The Mind Mapping Software Weblog

Process mapping for Inspiration

MindServe Group, a reseller of Inspiration visual mapping software, has announced the pending launch of a new e-book, Visual Process Mapping, authored by Dr. Jerry Talley. This comprehensive program, which is delivered on CD-ROM, provides a rich set of resources to help newcomers to understand the basics of process management, strategies for mapping business processes in Inspiration, and how you can improve a process once you have created an initial map of it. It provides instructions that will help you to develop process flow charts for a variety of business applications (planning, quality control, hiring) and across business areas (manufacturing, sales, HR), regardless of your proficiency.

Yes, Inspiration is technically a mind mapping program. But because it doesn’t hog tie you to having one central topic, you can easily utilize it to map ideas or process steps in relation to each other, quickly and flexibly.

The book is presented as a series of linked Inspiration maps and outlines (the medium is the message!), and offers numerous examples of the different types and applications of process maps. I found Jerry’s instructions and explanations to be concise, informative and clearly written. He also is very proficient at making Inspiration sit, beg and roll over – I didn’t realize the program could be used to present this much information, with such clarity. Bravo! This unique e-book also briefly covers the challenges of sharing visual maps within corporate environments where such non-linear presentations of information and knowledge aren’t readily accepted.

The author, Jerry Talley, is the founder of Organizational Diagnostics, a Bay Area firm started in 1984 specializing in diagnostic surveys to identify organizational problems. His current practice (under the banner of J.L. Talley & Associates) spans process design, advanced problem solving, and knowledge management.

Visual Process Mapping will be priced at US$69.95, and should be available some time in mid-November. For more details on this valuable tool, please visit the MindServe Blog.

Now available: Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software Second Edition

I'm pleased to report that Power Tips & Strategies Second Edition is now available for purchase. It has been a real labor of love to put together, and I feel really good about how it turned out. I'm especially excited that it contains so much new content that was provided by users of mind mapping software, who shared what works well for them, and trainers and consultants, who have distilled many best practices.

I don't pretend to know everything about visual mapping - but I am a pretty good hunter/gatherer, I think. Relying on users and experts to share their best practices, tips and strategies with me adds a new level of value to this publication - one that you will benefit from!

Here's a brief summary of what's new in Power Tips & Strategies Second Edition:

20+ case histories: In the surveys I have conducted, one of the things that came through loud and clear when I asked about the needs of mind mapping software users is that you really want to see examples of other people's maps, and to learn why they designed them the way they did. So I solicited "case histories" from my readers, and a number of you generously responded. These "how to" pieces add a whole new dimension to this e-book!

Interviews with leading experts: My position as the leading reporter of news and trends in the world of visual mapping software makes it possible for me to be in regular contact with some of the best and the brightest minds in this software genre. I have tapped their ideas and strategies in a series of fascinating Q&A interviews, which are also new to this e-book.

Other updates: I have added more tips, and have significantly expanded the resources section with all of the latest tools, resources and "best stuff" that you need to be an effective visual mapper.

For more details, please visit the product page for Power Tips & Strategies Second Edition.

Teacher's Guide to Mind Mapping book is now available

About a month ago, I told you that Gideon King, founder of NovaMind Software Pty., was planning to publish a book entitled The Teacher's Guide to Mind Mapping. This new resource is now available, according to a post on Gideon's blog. While the focus of this book is primarily on primary and secondary school teachers, it does contain an entire section on professional development - in other words, corporate training.

For a complete outline of the book's contents, please visit the NovaMind website. I just received my copy of The Teacher's Guide in the mail the other day; once I've had a chance to peruse it, I'll share my thoughts with you in this blog.

Coming soon: Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software - Second Edition

During the next week or two, I plan to launch a significantly expanded and updated 2nd edition of my popular Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software e-book. You can get sneak peek at the cover to the right! I just have a few more small pieces to finish up, and then I need to proof it to make sure that it's the best it can be. I'm excited at the wealth of resources that I've been able to include in this update, including:

20+ case histories: In the surveys I have conducted, one of the things that came through loud and clear when I asked about the needs of mind mapping software users is that you really want to see examples of other people's maps, and to learn why they designed them the way they did. So I solicited "case histories" from my readers, and a number of you generously responded. These "how to" pieces add a whole new dimension to this e-book!

Interviews with leading experts: My position as the leading reporter of news and trends in the world of visual mapping software makes it possible for me to be in regular contact with some of the best and the brightest minds in this software genre. I have tapped their ideas and strategies in a series of fascinating Q&A interviews, which are also new to this e-book.

