Brainstorming Is Useless If You Can’t See The Big Picture
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You can brainstorm for hours and still not find any “good enough” ideas. It surely happened to you before, you’re sitting in front of your computer, trying damn hard to find an idea for your next blog post, and an hour and a half later you realize you wrote only 2 lines. Then you decide not to save your file. Happens to me a lot.
Useful Tools That Can Help You See The Big Picture
I’ve been using the FreeMind application (macintosh) quite a lot lately, since Raj from Tubetorial wrote about MindMaps and also how to manage a to-do list using MindMap, and I have to say it’s an incredibly useful piece of software. It’s more fun than notepad or textedit that’s for sure. For windows users, there are many softwares available such as MindMap, Mindapp and NovaMind.
Here’s a brief definition of what a Mind Map is:
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making.
These softwares are awesome for brainstorming and finding new ideas and organize your work. But the real reason I use FreeMind is because it helps me see the big picture. Take a look at the sample mind maps I created using FreeMind. Click the pictures to enlarge.
FreeMind - Sample 1
FreeMind - Sample 2
Ok, graphically NovaMind surpasses FreeMind, there is not a lot of options available for Mac users (dammit!) and FreeMind is free, but still. Can you see the big picture? It’s all right there, on your computer screen, all you have to do now is write your blog post!
I Can’t See The Big Picture….
Keep in mind that those are only softwares, while they’re awesome and can help tremendously in finding new ideas and see a new project as a whole instead of as small chunks of information and tasks that are difficult to put together, nothing beats the input and feedback from others.
Mastermind - The Next Step
Me and my best bud (partners in crime!) recently started a mastermind group. We kinda realized the importance of being able to see the grand scheme of things, and how important it is to get input from people that are not necessarily in the same industry or field.
Picture this: You only have 1 brain, and can only go this far and achieve that much. By teaming up with like-minded people, not only it benefits you, but it also benefits the other people in the mastermind group, and the 2 put together can achieve greater results. 1+1=3. Imagine the results if you can put 5 or 10 like-minded individuals together. 20, 50?
Your Turn To Talk
Usually when you work on something, do you tend to be so focused that you simply cannot see the big picture? It is really easy to just stay on the same path and do what you do everyday. But the ability to separate yourself from your business or your blog, and see that big picture, can get you better results. What d’you think?
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I used MindMaps in a project for school once, but have yet to use them again. I’ll have to check out FreeMind. Thanks for the good content, keep it up!
Hi Tyler, lemme know how the mindmappping goes. I found FreeMind to be very useful so far, although it’s not as “cute” as Nova-Mind it does the job for me, and it’s free. Works only on a mac though, but Nova-Mind works on both PC and Mac (they offer a free version).
Bizarre Jon,
I just posted about breaking out of the wash, rinse, repeat cycle … kind of in the same vein of not doing the same-old, same-old as you’re talking about here.
I’ll have to check out some of that software … I’ll probably end up with a wall sized map!
Hey Shane, if you end up with a wall sized map, take a picture and send it my way hehe
Mine is getting pretty big (will print it out and bring it to my next mastermind group session)
Ok, I’m heading over to your blog for my daily read of Zoom :)
That’s pretty cool!
My “brainstorming” usually consists of a bunch of lists. I’ve never tried any software…interesting.
Hey Anthony, well before I heard about those softwares I had tons of note books full of notes and note pads everywhere with ideas written down. But those softwares (I use only FreeMind) hellps me a lot to see the big picture, cause it “organizes” the stuff for you, instead of trying to find that idea in a note book or something. Helps to see the big portrait.
I think I will try it out as anthony says I always have relied on lists and sometimes trusted my impulsive flow of thoughts to write. May be this will help me out of the Jam I usually get in to or help me find my way back when I wander away from the topic. thanks.
Hi Manisha, lemme know how it goes, I’d be interested in seeing other people’s mindmaps, it can help getting more ideas to organize our workflow and have a glimpse at what other people are up to, and how they see that “big picture”
Interesting. I usually use list’s that I break down into smaller list’s. Has this software helped you or any readers and how has it helped?
Rick, it helped me a lot! I tend to focus way too much when working, so spending half-an-hour mindmapping actually helps me see things globally instead of having a narrow and too focused view of things. Then I can look at the map and have a better idea of where I’m going, or say, what would be the next logical step, and what I should removed or add to my map, I’m gonna print my mindmap, and bring it to my mastermind group, so we can have a look at it, and get input from the others. I’ll let you guyz know how it went and how it helped. :)
Although I am a big fan of technology, good , old fashioned colored markers and a sketch pad work great for mind-mapping exercises! The other benefit of doing it manually is that you get your senses involved for extra impact!
Mastermind groups are an amazing tool for idea generation and refinement, not to mention thc cultivation of new friendships with like-minded people.
Daniel, good point you bring, it’s true that when you actually “feel it” and physically write the stuff on a sketch pad it makes it more real. Only thing (for me) is it takes too much time, and it’s not always easy to organize the topics and subtopics, while a minddmapping software does it for you, so it helps my productivity. Although i still have a note pad sitting on my desk so I can write down ideas on the fly, then I add them to my mindmap.
Daniel, have you participaed in a mastermind group before? I’d like to get your feedback on that, how it helped you, how it worked, some tips and tricks (if you have time of course), we’re still in the early stages of our mastermind group so any input is very welcome, and we can definitely use any bit of advice :)
I worked as a staff writer for a lifestyle magazine for nearly four years… but I’d guess in realtime I worked only four weeks!
That’s not counting the mindless hours and chasing some impossible stories and people and stuff… but that’s all a part of the game of being a professional writer.
