Mind Mapping For Dummies

Florian Rustler is a licensed Mind Mapping trainer based in Munich, who trained with Tony Buzan. Within the last six years he has given more than 300 Mind Mapping seminars. Some of the organisations he has worked with include Bosch, MTU, Siemens and Volkswagen as well as various trade chambers and universities.

• Foreword xviiIntroduction 1About This Book 1Conventions Used in This Book 2Foolish Assumptions 2How This Book is Organised 2Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 3Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 3Part III: Mind Mapping Software 3Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 3Part V: The Part of Tens 4Icons Used in This Book 4Where to Go from Here 4Part I: Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain 7Chapter 1: Introducing Mind Mapping 9Presenting Information Visually 9Give it a try! 10Taking the Mind Map a stage further 12A little reflection please 13A Simple Technique with Many Applications 14‘Cribs’ for lectures and presentations 15Taking notes from texts and books 15Taking notes from presentations and discussions 15Project management 16Knowledge management 16Pen and Paper or Computer? 17Revising Mind Maps 18Advanced Strategies Using Mind Mapping 19Chapter 2: Visualising Information 21How and Why Visualisation Can Help You 21Text as a form of visual information 22Reducing complexity and presenting information in a different way 22Two examples 22Visualising Information as a Core Skill 24What science has to say 25The visualisation method used for Mind Mapping 27Chapter 3: Generating Mind Maps 29The Basic Rules: Helping You to Use Mind Mapping Effectively 30Branches – it’s all connected 30Keywords instead of phrases 32The exception proves the rule 34A Picture Says More Than a Thousand Words 35Colours – not just pretty to look at 35Your personal set of symbols 36Boxes and clouds – highlighting what’s important 38Making arrow connections quite clear 39Chapter 4: Why Mind Mapping Works 41Different Routes to Information 42Pictures: Unique and unforgettable 43A picture says more than a thousand words 44How we think 45Mind Mapping as a Brain-Friendly Technique 46More Than Just the Sum of its Parts 48The big picture and details 48More information dimensions and greater information density 48Part II: Traditional Mind Mapping in Practice 51Chapter 5: Preparing Talks and Lectures Using Mind Maps 53Freedom and Flexibility with Mind Maps at All Times 53Preparing Lectures: Step by Step 55Step 1: Marshalling your initial thoughts 55Step 2: Determining the main themes 57Step 3: Adding detail 58Step 4: Testing the Mind Map 59And Now for an Example 59Chapter 6: Handling Text with Mind Mapping 61Converting Text and Sentences into a Mind Map 61Example: Motivation 62Example: Email guideline 65Interlude: Scientific Definitions as a Mind Map 67Processing Whole Books with Mind Mapping 68The best way of dealing with the text 70Chapter 7: Note-Taking in Talks, Lectures and Meetings 73Block Text or Mind Map 73Characteristics of talks, lectures and meetings 75Give it a try! 77Colour and symbol codes 79Informative Conversations 80Just Write It Out – Using Your Wandering Thoughts 80Mind Mapping = in – out to the power of ten 81Part III: Mind Mapping Software 83Chapter 8: Software versus Traditional Mind Mapping 85Software versus Pen and Paper – The Main Differences 86The advantages of Mind-Mapping software over pen and paper 88Mind-Mapping Software = Mind Mapping Reloaded 91Chapter 9: Taking a Tour of Mind-Mapping Software 93Suggested Programs – Genuine Mind Mapping 93Overview of Desktop Programs 94Aviz Thoughtmapper 95Concept Draw MindMap 96EMINEC MYmap 97freemind – really free 98iMindMap – from the inventor of Mind Mapping 99Inspiration – recommended for schools 100MindGenius 101Mindjet MindManager – the market leader 102MindVisualizer – particularly simple 103MindMapper 104Novamind 105Matchware MindView 3 106XMind – the basic version is free 107Web-Based Mind-Mapping Programs 108Mapmyself 108Mind42 – simple and free of charge 109MindMeister 109Mindomo 110Comparing Software Packages 111Chapter 10: Introducing Mindjet MindManager 113The Basics: Finding Your Way Around 114Important control keys 115Keeping it neat and tidy: