only: Due dates are for real commitments, not fake urgency. Priority is expressed through list order.
How We Apply PPV
- Every project is a pipeline with a clear outcome and next action.
- Momentum is maintained by keeping next actions small, concrete, and ordered.
- The system's reviews (evening, weekly) are the feedback loops that prevent pipelines from stalling.