Other updates: I have added more tips, and have significantly expanded the resources section with all of the latest tools, resources and "best stuff" that you need to be an effective visual mapper.

I can't wait to share this updated and expanded e-book with you. Those of you who have already purchased the first edition (and those who submitted case histories) will receive this new version for free - my way of thanking you for investing in this resource guide.

Please watch this blog for more details on the launch of this e-book - I'll post a message here as soon as it becomes available!

Book excerpt: Mind mapping software FAQs

Here's an excerpt from my new e-book, entitled Mind Mapping Software: How to Select the Perfect Program for Your Needs. This segment is taken from the FAQs section of the book. I hope you enjoy it! Sorry if it seems a bit basic, but I DO believe that this blog is being read by many people who are NOT mind mapping experts. For more information about this brand-new e-book, please click here.

Q: I'm busy, and don't have a lot of time to invest in learning new programs. How hard is it to learn to use mind mapping software?

A: Most of the mind mapping programs that I have evaluated are incredibly easy to use.  Creating a new map and adding branches and sub-branches to it is a skill that can be mastered in only a few minutes.  Other, more advanced features may take a little more time to learn.  But the point is, you can become remarkably proficient with most mind mapping programs in a very short period of time.

Q: How does mind mapping software compare to concept mapping software?

A: The two styles of visual mapping are somewhat similar, because they both utilize keywords connected by symbols.  But there are some major differences: Mind maps are radial diagrams, with one topic in the center of the diagram, where as concept maps may resemble more of a process flowchart.  They are meant to emphasize relationships versus ideas. Also, concept maps tend to have descriptive words embedded in the link lines that connect keywords, which provides added meaning and context.

Q: How closely do software produced mind maps adhere to the mind mapping guidelines of Tony Buzan?

A: Tony Buzan, the inventor of the mind mapping technique, believes that hand-drawn visual maps should be highly individual creations that reflect their author's unique thinking style.  They should be colorful and should contain drawings and doodles that add meaning and context, as well as draw upon the visual capabilities of the right side of the brain.

Mind mapping software can duplicate many of these capabilities, including colored branches and text, background colors and images, text fonts and styles, and colorful symbols and icons. Many mind mapping programs also enable you to import images anywhere in your map, helping them to further individualize them. Two programs, HeadCase and iMindMap, adhere very closely to Tony Buzan’s mind mapping technique, complete with organically curved connector lines, highly stylized, colorful text and the ability to add images and symbols to your maps.

Q: Do I need any special graphic design training to create visual maps with mind mapping software?

A: No, you don't.  Most mind mapping software is well-designed; you can become proficient at adding branches and keywords to your maps within a matter of minutes.  No special knowledge is required, except a willingness to think in a non-linear fashion.  In fact, several of the leading mind mapping software programs have a "brainstorming" mode that enables you to quickly capture your ideas, without getting in the way of the flow of your thinking.

Q: Why is it advantageous to link files, web pages, e-mails and other information into your mind map?

A: Most business people have had the experience of searching through drives and folders, trying to find a particular file on their computer or office network. Multiply that by the number of times you utilize that file during the course of a project, and you have a huge waste of time.  Linking files to your maps effectively creates shortcuts to them, ensuring that they are never more then a click away. Linking of e-mails into maps is a fairly recent development, pioneered by Mindjet in its MindManager program.  Considering the amount of information and knowledge that is contained within the e-mail messages, this is an important development!  In summary, incorporating links into your maps gives you fingertip access to all of the supporting information you need to manage your projects and priorities.

Q: How can software-produced mind maps save me time in my work?

A: Today's knowledge workers are overwhelmed by a constant barrage of e-mails, voice mails, telephone calls, meetings and excessive workloads.  This makes it nearly impossible for them to think clearly and critically about the projects they must accomplish, the resources required and other elements of the typical business project.  A growing number of executives are finding that mind mapping software is indispensable to succeed in this crazy, fast-paced environment.  This type of software helps executives to clearly map out projects and priorities, solve problems creatively, distill information for reports more quickly, make decisions more effectively and a host of other benefits.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Mind Mapping Software Blog and InnovationTools.com, users of mind mapping software said that it increases their productivity by an average of 20 percent.

New e-book launched: How to select mind mapping software

I have just finished writing a new e-book, entitled Mind Mapping Software: How to Select the Perfect Program for Your Needs. As its name implies, I have assembled a collection of advice, best practices and resources that you can use to take the mystery out of buying this type of software.

