Idea Mapping – Jamie Nast

Access your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More and Achieve Success in Business

If you have seen my earlier posts about “Mind Mapping” you will know that I have always avoided creating mind maps because it didn’t feel right for me.  I am linear, logical, analytical – the embodiment of a LIST PERSON.  However, once Mindjet released MindManager 7.0 Pro I became much more interested because of the ability to easily LINK Outlook items (such as Tasks and Calendar appointments).  As a consequence I became involved with the MindManager User Group and subsequently purchased a copy of Jamie Nast’s book “Idea Mapping”. 

 

This was the final piece to the jigsaw and I am very excited about the possibilities.

Even if you are someone who currently isn’t inspired by mind mapping I would urge you get this book and give Jamie the opportunity to show you how you could bring Idea Mapping into your way of working. 

Prior to reading the book I had realised just how powerful it will be to be able to LINK a MindMap (created in MindManager) to a TASK (created in Microsoft Outlook) or how powerful it would be to create a MindMap and then SEND it to Microsoft Word for it to create a document.  The possibilities are endless.  However, most of my MindMaps were, frankly, boring!  They were maps created by a linear, logical brain – I was creating LISTS but in a map kind of shape.  Then I saw a webinar by Jamie and have subsequently read the book and now my maps are full of imagery and icons and they have, quite simply, come alive.

I have created a Map about a Talk I will be delivering next week; full of images, which I have used to rehearse what I am going to say – it will also be the handouts for the audience – it could also be delivered as a presentation if I wanted to.  I wrote that Talk in a fraction of the time I would have normally have created it using either Word or PowerPoint – a fraction of the time.  Now, don’t get me wrong I am not falling out of love with Microsoft Office – I never will – I am a Microsoft Master Instructor (with loads left to learn) and I love the power of Office 2007.  However, I now have MindManager to help me release my thoughts and ideas (and to capture them as they flow) PLUS I have Jamie’s words in my head so that the maps are never boring “child-like not childish” PLUS I have the full power of Microsoft Office connected to the map in the background.

By the end of Chapter 1 I was so impressed with Jamie’s ideas that I stopped reading and started the book again – this time I created an Idea Map of each Chapter as I read it – this enabled me to check out certain features of the software whilst having to really understand her topics so that I could create a visual (using images and icons) as I went along.  This required considerable concentration but I now have a completed map of the completed book.  That, to me, is invaluable.  Whenever I need to remind myself about how to do Idea Mapping (well), I can simply open the IdeaMap – the book can now sit safely on the bookshelf because the knowledge is either already in my head – or is retrievable in seconds by looking at the visual images on the Map.

Anyone who is studying or researching and needs to handle vast quantities of data – this concept is for you.

Anyone who has too many emails in their Inbox and needs to be able to delete them but still retain the data – this concept is for you.

Anyone who is happy working in LISTS but has to work with colleagues who need to SEE to enable them to visualise the data – this concept is for you.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, especially for the sceptical, linear folk out there – Jamie’s ideas merit your time – and you will be able to judge for yourself.