Assuming you are using the PC version:
In the early 90s, I was one of 4 project managers in a 50 person systems integrator. I used MindManager to rapidly access the 10-20 projects I was responsible for.
I had a top level map with links to individual project maps on the RHS and links to general info on the LHS e.g. expenses, holidays, project manager’s weekly meeting minutes, the resource Microsoft Project plan for all projects.
Each project map linked to the project plan, requirements, project folder, active correspondence in Outlook, specifications, drawings, etc.
I used MindManager to map management of the project within the IT and quality system’s rules to suit myself. I marked it up (priority, completeness), added actions and reminders, and structured it (i.e. most important project at the top, not ordered by project no.) to give me a state of play picture.
When I was tapped on the shoulder, I could get to the relevant file to answer the bosses or engineer’s question in a few alt tabs (to get to MindManager if it was not the foreground program) and about three clicks.
I am still doing this today to run Cabre.
What techniques have you been using for a long time with MindManager?
Thanks to Chuck Frey for asking a question in the Yahoo MindManager Group which inspired this blog.
Unfortunately MindManager does not have a Wiki facility but you can answer the question “Please give examples of how you use it in your business?” by adding comments to this blog.
If you have Mindomo or MindMeister accounts you will be able to edit the maps below. I will be using the maps as examples of collaboration in my presentation on Thursday entitled “Using Mind Mapping Software to Organise your Business” at Wired Wessex in Winchester, UK.
To edit click Mindomo icon top left
To edit click pencil icon bottom left
For several years I have been coaching people on-line to use MindManager more effectively. Some clients have been within 30 miles of Alresford, nr Winchester, Hampshire, England where I am based. Others have been in San Francisco and Sydney! They all benefit from having a session which is specific to them, takes place at a time to suit them (and me. I have not had a session between midnight and 6am yet!) and, involves no lost time and cost travelling to a training venue. I recommend a 45 minute session. This is long enough for you to pick up several tasks, some of which may take you a few days to complete or practice.
“This is a really cost-effective, energy efficient and time-saving way to meet and share material, and I can’t recommend the approach highly enough”
The normal process is to book a free fifteen minute technology testing and briefing session. We could be using phone, Skype, RealVNC, Live Meeting, Team Viewer, NetMeeting depending on the requirements of the session. The briefing is to find out what you want to do in your session or series of sessions. This is so I can be prepared with examples including the ones you send me and think about the structure for your particular requirement.
“It was only today when I had to get a project completed quickly, a project I had no idea how to tackle or even what to do – that I realised the full value of the training.”
During the session I will share my desktop with you and you may be showing me your issues from yours. When the session completes I will provide a map with a summary of the session, links to relevant follow up material and some homework. Hopefully you will come back for further session suitably spaced so we can review progress and I can suggest next steps.
“Sessions are always on time and very concentrated. Andrew has solved most of the problems my work has presented us with, and left me copious notes (in map form) for me to study afterwards.”
Normally I charge £87 plus VAT per 45 minutes including preparation and post session activities. Until the 31st October I will be charging £67 plus VAT.
You can contact me on 44 1962 73534 or 44 7813 211451 or Skype ajwilcox or Twitter ajwilcox.
If you want to suggest some dates and times, send me 3 proposals including the 15 minute briefing via Meeting Wizard to email andrew@cabre.co.uk. If I can accept one of your proposed session times I will send an invoice which you can be settled by credit card or electronic bank transfer. Payment has to cleared before the session.
As a trial until 31st October 2010 I will also offer the option of booking a 30 minute unprepared session for £37 plus VAT. I will not do any post session work unless we agree terms for this. Use Meeting Wizard to propose some times.
Notes on VAT: In the UK its 17.5%. If you are resident in the EU and you give me your VAT number I can supply without VAT otherwise its 17.5%. If you are in the Rest of the World the charge is VAT free.
Last night I met with an ex Unilever colleague in Gulidford who had recently returned from 20ish years working in Europe for various companies in Operations and Supply Chain. We had not been face to face for twenty years. It was a very comfortable discussion over a pint of beer. During the evening I mentioned several groups and people he could contact.
He will be getting a map like this very shortly with slightly more info than you can see as a clickable web page. It was very quick to construct with MindManager just dragging and dropping links from various web pages and using the Outlook MindManager contact buttons. In my friends version the Outlook panels are open and he will get an outline version as well, so he can copy and paste information to his “database”.
MindManager is brilliant at doing this. I will also supply him with a link to the MindManager 8 Mac and the orginal map.
For a few years now MindManager has provided Map Parts which create a “dashboard” of your Facebook and MySpace social network. There is an open API and it should be possible to do the same for Ecademy and LinkedIn. Do you know someone who could develop the map part? If yes connect them to me please.
Technical Notes:
On this web page:
- The Flash player file is 1.8mb it takes a while to download and get running
- Open the branches to see the contacts. Click a cross or right click the central topic and show all levels.
- Click the link to go to their profile
- Click the note to see profile text
- You can’t edit it.
Wiith MindManager on your PC:
- The file is 122kb and loads instantly in your PC.
- The network contacts displayed in refreshed when you open the map or refresh the map part
- You copy contacts to other maps
- You can annotate the contacts with notes, call outs, tasks, email link, calendar events, topics, links to folders, files and web pages.
I have just given some of these a test:
I liked
This could spook you
There are nine queries, each of which can be customised e.g. 100 Recent Unread Emails or perhaps 5 for Richard Maybury because he knows how to manage them.
The query edit covers items such as:
Looks like Outlook turns into a database with MindManager as a visual dashboard for Customer Relationship Management, Project Communications, Task Management …………
My moment of stardom a guest blog on the Mindjet Blog. A series of details from a larger map which shows how I have Create a Financial Dashboard for running Cabre with MindManager. There are links to the UK tax authorities for VAT, PAYE, National Insurance and Corporation Tax, and Companies House. It can be used for any business of course.
Create your own MindManager map which looks something like this and add topics.
Last night I went to a 80s party orgainised by the Like Minded Companies, a bunch of businesses that jointly sponsor the event and invite their friends, clients and suppliers. They are always very eclectic evenings. Last nights highlight for me was the discussion with the fiancee of someone I met at a VizThink evening several months. I won’t bore you with the details but you might get the gist of the conversation about an information system requirement we discussed from the mock up I prepared with MindManager this morning.
Two maps
Will this get beyond this stage, who knows!
