you will learn how you can become more focused as well as how you can solve
your problems easier, better, and quicker.
You are also going to be learning how to be more creative and how to make
more money. In fact, there is a plethora of things that you can accomplish by
learning to mind map effectively. You will soon discover why using a mind map
can really help you to expand your thinking and how you can improve your
quality of life as a result.
The information in Mind Maps and Mind mapping is broken down into 12
chapters, as outlined below.
Chapter 1
The first chapter will define what mind mapping is and how it works. You will
also be introduced to some facts and figures about mind mapping that most
people have never been exposed to. The history of mind mapping will be
reviewed here as well. Some of the greatest minds in history used mind mapping
as a means of contemplating their ideas and so can you.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 is divided into four major sections. The first section covers the various
elements of a mind map. The differences between hand drawn and computerized
mind maps will be covered in the second section and different ways to put
together mind maps will be covered in the third. Finally, the difference between
mind maps and mapping will be explained.
Chapter 3
In Chapter 3 you will learn the correct way to make a mind map and why this is
important to know. This chapter contains very basic and simple information, but
it establishes the foundation for the rest of the training.Chapter 4
Chapter 4 will go into great detail about how mind maps can help you. You will
also be introduced to a concise learning method that you can start to apply right
away. This chapter will also help you to identify your learning strategy as well
as help you to develop a personal learning plan. Once your learning strategy is
deciphered and you develop a learning plan, you can begin to apply it
immediately. This will help you in your occupation, business, and even aspects
of your personal life.
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 will cover mind maps and learning. ‘Learning How to Learn’ in
relation to mind maps will also be discussed.
Chapter 6
The sixth chapter will explain why mind maps will help you to think smarter.
You will also learn the advantages of using mind maps as well as the
disadvantages. There are some pitfalls to be wary of, but once you know what
they are you shouldn’t have any trouble.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 is a very important chapter. That is why it is broken down into 6
different sections. In the first you will learn how mind mapping encourages
creativity. You will also learn about different types of learners and discover what
this means for you. The third section will inform you of how you can solve
problems using mind maps. Visually powerful tips and tricks will also be
provided within this chapter. Finally, you will learn how mind maps can help
you to improve learning and memory and help you to overcome procrastination
as well as any mental blocks or time blocks that you may have.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 centers on what you can use mind maps for. A number of different
tools, processes, techniques, and systems will be demonstrated which you will
find very helpful to use. This is a very hands-on segment of the training.
Chapter 9There are some shocking ways in which you can use mind maps, which will be
covered in Chapter 9. Here you will learn some advanced techniques for using
mind maps. This is a very fun and informative chapter.
Chapter 10
In Chapter 10 you will learn how mind maps can make your life better. In other
words, you will learn how to use them in a general way to make things better for
yourself. You will be surprised at how many possibilities there really are.
Chapter 11
Chapter 11 contains a number different sections through which you will be
taught some advanced tips and tricks for using mind maps. For instance, you will
learn how you can make your mind maps more appealing as well as how to
make them simple and easy to use for yourself and others. You will learn some
creative ways to add to your mind maps as well. You will also learn some
creative ways to make your mind maps that will help you better express yourself.
This chapter will contain some great mind map examples. You will also learn
techniques on how to model after the ones that appeal to you. Finally you will
learn how to re-do your mind maps in order to get the most value out of them.
Chapter 12
The twelfth chapter is the concluding chapter. This chapter will reiterate the
things that you have learned throughout the training. It is where all of these ideas
will be brought together as well as where you will learn how to put what you
have learned into action.
centuries. Learning to use mind maps on a regular basis can vastly improve
various capacities in your life and your business. Therefore, it is well worth your
time to learn to create mind maps and use them effectively.
What is Mind Mapping?
Mind Mapping can be seen as act of identifying and naming our thoughts and
ideas. In some cases this even includes our emotions as well. Once identified,
you can arrange them in hierarchical classification. This is an interesting idea
because they appear to be non-hierarchal, but they are actually arranged in a
hierarchy form, which can be quite useful.
To make a mind map, you begin with a central topic, and then you move
outward towards related topics. From those topics you can progress further into
other related subtopics. Sometimes there are relationships between the subtopics,
so you will find them cross referencing each other. Sometimes you will find
these subcategories looping back into one another in a way that this is similar to
how flow charts work. This ultimately allows you to hieratically arrange your
content, but in such a way that you are able to better visualize it.
Mind maps help you to visually take in the ordering and classification of
information, whether it is facts, data, or ideas that you are trying to break apart.
