Freelance Switch has an interesting post on using mind maps to organize multiple projects.
Using mind map software such as FreeMind or MindManager, you create nodes for each day and then add all the projects you are working on with color codes to show progress.
I am going to try this out to help juggle all the projects I am working on.
Let me know if you find it useful too.
Thanks go out to LifeHacker for pointing out this special offer:
Go download the full version of ConceptDraw MindMap 5 (normally $200), then fill out a simple registration form and get the license key. The license key turns the demo download into a full version copy. Grab this one up before time runs out!
You can download either the Windows or Mac version.
I am enjoying testing out the mindmapping and brainstorming features. Let me know what you think of it in the comments.
XPLANE has done a wonderful visual presentation covering how the recent financial meltdown came to be.
The use of simple graphics helps to understand the timeline of events leading to the meltdown. I like the way the video uses sound effects and simple animation over static graphics to liven up the presentation. I should also confess that I have been a long-time fan of XPLANE’s creative works.
And here is another visual explanation from Marketplace Senior Editor Paddy Hirsch:
Let me know what you think of the videos in the comments.
A few weeks ago Chuck Frey of the mind mapping software blog asked people to share their thoughts on how they would define a great mind map.
There were many insightful comments that covered a wide spectrum of what makes a great mind map.
Chuck did a follow up post with a summary of the comments.
Jim Deiner, one of the participants, even made a mind map of all of the comments - available as a pdf or as a MindManager file.
I would highly recommend you check out all of the comments and the summary to get a good snapshot of what people think makes a great mind map.
p.s. I am comment #2
“When an idea is important to a person or culture it will find its way to imagery.” - Joseph Campbell
There is a popular misconception in the business world that artistic skills are required to visualize ideas.
Many people are worried that they will look foolish if they try to visually show others their ideas.
In the beginning, I too had these same fears hold me back from getting up in front of a group and mapping out my ideas.
You will soon discover that the majority of people are not going to critically judge your visual elements as long as it illustrates your points.
By simply using stick figures, lines, arrows, and simple shapes such as squares and circles, you will be able to get your ideas across to your audience.
Besides, if you did bring in an artist you would still need to explain the idea to them before they could create the visuals for the idea. So either way you should at least make a rough draft of what the visuals should look like.
If you have read Dan Roam’s book The Back of the Napkin, you might recall the story of how Southwest Airlines started with a simple drawing:
Granted this drawing would probably not win any art contests, but the simple use of lines, dots, and text definitely gets the idea across.
Usually the hardest part of all of this is getting started.
You can start out with simple things like stick figures and simple shapes.
If you are concerned with your artistic abilities, I would encourage you to practice mapping out your ideas to build up your skills. You could then show them to select friends, family, or co-workers to get feedback on how you are doing.
Practice may not make perfect, but you will improve over time and get a better feel of what you are capable of drawing.
Now get out there and start visually mapping out your ideas!
A group that is working towards a common goal needs to have every member understand what the big picture is - this is called “being on the same page.”
Putting the big picture up on a wall for the whole team to see can help achieve a unity of vision.
This can take the form of a brainstorm session on post-its or butcher paper, a description of the group’s mission/goal/vision, or a large visual such as an information mural.
Here is an example of a company vision that David Sibbet of The Grove did for National Semiconductor Corporation:
With everything out in the open, the group members are able to see the same big picture and discuss any details that need to be changed.
This avoids misunderstandings that can arise from purely verbal discussions or distributed memos/emails that were not read or remembered.
A group that does not share a common idea will encounter problems such as not meeting deadlines, often devolving into finger pointing and heated arguments of whose version of the idea is correct.
If you leave the information up on the wall then it can serve as a reminder of what the group is doing and how it plans to achieve its goals.
Tell me what you think about this in the comments.
SlideRocket opened up their online presentation software beta to the public today. I am very impressed with what I have seen of it so far.
SlideRocket has many useful features:
For a beta product SlideRocket is off to a good start and I look forward to seeing what they add to it in the future. I don’t know if it is a PowerPoint replacement yet, but time will tell.
To see more of what SlideRocket can do, check out their product tour, watch their demos, or sign up for their public beta.
Let me know what you think of SlideRocket in the comments section.
Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
At least once a day I try to do something creative to keep my mind in shape. Creativity is like a muscle - if you don’t exercise it regularly then it will not help you to perform when you need it. Just like you would not hand someone a violin and expect them to play a concert if they had never taken lessons and put in the time to practice.
There are many ways you can flex these creative muscles:
- write a short story
- take pictures of your favorite people/places/things
- solve a crossword puzzle
- randomly pick a new recipe and cook it
- make a drawing showing happy customers using your product or service.
- make a mind map of all of the things you need to do tomorrow
- imagine your perfect vacation, then write or sketch all of the details
Notice I used the word “imagine” - having an active imagination is very beneficial for your ability to think creatively. Using your imagination, by letting your mind wander or daydreaming, opens your mind up to look for new possibilities. You might frame this as daydreaming with a purpose. There are numerous examples of artists, writers, and scientists who have developed new ideas through daydreaming. Even if your work is not in a traditionally creative field - the odds are good that the ability to come up with creative ideas could improve your career and personal life.
Side note: There is a Spanish idiom about daydreaming, “Pensar en la inmortalidad del cangrejo” = “Thinking about the immortality of the crab,” which implies that one is constructively engaged in contemplation.
To develop a regular habit of thinking creatively - start with baby steps. Also, just like physical muscle building, you should use a variety of creative exercises to give your creativity a good workout. The nice thing about practicing these creative exercises is that you will find it gets easier over time.
Let me know in the comments how you flex your creative muscles.
Over the years I have paid attention to the way books, newspapers, and magazines use graphics to help readers easily understand the material or story. Their use of annotated maps, timelines, diagrams, and charts make it easier to follow what is happening. Finding the right combination of graphics and text to place in an infographic can produce amazing results.
As Wikipedia will tell you - Information graphics, or infographics, are visual representations of information, data or knowledge.
Here is an example of an infographic by Karl Gude on how to quake-proof a home:
Notice how using an infographic to show the areas to quake-proof is more effective than a simple checklist would have been.
The use of information graphics is increasing around the world - here is an infographic on recycling from Dimas Fernandez in Spain:
I find that good examples of information graphics are a source of inspiration when I want to graphically convey an idea to others. I may not possess the artistic skill to create the amazing infographics I see in print and on the web, but it gives me something to shoot for when I am creating graphics to explain an idea. If I want to use a fairly complex infographic in a presentation I will usually simplify it or reveal it in steps so I do not overwhelm my audience with too much at once.
Google released a beta version of their new open source web browser called Chrome earlier this week.
To explain why they developed a new web browser and how it works, Google hired Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics and Making Comics, to illustrate their book about Chrome in a comic format.
The comic does a great job of explaining how Google Chrome works in a simple way. Using members of the development team to explain the concepts in this visual manner makes it easy to understand and follow along.
I have noticed there is a growing trend of businesses that use a cartoon-like chart or diagram in their documents, and I am happy to see Google use a comic book to introduce their new browser. I view comics as a wonderful way to graphically explain an idea or tell a story, and I hope that this trend will continue to spread in a positive way.
Side Note:
Did anyone else think the logo for Chrome looks a bit like the old Simon game?
