Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By Paul Urban
Table of Contents
MIND MAPPING MADE EASY: SAVE TIME, MAKE MONEY AND BECOME MORE
CREATIVE USING MIND MAPS ................................................................................................... 1
BY PAUL URBAN ............................................................................................................................. 1
MIND MAPPING MADE EASY: SAVE TIME, MAKE MONEY AND BECOME MORE
CREATIVE USING MIND MAPS ................................................................................................... 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION: MIND MAPS HELP YOU TO USE MORE OF YOUR BRAIN .................... 5
MIND MAPS MIMIC THE WAY YOU THINK: YOU'RE MORE INTELLIGENT USING MIND MAPS ................. 7
HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK ................................................................................................................. 8
Discover Mind Maps with your own MindMapper free trial ........................................................ 8
1. MIND MAPS: TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TIME AND YOUR WORK ............................... 9
Mind Mapping by hand............................................................................................................... 9
Mind Mapping on a computer ................................................................................................... 10
GETTING STARTED: DRAW YOUR FIRST MIND MAP FAST ................................................................. 10
MIND MAPS ON YOUR COMPUTER: FAST AND EASY ......................................................................... 11
EXERCISE 1: CREATE A MIND MAP WITH MINDMAPPER FAST ....................................................... 12
A MindMapper map step-by-step .............................................................................................. 12
RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................... 14
2. LEARNING WITH MIND MAPS AND MINDMAPPER: SAVE STUDY TIME AND
MEMORIZE FASTER .................................................................................................................... 15
MIND MAPPING MAKES LEARNING FUN AND YOU'RE MORE CREATIVE........................................... 15
Technique: Chaining your Mind Maps with hyperlinks ............................................................. 16
USE PRESENTATION MODE FOR FAST TEACHING AND LEARNING MINDMAPPER ............................... 17
TEACHING MIND MAPPING TO CHILDREN ....................................................................................... 18
Give your kids' education a boost with MindMapper's Junior version ....................................... 19
EXERCISE 2: CREATE A PRESENTATION WITH MINDMAPPER ............................................................ 19
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
We're all snowed under with information every day. How do we make sense of that
never-ending avalanche of material?
Mind Maps have become popular because they help us to organize the data that
overwhelms us each day and turn that data into actionable knowledge. Keen Mind
Mappers are everywhere: you'll find students Mind Mapping their notes, business
people Mind Mapping projects and meetings, and Web developers Mind Mapping
development projects and Web sites.
If you're aware of Mind Maps but don't yet use them, chances are that it's because you
think they're complex to learn and you're too busy to bother investing the time.
Whatever system you're using now to get your work done works (although it could be
more effective) what will Mind Mapping do for you that would repay the time you
invest in learning?
Mind Mapping can assist your in every area of your life and work. It can:
Make you more efficient you'll get your work done more quickly;
Help you to think and solve challenges every day and everywhere;
Help you to find solutions (because the answer is always in the problem);
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Big promises? Yes, and Mind Mapping will more than fulfil them. Once you've
learned a few simple techniques, you'll use Mind Maps like a pro.
Essentially, a Mind Map is a diagram which helps you to think. It displays your ideas
in a visual form, usually around a central word, phrase or image. Although used for
centuries, Mind Maps were popularised by authors like Tony Buzan around 30 years
ago, and are now widely used in business and in education. The major benefit of using
a Mind Map rather than a list or an outline is that using both graphics and images
involves both sides of your brain; when you use a Mind Map, not only do you find it
easier to remember information, but it's also easier to make connections between
disparate ideas and develop fresh concepts.
In this book we'll focus on using computer-generated Mind Maps. When you Mind
Map on a computer, you can change your Mind Map at will, can print out dozens of
copies, and can also use them for purposes like creating presentations, developing
Web sites, and demonstrating your ideas.
Of course you can Mind Map anywhere and with little more than paper and pens, as
in the Mind Mapping example below.
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Mind Maps mimic the way you think: you're more intelligent
using Mind Maps
Your brain is constructed like a conglomeration of millions upon millions of
infinitesimal Mind Maps. At the centre of each one these Mind Maps is an individual
brain cell, and each tiny brain cell has tens of thousands of connections called
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
You can use Mind Mapping right throughout your day. In this chapter we'll look at
Mind Mapping styles: using hand drawn Mind Maps versus computer Mind
Mapping software pros and cons.
