GTD & Mind Mapping
April 8th, 2009 GTD Times Team - Staff ContributorsCategories | Getting Things Done | Software
It’s well-known that David Allen is a big fan of mind mapping for capturing ideas and brainstorming projects. In the GTD book, you’ll find several references to this creative brainstorming technique (pages 70-72), coined by British Researcher Tony Buzan.
The wonderful thing about a process like mind mapping is that it gives our brain a way to capture ideas without having to figure out on the front-end what to do with it or how to organize it. Have you ever tried to sit down and sequentially plan a project, but get frustrated trying to corral all of the random details in some kind of order? Our brains don’t always logically “organize” information as we think of it. Mindmapping removes the sequential limitations and gives the brain a way to freely download. It can also be a great problem-solving tool as well if you find your team getting stuck on a solution. Sit everyone down with a flip chart or whiteboard, get a neutral scribe who won’t control what’s added, and let everyone randomly call out ideas.
Mind mapping can be done in hard or soft copy–depending on your style. There is no right or wrong way. If you are a pen + paper kind of person, try it that way. There are also several good electronic mindmapping tools available. David uses MindManager by MindJet. However, there are others available too, ranging in price and features. Lifehacker recently did a nice review of their top 5.
I have been an enthusiastic user of MindManager for years. When I switched from a PC to a Mac, I was excited to see that MindManager had a Mac version. I have to say, though, that it is a completely underwhelming program barely supported by MindJet. They let their Palm version wither and die and I’m afraid that this is what is in store for the Mac version. For others’ thoughts on this see the Mac forum on the Mindjet site. Too bad–the PC version is really unrivaled…..
Paul:
I’m the product manager for the Mac version of MindManager at Mindjet. I want to assure you that we have by no means pulled back on the Mac. Yes, our last major release was for the PC version, and this has overshadowned our efforts on the Mac. But a new Mac version is in the works for 2009 – I’m initmately involved with producing this release. Mac is a strategic platform for us, and the rising popularity of Mac hasn’t gone past us. In fact, many Mindjet employees, including our key executives use the Mac version. I assure you that you will hear good things about our Mac product within the calendar year.
Hi, I just found another neat software package for brainstorming/mind-mapping. It’s called XMind and it works on Windows, GNU/Linux and Mac OS X.
http://www.xmind.net/
Kelly,
how true. I came accross Mind Maps when trying (and still trying) to improve my Photo Reading. Since then my wife has completed her final exames using it; I have managed my PhD; my kids (9 and
are using them for homework and all of us would be lost without them. Long live MM and Tony Buzan!!!!
I agree, mind maps are a fantastic way of jotting down an idea and expanding on them. I read quite a few technical papers and use mind maps to get a clearer overview of what the paper is about. I have also started using them for everyday things.
I’m using mind mapping from many years.
Pencil and paper is really good for simplicity and velocity.
mind-mapping program are woderful for they possibilities.
But now I have a iLiad, digital ebook reader and I use it to make my pencil and paper mind map, next I can download them like a pdf.
Two pigeon with a net.
^___^
Really another world
When I moved to Mac recently I had to give up Mindjet too (and now also expensive since they got in bed with Microsoft). But recently I found a great Mindmapper whose PC and Mac versions are feature equivalent from NovaMind. You can do both professional business style maps (ala Mindjet) and with free-hand looking connections, options, and layers of images make maps that look like professional artist hand-drawn maps.
Try the free 30 day download -
http://www.novamind.com/download/?NMAID=usmm
I think GTD works great with mind mapping. You can use a mindmapping app as a cool Inbox to capture everything that comes to mind, before you decide exactly what the projects are and the order of actions.
Dan B
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
Check out Curio for the Mac…this program is awesome – it will do mindmapping, but its also a lot more flexible. It also ties in Evernote for anyone that uses it (another incredible program)…I’m loving the 2 of them together
There are lots of good free mindmapping tools available. I use both Mind42 (www.mind42.com) and Personal Brain (www.webbrain.com) and like them both.
Couldn’t agree/lament more re the Mindmanager Mac version’s status – it is presently my biggest hindrance, as I need to work cross-platform (the web-version I find too slow and limited, still). I will much look forward to an upgraded Mac MM…
I remember, I think it was on 43 folders, an interview with David saying he didn’t really see the point for complicated mind mapping software, all he wanted when mind mapping was to work quickly dump his brain and then take it from there (the purpose of the mind-map was finished at that point).
Have things changed?
I took his advice religiously then.
Gofer-
From what I know, David’s point of view on that is the same. He always favors simplicity over complicated. You may be assuming that the software he is using is complicated. He would not use MindManager, in particular, unless it were quick and easy for him to do what he needs to do. Someone else though might find doing that in software (MindManager or otherwise) to be cumbersome and prefer pen to paper. It’s really personal preference.
I’ve seen David using MindManager and it’s quite amazing. Where some of us would be fumbling around with the key strokes and creating new branches, David can create an elaborate map in a matter of minutes. He’s just mastered it in a way that works for him as a useful tool.
Hope that helps,
Kelly
Let’s go back to the Mind Map illustration at the top of the article. To get the most out of Mind maps, use COLOUR and PICTURES as well as varying the size and style of your TYPE.
You don’t need fancy software to sketch a Mind Map….just blank paper, coloured pens or markers, eg Faber Castell Connector pens or Staedtler Fine Line.
You will have a lot more fun and be more creative using colourful pens and paper.