Formatting options 115Quick notes within branches 116Hyperlinks – Integrating More Information into a Mind Map 118Inserting hyperlinks – how it works 119Less is More: Filter Functions 120Simple but useful: Fading branches in and out 121Power filter: Filtering by specific criteria 122Project Management with GANTT Diagrams 124Adding task information to branches 124Exporting and Processing 126Sharing your Mind Map 127Mindjet Player – interactive pdf document 128pdf – easy and practical 128Image fi les for integration into other documents 128Pack&Go – and all the links work 128Word – presenting a Mind Map as a linear document 129PowerPoint – from branches to bullet points 129Presentation Mode: From Mind Map to Presentation in a Single Click 131Chapter 11: Exploring ThinkBuzan’s iMindMap 133Basic Use – Finding Your Way Around 134Branches 135Three kinds of branch 137Two Input Methods: Mind Mapping and Speed Mind Mapping 138Speed Mind Mapping – how it works 138Formatting with iMindMap 138SmartLayout: From linear to radial Mind Maps 140Project-management mode: GANTT view 142Project Management with iMindMap, Step by Step 143Step 1: Select the branches concerned 143Step 2: Inputting task details 144Step 3: Adjusting views 145Presenting the Mind Map 145Really quite presentable: Presentation mode 145An alternative: Exporting as a PowerPoint presentation 147Part IV: Advanced Strategies for Mind Mapping 149Chapter 12: Mind Mapping Reading Techniques 151Appreciating the Fine Art of Preparation 152Step 1: Skimming the text 152Step 2: Recalling background knowledge 153Step 3: Setting questions and aims 153Honing the Reading Process 154Step 1: Skim reading 155Step 2: Preview 155Step 3: Immersion 156Step 4: Difficult passages 156For Advanced Students: Generating a Mind Map from Different Sources 159Chapter 13: Learning and Preparing for Exams with Mind Mapping 161Preparing for Exams 161Step 1: Taking Mind-Mapping notes 162Generating special Study Mind Maps 163Step 2: Entering your own thoughts 163Step 3: Revising regularly 164Step 4: Explaining it to others 165Especially for Students: Generating Study Mind Maps from Different Sources 165Chapter 14: Project Management with Mind Mapping 169‘One Page Management’: Everything on a Single Page 169Software is Sensible 170Projects You Can Plan and Control with Mind Maps 172Structuring projects with Mind Mapping 172Further Examples of Mind Mapping in Project Management 177Planning a business trip 177Managing distance learning 179Chapter 15: Knowledge Management with Mind Mapping 181Keeping Your Eye on the Ball 181Assembling Digital Information in a Mind Map 182Example: Personal start centre 183Multi-Level Mind Maps 185Managing scientific work with Mind Maps 186More Ways of Using and Applying Mind Maps 188Chapter 16: Mind Mapping for Creativity 189The 4P Creativity Model 190Creativity yields results 190It’s a personal thing 191Modelling the creative process 191Principles of creativity – two-stage thinking 193Example: Publishing an eye-catching book 193Mind Mapping as a Support in the Creative Process 194Me on my own (no groups) 194Using Mind Mapping in the second stage 196Developing and Ordering Ideas with MindManager: A Step-by-Step Approach 196Step 1: Formulating an issue 197Step 2: Inputting ideas 198Step 3: Evaluating ideas 198Step 4: Structuring ideas 201Part V: The Part of Tens 203Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Working Efficiently with Mind Mapping 205Using the Right Paper 205Having the Right Equipment Ready 206Using the One-Word Rule 207Working with Symbols 207Perfection Not Required! 208Writing in Block Capitals 209On Paper: Organic Mind Maps 209Writing in Reading Order 210Developing Mind Maps Outwards and Not Writing Vertically 211Storing Your Mind Maps 212Filing away hand-drawn Mind Maps 212Generating master copies 213Using tablet PCs 213Chapter 18: (Almost) Ten Tips on How to Make Mind Mapping Your Everyday Working Tool 215Practise, Practise and Practise Again! 215Start Small and Take It From There 216Trying It in Non-Critical Situations 218Don’t Make Mixed Notes 218Having Materials Always to Hand 219Making Mind Maps Visually Appealing 220Have Fun! 220Drawing Maps by Hand and with Software 221Choosing Your Software 221Index 223