Mind Maps don't need to be complex. You can use them anywhere. When you get
into the habit you'll find yourself jotting effective Mind Maps on anything from sticky
notes to the back of invoices. However, although you can Mind Map successfully
using pens and paper, Mind Mapping is much easier on a computer. Let's look at the
pros and cons.
It's fast
You can Mind Map anywhere you have a pen and paper
Some people think better using a pen and paper than using a computer
Cons:
It's fast, because you can save maps like meeting agendas to use again and
again
You can rearrange items on a map by deleting, and dragging and dropping
You can share maps on the Web, over your network, or by sending them via
email
You can use Mind Maps to develop projects like Web sites and presentations,
cutting down on the amount of work you have to do
You can use Mind Maps as the focus for all your projects, linking Mind Maps
together
Cons:
! You need to have a computer, PDA or other electronic tool available to
you
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http://essentialmindmapping.com/
2. A new map opens, with "Title" as the central topic. Double-click the box to access
Edit mode, select the text, and type a new topic for your map. You'll see that when
you double-click, your mouse pointer will turn into a text pointer, ready for you to
type text.
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3. Type your topic: "To Do Today". Press Enter. Type: "Work", press Enter. Select
the new topic "Work". Type: "MacDavis Report" and press Enter. Notice that your
topic "Work" remains selected? This means that you can add additional topics to
"Work". Type "Calls" and press Enter.
4. You can annotate your map too. Choose Floating Topic on the Insert Menu, click
on the map, and type: "3pm Flight".
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Resources
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Mind Maps help you to retain information. This makes Mind Maps essential tools not
only for students, but also for anyone who needs to study and memorize information
quickly. In this chapter we'll look at ways in which you can use Mind Mapping to
make learning fun.
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Above: Linking Mind Maps with hyperlinks in MindMapper you can link to any
file on your computer, not just Mind Maps.
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In MindMapper, choose Hyperlinks from the Insert menu. You can add a link to a
local file which can be another Mind Map or any other file, a URL, or an email
message.
Above: Linking a topic to a local file on your PC. You can add links to any file on
your computer, your network, or on the Internet.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
MindMapper's great for students check out the Junior and Academic versions from
Essential MindMapping at http://www.essentialmindmapping.com/index.php
2. To run your presentation from within MindMapper, choose Run Presentation from
the Presentation window.
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Your presentation will run within MindMapper. Each topic is a slide. Click from slide
to slide by using the arrow keys on your computer. Press Escape to end the
presentation.
3. You can export your map to Microsoft PowerPoint. Choose Send to Microsoft
PowerPoint from the File menu. (PowerPoint must be installed on your computer.)
A wizard will open choose the destination file, and other preferences by following
the export process step by step.
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Exporting your work to any application is handled by a wizard. Just choose the Mind
Map you want to export, and click the icon:
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Above: The first screen in the process of exporting a Mind Map to Microsoft Excel.
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Above: The second screen lets you choose how you want the Excel Worksheet to be
formatted.
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Resources
! MindMapper adds horsepower to your thinking:
http://essentialmindmapping.com/MindMapper.php
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
When you need a solution to a challenge create a Mind Map. You can use Mind
Mapping in many ways to not only help you to think, but also to become more
creative. In this chapter we'll look at ways in which you can use Mind Mapping to
think, to solve challenges, and to brainstorm.
General questions
Let's look at general questions for business. (You can of course use Mind Mapping
for anything, not just for business.)
Specific questions
Again, these are business questions but remember you can Mind Map any questions.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
Enter everything that comes into your head. If you're brainstorming in a group,
enter all the suggestions. Often you get the answer to a problem or develop a
great new idea by combining topics;
Place a time limit on your brainstorming sessions. Ten minutes is ample. Then
have a break. Have a cup of coffee. When you return, you can continue
working on the same map, or use a topic from that map to develop another
map;
Above: A scratch map gives you a fast start in organizing a document. When you've
finished outlining the report, you can print copies of the Mind Map to give to team
members.
Exercise 3
Create a brainstorming Mind Map. The topic? How YOU can use Mind Maps in your
work and in other areas of your life. Yes, you can use Mind Maps for all projects.
Buying a house? Create a Mind Map. Planning an event? Create a Mind Map.
