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Mindmapping – Here’s One UFO You can Believe In

Posted: 04 Oct 2010 03:54 AM PDT

The Mindmapping/Blogging Connection

I’m a big proponent of mindmapping. Mindmaps are a visual method of working with ideas that feels very natural and easy for most people who try it. It’s a great way to organize just about any kind of information–especially for people who think of themselves as “disorganized.” I like it because it so closely resembles the way I think. I use mindmapping to plan out the various projects I work on.

Mark Dykeman of Thoughtwrestling and Broadcasting Brain also has a keen interest in mindmapping. So much so, he decided to create this great resource called Unstuck Focused & Organized (UFO… GET IT!?). UFO is a combination of ebook, audio files, and transcripts of those audio files.

So What?

I know, big deal, right? Well, actually, yeah. It is a big deal. Here’s why: mindmapping is such a powerful tool to help you plan blog-related projects that it truly is worth your time to invest in understanding mindmapping and using it as effectively as you can. Because the better you are at it, the better your projects get off the ground and get done. And that, my friends, translates directly into money in your pocket. With that in mind, I think getting better at mind mapping is critical. And if you’re going to get better at mindmapping you will be interested in Mark’s UFO: Unstuck, Focused, .

Disclosure

I had the pleasure of being involved with Mark’s project from the beginning. He interviewed me as part of the product’s content and we discussed the product’s concept and marketing. I reviewed early copies of the ebook and offered my feedback. And now that it’s finished, I am an affiliate for it. So if you buy it through my link, I’ll receive compensation for that (I thank you in advance if you decide to get it).

The Ebook

You might think that reading an ebook on mind mapping would be either boring or daunting. Mark’s book is neither: it is a cheerful and accessible read. If you’re hardly familiar with mind mapping at all, he does a great job of explaining it and has lots of easy diagrams that illustrate how they look and work. If you are already familiar with mind mapping, this book will rocket you into pro mind mapping territory before you even realize it.

There is a surprising amount you can know about mind mapping that is not difficult at all to learn. Even better, you can put this knowledge to work for you with the very next mind map you create, which can affect your bottom line in a very good way.

The Audio

Interview with Chuck Frey

Chuck Frey is an authority online regarding mindmapping. You will you learn a lot about mindmapping and gain insights into it you can use right away from this interview. If you’re interested in learning about mindmapping software and how it can be used, you’ll get a lot out of this audio.

Interview with Chris Brogan

What I liked about this interview is that Chris really communicates well how different and kinesthetic mindmapping can be compared to any other tools we use for planning or ideation. Chris is a fairly lively and entertaining interviewee as he recalls how he grew into his own style of ideation and planning.

Interview with Yours Truly

I had the pleasure of being interviewed for this as well, since I am a self-confessed mindmapper (and recommended Chuck Frey’s product to you guys a while ago). I don’t have much praise for myself on my own interview, but after listening to it I’m happy to say I didn’t embarrass myself terribly. One thing I hope you get out of it is insight into how mindmapping can be used to plan information products (which go very well with blogging and online business).

Interview with Dave Navarro

Dave uses mind maps extensively, but also in a very simple manner. He doesn’t go for that fancy-schmancy mind mapping, he rocks out with straightforward idea connections in a simple format. He’s got some interesting thoughts on what’s good about mind maps and how people use them (and what’s not so good). Dave’s interview is the shortest, but it’s got a lot of insights to offer.

Is it Worth It?

I think if you run an online business, mind mapping lends itself so well to so many endeavors that it’s a must-have skill. And because of that, you want to be as good at it as you can. Better mind maps means a better bottom line. The book gives you the why, the what, and the how. The interviews also teach a lot, and they do a great job of giving insight into how different people successfully use mind mapping every day (and how you can, too, of course).