We want to turn our SMART Goals into an action plan but before we start on the plan we need to do a little brainstorming using my favorite tool… a Mind Map!
Have you ever done a mind map? If not, you're not alone; most adults have never been exposed to this valuable tool.
What Is A Mind Map?
A mind map is a diagram used to visually organise information. A mind map is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank landscape page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those.
So Why Do Mind Maps Work?
In a Mind Map, information is structured in a way that mirrors exactly how the brain functions – in a radiant rather than linear manner. A Mind Map literally 'maps' out your thoughts, using associations, connections and triggers to stimulate further ideas. They extract your ideas from your head into something visible and structured.
Research shows that the brain likes to work on the basis of association and it will connect every idea, memory or piece of information to tens, hundreds and even thousands of other ideas and concepts.
Creativity
Mind Maps really come into their own for encouraging creativity and enabling you to generate new ideas in brainstorming sessions. The spatial layout helps you gain a better overview and makes new connections more visible so you can create an infinite number of thoughts, ideas, links and associations on any topic.
Plan And Organize
Evidence shows that Mind Mapping can be used to help you plan and organise your thinking before you start writing or get stuck into a project. You can develop all your ideas and see where they relate to each other before deciding the best way to go about things.
Problem Solving
A Mind Map can help you think with greater clarity to explore relationships between ideas and elements of an argument and to generate solutions to problems. It puts a new perspective on things by allowing you to see all the relevant issues and analyse choices in light of the big picture. It also makes it easier to integrate new knowledge and organise information logically as you aren't tied to a rigid structure.
Below are sample Mind Maps for you to model. What actually goes on your Mind Map depends on what you wrote on your Vision Worksheet.
One Man Shop Experienced Mind Map
480 Home Inspection In 12 Months (password: HISG)
My Favorite Mind Mapping Software
Mind Mapping Software Training Videos
Before You Start Mind Mapping Download The Worksheet: Where Are You Right Now