Hi from Dubai folks where I’m merrily mind-mapping away!*
*This post could change you life – no money back, no promises, no nothing BUT….
I recently had the pleasure of being a guest of the xerox corporation who hosted an evening with British author Tony Buzan – the inventor of modern mind mapping. His idea was inspired by Alfred Korzybski‘s general semantics as popularized in science fiction novels, such as those of Robert A. Heinlein and A. E. van Vogt.
Buzan argues that while ‘traditional’ outlines force readers to scan left to right and top to bottom, readers actually tend to scan the entire page in a non-linear fashion.
He uses popular assumptions about the cerebral hemispheres in order to promote the exclusive use of mind mapping over other forms of note making. Left brain & right brain working together!
A mind map is often created around a single word or text, placed in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added.
Great for summarising key points and improving our memory……
Where was I?
Oh yes, great for brainstorming and getting to the point I’ve been using flow diagrams & mind maps to take down lecture notes at University, in business meetings and even recording my travel journal for the book GO! Smell the flowers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar and have a few more posts in the pipeline having picked up some amazing stats about our brain and even succumbing to buying a Tony Buzan book! Here is the man himself as he runs through the basics:
As I handed him a GO! Smell the flowers card he remarked ‘ I’ve seen the website on a social network’ which was quite an accolade! Mind maps work for me and I wonder if anyone else has ever used them and if not I’d recommend giving them a GO!
Do tell, I’ll jot your comments down on a flip chart in mind map fashion, using different colour pens of course.
Hello James
Was that picture taken from my MRI scan at Walton?
Here it is
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGRJfCB8er4&feature=related
Blimey!
That is some serious grey matter…..
This was facinating. I kinda figured that was how the brain worked. When it comes to taking notes, I have my own special way, but I have branches sometimes. Then, I go back and rewrite them in outline form which helps me to retain the information because I have to rework the thinking and the process.
When it comes to more personal things, in my mind I see more of what this is showing or it is written down more in this manner. I’m a visual person, so often times it is just in my head.
But doesn’t it help to get it out of your head and down into something colourful CC?
Yes, and when I do that I use lots of color, and in my head there is color. Being visual actually should mean that I do better if it is written down. Maybe, an area to work on. My therapist tells me that I keep too much in my head and don’t express it. LOL
Food for thought…thank you.
Hi I’ve tried mind mapping over the years .. but never successfully .. perhaps being secretarially oriented and studying late in life .. the lined paper just takes over .. I use branches out .. but never got to grips with mind maps.
I should try again .. may do that ..
Thanks for reminding us ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
My pleasure Hilary – mind maps are really just a form of branching…they recommended curved lines, not straight lines and the use of colour…
Try it on a roll of paper rather than a sheet of A4…
Just looked at the video .. & he explains it really well – I’d never had mind mapping explained like that before – so simple .. I’ll give it a go ..I need to work on some things – so it’s the ideal time ..
Thanks – Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters
Let us know how you get on Hilary…
Glad this was useful!
Great Stuff! YES!
Sure is….
Online mind mapping will rock!
Great man, great idea and even greater book highly recommend all he says and his products!
Paul Telling
Creative Communications Creator and Graphic Facilitator
Pauls Site
Visualise and Monetise!
Cheers Paul – I enjoyed my hour with him and he signed my mind map book – very rare I leave a seminar with a book but this had to be done….