A great way to think about a mind map is to think of it as a planetary system, the
sun being the central point which is being orbited by planets. Each planet is also
being orbited by its own moon. This quick visualization allows you to think
about the information in a three-dimensional formation.One thing that is interesting about mind maps is that they are very much aligned
with what you would see if you could look into someone’s mind. The brain
works in a similar fashion where one thought or memory is connected to another
in a systematic system such as this. For example, if you were to see a clip of a
superman movie that you saw as a child, you might connect that memory with a
toy that you were playing with at the time you saw that, and because of this
memory you are able to recall the name of the company that made that toy. Do
you see? Our minds are programmed to work by relating information, which is
probably why mind maps work so well.
If you look at the physiology of the human brain, you would see the center of the
nerve cell, which branches out to dendrites and axons and so forth. In fact, this
physiological system has actually served as the inspiration for many modern
mind maps. The mind maps that we see nowadays are therefore reflective of this
and other natural systems. Virtually all mind maps are very visual. The topics
and subtopics are connected by lines. This creates a flow of information and
visually shows the relationship between topics.
You have to realize that mind maps and mind mapping are not the same. The act
of mind mapping is a creative act which can help you organize your thoughtsand plan ahead. The act of mind mapping can help radically improve your
memory and improve efficiency in a profound way. Mind maps are the end
result of mind mapping.
The History of Mind Mapping
The act of mind mapping can actually be traced back to the 3rd century BC. The
Ancient Greeks were the first known to use mind mapping for intellectual
purposes. In fact, the technical term to describe mind mapping, taxonomy, is
Greek. There are even references to mind mapping and taxonomies in the Bible.
For instance, Adam naming the animals represents a type of taxonomy.
This type of taxonomic classification and organization of information is indeed a
certain kind of mind map. The concept of mind mapping is a world-wide
phenomenon. Mind maps have been found to have come out of Ancient Greece;
they were in use all over Europe as well as in Asia. Mind maps have been found
to be interconnected with various religions, the emergence of science, and the
advancements of agriculture. Think of a family tree. A family tree is not exactly
the same as a mind map, but conceptually they are very similar.
In the past, mind maps were generally drawn out by hand. People would often
use circles, triangles, and other various shapes to represent the different tiers of
information. Arrows and plane lines were, and still are, often used. These very
plain symbols were used to collect, organize, and simplify complex information
into a visual representation, or more specifically a mind map.
Over the centuries, mind maps have allowed people to better understand and
recall information. As humans, we are very good at memorizing certain types of
information, especially visual information. Nowadays, because of our technical
advancements, putting together a mind map is incredibly easy. Today there are
many mind mapping computer programs available, many of which you can get
for free.
Mind maps will continue to evolve. As humans learn and advance intellectually,
mind maps have become increasingly useful. Mind maps are great for organizing
numbers, letters, words, ideas, concepts, and so on, so they are unlikely to go
away any time soon. Mind maps are so visual in nature that they allow people
who are visual thinkers to much better comprehend the material at hand as well
who are visual thinkers to much better comprehend the material at hand as well
as retain that information. Mind maps are also helpful to people who learn best
through audible or graphical information as well since they help people to
reinforce what they have learned.
Great Mind Mappers in History
Some of the smartest and most efficient people in history used mind maps
regularly. This includes:
Porphyry of Tyros — This philosopher was one of the first known to use mind
mapping in his teaching. This brings up a good point. If you are a teacher who is
having a hard time getting certain things across to your students, try using a
mind map. Porphyry of Tyros probably would have told you the same. He found
that he could teach others a lot of information in a much quicker manner by
using this tool.
Leonardo Da Vinci — This well known historical figure lived his life in a very
efficient manner. He was known to be a painter, inventor, engineer,
mathematician, writer, musician, architect, botanist, geologist, sculptor,
anatomist, and much more. Da Vinci used mind maps for note taking. Primarily,
he used these notes for his own personal advancements.
Instead of using mind maps to communicate concepts and ideas, he collected,
organized, and used the information he gathered from their use. Obviously, this
allowed Da Vinci to accomplish a lot in his lifetime, which is no surprise. Mind
mapping allows us to more quickly get our minds around various concepts. It
also allows people to break down content and reorganize informatiAlbert Einstein — One of the most phenomenal, if not the most phenomenal,
minds of the 20th century, Albert Einstein was an avid user of mind maps. He
rejected many types of linear, numerical, and even verbal and created ways of
thinking. He used mind maps in many unconventional was and he used mind
maps to generate unconventional ways of thinking. According to him, this is part
of where his creative genius came from.
Much like Leonardo Da Vinci, and Galileo before him, Einstein believed that
these types of tools are very useful in expanding the way that we view the world.
He believed that these types of tools were more important in capturing our
imagination than almost every other type of tool. They also allow us to visually
explain things to other people in a way that is very simple to understand. When
we have content that is organized and structured it is much easier to understand
ourselves and to teach to other people. In fact, it pushes and even forces clarity
in thinking.
