We get a lot of questions about some of the terms and phrases we use in the planners, app, and in our Brain Type Assessment, EVO Assessment, or Learning and Communication Style Assessment results, and other unique terms we tend to toss around.

Here is a handy glossary of those terms and our definitions for them:

Banana: If a conversation, discussion, or debate is veering too far off course, anyone in the group can shout “banana!” to remind everyone to stick to or return to the topic at hand. Other fruits and veggies may be substituted for more advanced users.

Brain Type: A new language for the main process people prefer to use for processing/organizing information and seeing the world. Everyone has a primary and secondary Brain Type that provide balance to each other and explain how individuals interact with different types of information. Some people are more balanced in the use of their Brain Types, while others have more a extreme preference for one.

Brain Type Theory: A new language for the idea that different individuals use different mental processes and therefore pay more attention to different types of information and see the world through different mental “lenses.”

Cash Flow: How someone manages their money, whether they need to find ways of making more money, and whether should be saving, investing, or donating and how much. Something an individual or family chooses for themselves to fit their own goals and personal needs.

Compass: A new language for the main process people prefer to use for making decisions and coming to conclusions. Everyone has a primary and secondary Compass that provide balance to each other and explain how individuals make different kinds of decisions based on the context of a situation and length of time given to consider what they should do. Some people are more balanced in the use of their Compasses, while others have a more extreme preference for one.

Craft: The role(s) people play in life: at their job, with their family, around their friends, etc. Perhaps a person is a natural leader, mediator, storyteller, or naturally takes on other similar kinds of roles. Crafts are used in all aspects of life. While a Craft is neither a hobby or a profession, a person may use their Craft to support their success in both. Unlike an EVO Type (see below), someone’s Craft(s) may change over the course of their life as they develop new skills and take on new roles. Crafts are not directly related to Brain Type, Compasses, or EVO Type Theory.

Disconnect: One of the key things Oracles need to thrive. Disconnection might involve shutting out external stimuli, such as noise or light, as well as taking time away from other people. This is a healthy process that is necessary for Oracles to get space to think, engage their Oracle process, and recharge. The amount of Disconnection time needed and the frequency will vary depending on the individual, but generally once a week is a good place to start. To read more about what Oracles need to thrive, click here.

EVO: EVO stands for “evolution.” Project EVO’s primary goal, mission, and purpose is to continuously evolve into better versions of ourselves and help others do the same through self-discovery, self-acceptance, education, and love for our fellow humans.

EVO Life Score: An EVO user’s rating of themselves in various areas of life over the course of a given time (currently seen in the Weekly Spread of the EVO Planner). This score is subjective and could include any combination of what the person has accomplished, how they felt, and what they intended to do, or any other factors that person wants to consider.

EVO Type: A new language for the unique combination of an individual’s Brain Types and Compasses, and how these elements work together. While we have created EVO Type to be a comprehensive understanding and explanation of the mechanics of how individuals process information and make decisions, it doesn’t even come close to explaining every aspect of who someone is. To read more, click here.

EVO Type Theory: A new language for the idea that different individuals use different processes to process/organize information and make decisions.

Flow Score: A rating of an EVO user’s flow for the day. This score is subjective and users may wish to include their mental state, how they felt that day, how many tasks they accomplished, whether or not they practiced gratitude and wellness, and any other factors that person wants to consider.

Learning & Communication Styles: People generally have ways they prefer to receive information (learning), and ways they prefer to communicate information, such as reading/writing, hearing/speaking, showing/doing, etc. This preference give people a practical understanding of how to communicate with others, explain how they want to be communicated to, and be able to reach a compromise to factor in multiple needs of a group. Learning and Communication Styles are not necessarily related to Brain Type, Compasses, or EVO Type theory.

Meaning & Contribution: This is a phrase used to reminder users to consider what causes are meaningful to them, and what tools they have that could elevate someone else, i.e. something to enhance, enrich, and support their community. Meaning and contribution can be as personal or as global as a user wants, this is just a reminder to ensure people are giving something back to the world in a way that matters to them.

Flow: Flow is the state of being where passion, energy, focus, and getting sh*t done intersect and unite. It’s that feeling where a person has lost track of time and felt like the world faded into the background because they were so excited about and focused on what they were doing. If you’ve felt that, then you know the feeling of being in flow.

Focus Time: Oracles need designated focus time in order to make progress on or complete a project. The Oracle’s best process happens organically with time spent alone if distractions are kept to a minimum. To read more about what Oracles need to thrive, click here.

Fun and Adventure: Explorers need fun and adventure to thrive. While having fun is an important part of the human experience (regardless of Brain Type), Explorers actually can’t do their best work if they’re not having regular fun and adventurous experiences in their lives. To read more about what Explorers need to thrive, click here.

Monthly Ritual: Project EVO organizes a ritual around a different theme each month. This ritual is typically prescribed for a certain amount of time each day. Users can consider this ritual theme and structure to be a jumping off point for building better habits. We encourage anyone following along with our rituals to tweak them as much as they need to best fit their current goals. This can be tracked in the “EVO Score” section of the daily pages of each EVO planner, as well as in the App.

Most Important Task: The EVO Planner forces users to prioritize one main task over everything else. Why? Because being effective is not about doing the most, crossing off as many boxes as possible, and being “productive.” EVO encourages users to choose one thing that they absolutely must do that day in order to consider the day a success.

Order and Balance: Architects must create and have order and balance in their lives in order to thrive. “Creating order” can look like anything from tidying up physical surroundings, planning out a schedule, tackling a digital or physical organization project, or doing mental/meditation exercises to bring order to the mind. Creating balance is a reminder to practice self care, take breaks, have fun, and avoid burnout at all costs. To read more about what Architects need to thrive, click here.

Sharing Discoveries: Alchemists naturally seek out new and interesting information on pretty much a daily basis, but part of the Alchemist process needs to involve some sort of output, a.k.a. doing something with that information. In order to thrive, Alchemists should put what they’re learning to use by writing, creating, teaching, inventing something, or simply telling it to someone they know. To read more about what Alchemists need to thrive, click here.

Variety: The other important ingredient needed for Alchemists to thrive. Variety is used as a reminder for Alchemists to vary what they’re focused on, learning, doing, and to seek out new and interesting stimuli on a regular basis. To read more about what Alchemists need to thrive, click here.

Wellness: This refers to mental, physical, and spiritual growth and maintenance. A wellness prompt can be found in the monthly, weekly, and daily spread of each style of EVO Planner, to serve as a reminder to practice wellness in some capacity as often as you’re able to.

I hope that’s clarified some things for you! If you see or think of a term I missed, let me know at hello@bta.projectevo.org.

One love,
Iris