Why this topic for an e-book? When I started trying to sell my mind mapping software tips e-book using Google text ads, I noticed that I was getting a lot of click-throughs, but not many sales. Obviously, "best practices" and productivity strategies were not connecting with these people. So I tried to think like a person who would be searching Google for "mind mapping software." I quickly realized that anyone who was doing this was probably trying to learn more about this genre of software, with the intent of purchasing a program. Once you have purchased mind mapping software, chances are you don't need to perform this search any more, right? I also realized that the number of people who have heard about mind mapping software and are thinking about investing in it could be quite significant, especially considering all of the press it has been getting lately. So I decided to assemble an e-book containing all of the information that a potential buyer might be looking for.

What's in this new e-book? Here's a summary:

• An illustrated glossary of mind mapping software terms
• Tips on how to select the right program to meet your needs
• Interviews with experts in mind mapping software
• Answers to your frequently asked questions
• Mini-reviews of 15 popular mind mapping software programs
• A comprehensive list of mind mapping resources
• And more!

Please click here to learn more and purchase this new mind mapping software resource.

A closer look at Norah Bolton's new e-book

A few days ago, I told you about Norah Bolton's new visual mapping e-book, See What You Think! How to Work Better and Faster with VisiMap. I've now had a chance to dig into it a bit more, and I think it's a great resource for users of any mind mapping program. This new resource is filled with practical examples of mind mapping in action (both hand drawn and software produced), and Norah almost waxes lyrical talking about how visual mapping represents a new "language" for communicating ideas:

"If our tools change the way we think, visual mapping is an entry into the much larger framework of thought that has unfolded before our very eyes. In the same way that learning to print was a step on the way to learning to write, visual mapping can be a way to understand what is going on in the new knowledge based world and the way that information is structured and connected... A visual mapping perspective reminds us that our ability to make links and connections, to explore and to make connections is infinite."

I've always been an avid user of software tools, but I've never given that much thought to the fact that they actually enhance the ways in which I think. Seen from that perspective, visual mapping is literally a new language, a language of thoughts and ideas. Norah uses this fascinating quote from Margaret Boden, author of The Creative Mind, to reinforce this point:

"In general, problem solving is critically affected by the representation used by the problem solver... Some of the most important human creations have been new representational systems. These include Arabic numerals, chemical formula, or the staves, minims and crochets used by musicians... As well as recording new ideas for posterity, such languages may make them possible in the first place. For a written language can help us explore the implications of the ideas it represents."

In other words, seen as a type of language for representing ideas, visual mapping literally makes it possible for us to consider our ideas in powerful new ways that aren't possible when they are represented in the conventional linear fashion. Today's knowledge work increasingly demands that we be able to gather information from numerous sources, distill it and communicate it effectively to others, plus be a life-long learner in all areas of our lives. Visual mapping can help tremendously in all four roles.

You can purchase and download Norah's new e-book from her website or from the VisiMap site.

New book: Idea Mapping

Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More and Achieve Success in Business is a new book by Jamie Nast, which was just published by John Wiley & Sons. It teaches the basics of how to capture your ideas using “idea maps” – basically, mind maps that are focused on recording your ideas.  While it tends to focus on hand-drawn maps, the principles and outlines are valuable for anyone doing software-produced maps, as well.  The book does contain a chapter on mind mapping software, including tips on how to select it, benefits of using it and some examples of business applications of software-drawn idea maps. It also comes with a trial version of MindManager tucked into the back cover, which will provide an easy way for many readers to get their first exposure to mind mapping on a computer.

In addition to teaching readers how to create idea maps, the book also covers topics such as applications of idea maps and how to use them in a team setting, and it also includes a number of maps produced by real-world business people.

If you are a beginning to intermediate user of mind maps, you should find much to like in this new book. For more information on Idea Mapping, visit the book’s promotional website. Jamie also authors a blog about idea mapping.

Great idea: Business book summaries as mind maps

Vj Mariaraj is a big fan of mind mapping - so much so that he has created a new online business, selling mind map summaries of popular business books. This format can provide you with a useful overview of the key ideas contained within a book, without having to invest many hours reading it from cover to cover.

I'm not a believer in giving up on reading business books, but this may be a very practical strategy to gain access to an overview of those books (and the ideas and strategies they contain) that you think may benefit you, but you're not sure if they're a worthwhile read.

I think Vj has a great idea here; a one-year subscription to this service, which delivers one book summary per week to you for 52 weeks, is $197. He is offering a free book summary on his website; all you need to do is submit your name and e-mail address, and he'll send you instructions on how to download the mind map summary of the book, Kickstart Your Time Management.

Cross-posted to the Innovation Weblog