Specifically, Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge
because imagination is unlimited.” Not only do mind-maps help you to unfold
your imaginative ideas, but they help you to bottle them in such a way that you
can understand it, spread it, teach it, share it, and use it. They also allow us to
expand upon our thought processes so that we accomplish more.Dr. Allan Collins — Dr. Collins is an American cognitive psychologist. He is
known as one of the fathers of modern mind mapping. In fact, some people
would say that he is the father of modern mind mapping because of his extensive
commitment to publishing research about creativity, graphical thinking and
learning, and so forth. Graphical thinking is thinking that is both visual and
structured. This visual structure does not have to be artistic, although it is helpful
when it is. According to Dr. Collins, graphical thinking can help us to push
forward in creating greater technologies, producing better goods and services,
and bringing about mathematical breakthroughs.
Dr. Richard Feynman — Dr. Feynman was an American Nobel Prize winning
physicist. At a young age he realized that imagination, creativity, visualization,
and the like were the most essential in bringing about breakthroughs. This is
true. Working with mind maps can help people to eliminate problems and
detonate ideas. One thing that is distinctive about mind maps is that they allow
for more play than other tools. Mind maps are very flexible and because they are
so visual you can play around with them more and use them in a very game-like
fashion.
Tony Buzan — Educational consultant and modern English author, Tony
Buzan, is an avid advocate for mind mapping. His belief is that even literate and
well-educated individuals are restricted because that you are unable to use many
of the conceptual thinking tools that are available, including mind maps.
There are many other famous, highly-talented, very creative, and vastly efficient
characters in history that used mind maps on a regular basis, such as Darwin and
Beethoven. Many great historical figures also shared the same views about using
mind maps as some of the most credible scientists of the modern day. The
creative aspects of mind mapping are often what are pointed out to be the most
important by these highly intelligent individuals.
Facts & Figures about Mind Mapping
Many people do not know that Boeing Aircraft was actually created from a mind
map. It is now one of the largest global manufacturers as well as one of the
largest aerospace and defense contractors in the world. Even more interesting is
that mind map that was use to craft Boeing was a shocking 25 feet long.
Mind mapping has been used for a long time. Even many of the ancient mind
maps and others which have been around for quite some time remain in use to
this day. As you can tell from the information above, mind maps continue to be
very useful in the modern era and that is not likely to change anytime soon.
different techniques and ways of putting one together. This will draw out some
of the most basic ideas surrounding the purposes of mind maps and hopefully
give you some idea on how to create your own mind maps in the future. The
distinctions between mind maps and mind mapping will be made clear as well.
Elements of a Mind Map
The elements of a mind map are actually quite simple. There is always a core
central node which depicts and image, a topic, or a central idea. Here it will be
referred to as the ‘Central Topic’. Stemming from the central topic are usually
various branches which lead to other nodes or topics. These branches are usually
represented with ‘relationship arrows’ leading to the other topics. To make
things simple to explain, the first tier of nodes coming off of the central topic
will be referred herein as ‘main topics’ and each of the following groups ofnodes will be referred to as ‘subtopics’. Each of these branches can lead into
multiple main topics and subtopics. Furthermore, there is never more than one
central topic, as this would call for the creation of another mind map.
There are relationships between the central topic and each of the main topics,
just like there are relationships between each of the main topics and the
following subtopics. All of the main topics, in essence, should define the main
topic. In other words, if you added them together, each of the main topics should
describe the central topic in full. At the very least, the main topics should be put
together in such a way that you would be able to tell what the central topic is just
by reading the main topics. The same can be said about subtopics in relation to
main topics.
Things that are closely related should be clustered together under a main topic.
So, you might have multiple subtopics that make up a main topic. A very real-
world example will be used to demonstrate this:
Walt Disney used a variety of mind maps to communicate his ideas to others. So,
say for example that he was trying to communicate his vision for Disney.
Therefore, ‘Disney’ would be the central topic, and the main topics branching
out from there would be ‘Disneyland’, ‘Disney TV’, and ‘Merchandising’.
Branched from the ‘Disneyland’ main topic would be a cluster of subtopics
which would include ‘Frontier Land’, ‘Adventure Land’, and ‘Tomorrow Land’.
It is obvious how this would work great for planning purposes. This is how Walt
was able to oversee everything from books, comic books, and other publications,
to the rest of his merchandise, to the theme parks, to the licensing, to the music,
to the movies, etc. By using mind maps he was able to oversee a very complex
system in a much simpler manner, which allowed his business to become one of
the most successful in the world.
Hand-Drawn vs. Computerized Mind Maps
You don’t need to use a sophisticated computer program to create a mind map.
You can draw one out very quickly on a standard sheet of paper. Obviously, it is
much quicker, easier, and cheaper to make your mind maps in this manner. On
the other hand, there has been an explosion in the number of computerized mind
mapping tools available because they have been found to be so useful.
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