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2. Choose your style, and click OK. Select "Title", and type: " What should I do to
market my business this month?" Press Enter. Now simply start brainstorming ideas,
pressing Enter each time. As long as the focus stays on the centre topic, you can
simply keep typing ideas, pressing Enter after each one.
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3. When you've finished adding ideas, you can add notes. Select the item to which
you want to add a note, and choose Note from the Insert menu.
Resources
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
Mind Maps make terrific planning tools, especially for managing your time. If time
management is a challenge for you, use Mind Maps for a few days. Mind Mapping
helps you to feel more in control of your time, which leads to reduced stress. With the
weight of stress lifted from you, you'll be amazed at how much more you achieve.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
Exercise 4
Get attention by adding images and colour to your Mind Maps.
Use MindMapper's clip art and your own images to create impact
and stimulate ideas
1. Create a new Mind Map in MindMapper. You can add clip art easily. From the
Insert menu, choose Picture/ Clip Art. The Clip Art Organizer will open.
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2. Choose a collection, and click an image. Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
3. Paste the image into MindMapper at any spot on the map by pressing Ctrl+V, or
choose Paste from the Edit menu.
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Resources
! View a one-minute guide on creating a Mind Map:
http://www.mindmapper.com/product/screenshots.asp?screenshots=basic1.swf
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
In this chapter we'll look at how you can benefit from Mind Mapping with a computer
program, specifically MindMapper.
You can also reverse the processes you can import documents from Microsoft
Office to use Mind Maps. If someone send you a Word document, you can add level
headings with Styles, and can import the document into MindMapper.
Want to export a Mind Map to the Web? MindMapper makes it easy to transform a
Mind Map into a collection of Web documents. You cent even create a complete site
in MindMapper. The benefits of creating sites and Web pages in MindMapper is that
the site structure and all the navigation links are created for you.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
Above: Adding photos to Mind Maps in MindMapper. You can add photos from
your digital camera, or a scanner. When you add photos to your Mind Maps,
they're exported to other applications with the Mind Map, so you can get a
headstart on your presentations or other documents.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
Create a Mind Map for a Web site. Each topic will be a page on the site. When you
save the map as HTML pages, the index.html page shows a list of the topics, each of
which is hyperlinked to its own page. If you have sub-topics, these are linked off their
topics. Notes that you've created for a topic or sub-topic become the content for the
relevant page.
When you've completed the map, choose Save As Web Pages from the File menu.
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The Save As Web Pages dialogue box will open. Choose a folder for your map
navigate to a folder, or create a new folder. Fill in details for the Company section, the
Images (locate them on your computer or network), and the colours you want for the
Web page backgrounds. Then click OK, and your site is created.
Navigate to the folder in which the HTML pages were created, and double-click the
index.html file. The pages will open, hyperlinked and ready for you to send to your
Web server, or to edit in an HTML program like Macromedia DreamWeaver.
Exercise 5
Do you have a series of files on your computer that you regularly open? MindMapper
can help keep those files organized. Create a new Mind Map, with topics for all the
files. Then select a topic, choose Hyperlinks from the Insert menu, click Local File,
and navigate to the file. Click OK.
2. As work on the project progresses, you can open any document from the Mind Map
the Mind Map also shows you which documents have been completed, and who is
working on them.
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3. If you use Microsoft Outlook, you can export scheduled tasks to Outlook. Select a
task on your Mind Map, and press Ctrl+D to create a scheduled task. The Planner
window will open, and you can choose a date and time for your task.
4. Choose the Export to Outlook Tasks icon on the toolbar, and Microsoft Outlook
will open. Choose Tasks, and you will see that your scheduled task has been added to
the Tasks folder.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
The more Mind Mapping skills you develop, the more you'll save time and energy in
all your tasks. In this chapter we'll look at ways in which you can enhance your skills.
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http://essentialmindmapping.com/
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Exercise 6
Create a Mind Map of your goals for this year, with a path for achievement.
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3. Add goals to each area. Set time limits on your goals. For example, if you want to
lose five kilos to improve your health, create a schedule. MindMapper lets you
develop schedules right in the program, and then send the scheduled tasks and
appointments to Outlook this saves you time, because you can go from the general
to the specific in an instant. There's no re-typing of information, MindMapper does it
for you.
http://essentialmindmapping.com/
http://essentialmindmapping.com/