And the “Big Picture” of your post reminds me of this:
“As long as you’re going to think anyway – you might as well think BIG!” - Donald Trump
And have you heard/seen/written about:
James Manktelow & Rachel Thompson
MindTools.com
I get emails from them every day, they promise a lot, but honestly I haven’t checked them out yet.
RK, I love that quote by Donald Trump (the billionaire mind guy!)
I checked out mindtools in the past, they write interesting stuff, I’m not a big fan of “articles sites”, I like blogs, but they do have a lot (A LOT) of good articles, I stop by there ffrom time to time :)
Thanks for the response! I am going to try it out. Like you I have tons of notebooks and notepads that I think is very often counter-productive. I like to be very organized but when I am brainstorming I am not. This has been very helpful, thanks.
Rick, you’re welcome, lemme know how it goes, and if it helps you with productivity, and what mindmapping tool you will use, Nova-Mind looks really good, I might purchase it eventually if I get tired of FreeMind and want a more graphical interface :)
Jonathan - Great presentation of why to use MindMaps. I’m going to have a huge review of 7 different mindmapping packages at Lifehack.org very soon, and there’ll be a contest somewhere (I can’t say yet).
But, regarding giant maps, don’t forget that most of the desktop-based mindmapping apps have hyperlinking features. You can hyperlink a node to either a web page or to other software resident on your computer, including other mindmapping programs.
FreeMind lets you do this, too. Just right click a node, use the “insert” option, and you’ll get an additional menu. There are several types of hyperlink options. Just choose use the file chooser if you’re linking to, say, a spreadsheet. When you “ctrl-enter” (Windows), FreeMind will open the application.
So, that said, you can split up your big maps and hyperlink smaller maps together.
Raj, first I gotta say you’re doing a fantastic job on tubetorial! It’s crazy! ;)
Looking forward for that lifehack.org thing!
Regarding the mindmaps, I posted only a sample mindmap on here, more to show what it can look like, cause my own “real” mind map is a lot bigger and has links and a bunch of other stuff, the more I use freemind the more I like it, but I didn’t wanted to reveal my evil plans and post my real mindmap (lol, kidding).
I haven’t thought about linking smaller maps though, thanx for the tip, I’m gonna put that to good use.
Thanks for posting this, Jonathan. When I brainstorm, I usually just write everything out in one big list. It’s hard to read and makes no sense a day or two later. I will have to try the mindmap idea. I’m a Mac user too (go apple!) so FreeMind looks like a good option.
Hi Brenda, hey nice to know another apple addict hehe!
Lemme know how it goes with FreeMind, I will probably don’t my “real” mindmap eventually. I find using freemind is more productive than writing stuff down, like you, after 2-3 days it doesn’t make much sense, and too often i will write something real fast and can’t read my stuff after so.
Thanks, Jonathan, you’re too kind. A friend suggested today that I might be getting too technical on Tubetorial and I’m inclined to agree. (So he’s going to help me get back on track targeting tubetorials of help to the average blogger.)
I do have more mindmap stuff coming for Tubetorial.com, but I’ve been selfishly hoarding some for Lifehack.org.
Hi Raj, I really mean it, you remember at first I was really disappointed thet splashpress took over tubetorial, but I have to take that back, you really are doing an awesome job, and Brian is also doing a really nice job for the cutline community! ;)
I don’t think your tubetorials are “too” technical, but I guess I’m somewhat of a geek, so I love them, (the rss pipes ones are awesome by the way), maybe mixing a little bit of “easy” stuff with some more advanced and technical posts would appeal to a wider audience. But seriously you’re doing a great job!
Ok, I’m hooked now, can’t wait for the thing on lifehack! ;)
I have read about mind maps before, but never used them. From the conversation it seems like they would really help me out. I will have to check them out.
PS. Nice blog you have here.
Hi George, thanx a lot for stopping by, if you use mindmapping softwares, lemme know the results, I’d be interested in hearing other people’s opinions about that.
btw, welcome to SWR, make yourself at home!
I’ve been a long-time fan of masterminding and mindmapping, too — for mindmapping, I either use pen & paper, or work in Curio, which is Mac-only, btw.
I also got turned on to http://bubbl.us recently, too; an online (and free!) mindmapping software solution. It’s simple, and quick.
Hey Adam, thanx for letting me (us) know about Curio, I’m checking it out now. I have to say the interface of Bubbl.us is really nice, (pretty too), really intuitive, willl try it out a little more tonight.
Thanx Adam
Okay, I downloaded it now how do I get it to open and proceed from there?
Hi Theresa, which one did you download? Windows or Mac?
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I like this site a lot. You have lots of good advice here, and this post is particularly useful, although I tend to have the opposite problem, as I am not a detail person. Some advice I’d like is how did you get your pics to enlarge when you click on them? It looks really nice. I’m such a tech dummy….
Hi Bloggrrl! Thanx a lot! :)
The pic thing is actually a plugin (wordpress) called lightbox, you just have to put rel=”lightbox” or rel=”lightbox[roadtrip]” (for a picture set, so it’ll display a “next” link) after the url of a pic, and it’ll do that nice javascript effect thing, and you can also add captions :)
[…] Mind Maps help us see the big picture - Smart Wealthy Rich on Brainstorming […]
I never ever thought of using a software during brainstorming. It could be useful to go back and review once you are finished.
MindMapping is a great tool to use. Using mindmapping software has several advantages rather than putting your mind maps on a piece of paper… One of them you can easily change and alter your mind map.
After everything is planned in a mindmap then you can starting breaking the tasks to be done in a to do list software :)