Archive for Why Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping Works – Read More . . .
Posted by: | CommentsThe Name has Been Changed,
But this Case Study Shows Mind Mapping Works!
I won’t reveal the client’s name, but a real life example of the benefits of Mind Mapping with a professional, knowledgeable of the theory and skilled with Mind Mapping software, is worth a post.
George’s Tech Business – What We Do! / Click to Enlarge!
George:Jack of All Tech
One of the first things I always ask business clients is, “Tell me something about your company.”
This request, and followup questions, remind them, and give me, the ‘view from the sky’. The history of the business and the industry help clarify the current state of the business.
Another important question I ask is, “Tell me something about yourself.” I want to know a little about them personally: family, education, work experience and goals.
After learning more about George, the first Mind Map we made was of all the things George offers clients. In this case products and services included: printer repair, phone installation, closed circuit television, software customization, computer networking, etc.
The next step was to prioritize the map two ways; Read More→
Think you have Too Many Ideas?
You Actually have More!
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Too Many Ideas? Mind Map those Ideas!
Ever have so many things flying around in your brain that you feel over-whelmed and don’t know where to begin?
Ever start listing them and trying to prioritize the list so you do the most important thing first, next most important thing second, etc?
Try Mind Mapping those ideas. Literally and physically you can get them all on one page. Having the ‘view from the air’ will help you see relationships and prioritize all those things that were spinning around in your brain.
One way to work on all this ‘brain stuff’ is to start with ‘Ideas‘ in the middle of your computer screen. (I’m assuming you’re using Mind Mapping software for this, because it makes the process immensely easier.) Use your ‘rapid fire’ function and start ‘popping’ all those ideas onto your screen using the ‘Ideas’ Central Image as your starting point.
Once you’ve got, for the moment, those ideas radiating from the center, you can start prioritizing them. I start at 12:00 and Read More→
Discover More . . . Much More . . .
Posted by: | CommentsDiscover More!
There will be far more Ideas & Solutions
than you initially thought possible!
Mind Mapping, with someone knowledgeable about the theory and skilled with available software, will uncover more ideas and solutions to opportunities and challenges than any other method – Guaranteed!
This recently happened when Mind Mapping with a client on his new Financial Services business.
We started with a Mind Map of the four main products he offers his clients. The next step was to map each of those products. As we added graphics to the products, more and more things my client could offer came to mind. The map grew and grew and we linked it to additional Mind Maps for more clarity.
We wound up with four additional maps linked to the original.
He’ll use these maps as templates in his work.
Bottom Line: He’ll do a better job for clients by visually showing ideas and solutions to their individual and family needs.
David Allen –
The Productivity Expert,
on Mind Mapping
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David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done”, and a recognized expert on productivity equates
Mind Mapping with such life changing innovations as word processing and spreadsheet software.
That puts Mind Mapping in the category of things that have made a significant difference in productivity in, and out of, the workplace.
While Mind Mapping has been huge in Europe, it is only in recent years that it’s started finding its way into American businesses.
Our schools, especially elementary, have been using Mind Mapping and doing it with software. This should increase the use of the ‘Swiss Army Knife for the Brain!’
If you want them to “Get It!”
Use more Visuals and Less Text.
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Use More Visuals!
In all modes of communication; verbal, written of visual, our goal is for the recipient(s) is the same. We want them, as quickly as possible, to “Get It!” .
And in this fast moving world where “Instant” isn’t quick enougn, the quicker they “Get It!”, the better.
The person(s) you’re communicating with may not agree with everything you present.
In fact, they may not agree with anything you present.
But unless they “Get It!”, a meaningful conversation can’t proceed.
Outline vs. Mind Map
Posted by: | CommentsOutline vs. Mind Map
Question: What’s wrong with just doing an outline when working on a project?
Answer: The problem with outlines is that you’re trying to organize thoughts before you develop them.
Our brains don’t think that way.
Test this:
Take a piece of paper and write ‘Project’ at the top.
You pick the project – anything that requires thought and planning.
Examples: Trip, remodel, new product or way to distribute, marketing plan, etc.
Do this as you were taught in school; i.e. Roman Numbers, Capital Letters, Numbers, etc. (I, A, 1. a)
The odds are, that when you get somewhere around III c, you realize that item should be II b (or something like that).
Here, as stated above, we don’t think in linear fashion.
The beauty of Mind Mapping is that we map our main topic (project in this case) then radiating from the center, place all the things that need to be included in this project.
Those topics will have sub-topics, and they can start being mapped at this time.
Adding pictures, symbols and colors to the Mind Map will increase the ideas and solutions.
Only after you’ve put down as many topics and sub-topics as you can think of (and there willbe more!), do you go back and review, edit and prioritize your Mind Mapped project.
One of the nice features of most Mind Mapping software is that you can push a button and convert your map into a diagram (if that’s the way you prefer to use it.)
Some even let you export to Word where you can have the Mind Map and the outline.
I ‘See’ what you mean!
Posted by: | CommentsBecause many people are visual, a Mind Map is a perfect way to let prospects, clients, students and others ‘see’ what you are selling, educating and relating.
Literally and figuratively, people can get the Big ‘Picture’.
If all those you are communicating with are ‘on the same page and see the same thing’, the chances for miscommunication are dramatically lessened. This can save time, money and stress.
Even people who think they are not ‘visual’ learners will benefit from communication like this. (They actually ‘see’ more than they think they do!)
Consider using a Mind Map to show others your message!
I’m not a ‘visual’ person so why use graphics?
Posted by: | CommentsGraphics
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a ‘visual’ person, a picture is still, as they say, ‘worth a 1000 words’.
The odds are you are more visual than you think.
For instance, if I say the word “Apple”, in your mind’s eye you don’t see, the letters a-p-p-l-e.
You see a round, reddish item, maybe with a stem coming out of the top.
If you thought about it further, other senses would probably kick in: you’d smell the apple as it were being cut or eaten, you’d feel it’s texture, you’d sense the difference between the skin and the meat and the core with its seeds.
You may even be lead to a childhood memory of smelling, then tasting a freshly baked apple pie!
We think by association. The more senses we can bring into our Mind Maps, the more ideas and solutions will result.
So even you linear thinking engineer types might benefit from placing a graphic or two in your Mind Maps!
MasterMindMapper Video
Posted by: | CommentsDevelop your own style
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If you look at other people’s Mind Maps, some will make perfect sense and others will make you dizzy!
The hand drawn maps will probably make you more dizzy, but mapping on the computer, while usually more clear, can also be confusing to look at.
The point is this: Develop your own style!
The Mind Maps you make are usually for your use, and your use only.
Don’t spend a lot of time making it ‘neat’ if it’s only for you.
It’s true that revising, editing and ‘cleaning it up’ will reinforce the meaning for you, and make retention easier, but know when to stop.
If the Mind Map is to presented to others, it’s an entirely different story. I’ll discuss this in another blog.
