Mind Mapping 101: What’s a Mind Map & Ideas on How to Do It
It’s that time of the month again.
You are feeling creative but not really.
Uh oh…
Time is being wasted.
How is it that others are creating so many ideas…. but you are stuck?
It’s because they have systems in place to generate ideas at will.
Maybe they have a creative writing journal.
Maybe they have backup content in place for a day like this.
Or maybe…
They are leveraging mind maps.
‘Mind maps?’
On Google, mind maps are defined as:
- A diagram that is used to visually organize information.
‘Hm… I don’t know how that will help me.’
It will help you.
Mind maps are useful for any field out there.
Why Use Mind Maps?
The thing with creative fields is that it’s hard to measure with the senses.
A lot of things are happening in the mind, out of sight.
With minds maps, we use the process of externalization.
‘What’s that?’
Externalization is when you take the content from your mind to the outside world.
This blog is a form of externalization.
The more you externalize, the more that your senses get engaged with creativity.
Creativity is no longer a random blob of chaos to the senses.
Instead, creativity becomes visible.
Now it’s easier to train as an artist & athlete.
How To Mind Map for Dummies
There are different techniques and softwares for mind mapping nowadays.
But I’m going to keep it simple.
I like the good ole’ paper and pencil.
- I create boxes of knowledge & see how they connect.
That is my one and only step.
If you are solving a problem, then it will be easier to know which boxes of knowledge to put on your paper to spot the connections.
Let’s say I have a speech coming up.
I know my audience is going to be filled with young entrepreneurs.
What do I talk about?
That’s when I create boxes of knowledge on my paper:
- Entrepreneurship
- Emotional intelligence
- Critical thinking
- Weightlifting practice
- Time management skills
- Solving problems
As I’m creating the boxes, I notice a few possible connections.
For example, entrepreneurship is a real-world class on solving problems.
My problem-solving process is:
- Prioritize problem
- Troubleshoot
- Articulate the problem
- Create direction
- Research & experiment
- Assess results
- Contract relevant teams
It would be more efficient for my paper if I don’t write all 7 steps on the mind map.
Instead, I create another knowledge box titled:
- Problem-solving process
As I link the different knowledge boxes together, I get a bird’s eye view of the subject.
I mind map at least once a month (preferably the first day of the month).
Or often, I do it as a task to unwind at the end of the day.
For me, creating mind maps is therapeutic & fun.
Who Should Mind Map?
Have you ever seen one of those people that could see around the corner?
It seems like they were working so hard to come up with these insights.
But if you asked them, they would say that they were just showing some common sense.
Big picture thinkers see the big picture.
What small picture thinkers need critical thinking for comes intuitively to the big picture thinker.
There is this false understanding that big picture thinkers were born that way.
Some may have had a natural inclination towards systems thinking growing up.
But for others, this form of thinking was trained into their being.
That’s where mind maps come in.
Any field where you benefit from:
- Recalling information
- Connecting information
- And creating useful insights
Will benefit from a mind maps practice.
Tons of people learn, but they never actively recall the information.
So, they forget.
Tons of people recall information, but they have no clue how the information ties to anything else.
And tons of people understand how concepts tie together, but they are unable to provide any useful insights.
A mind map practice allows you to recall, connect & create information.
What an integrated approach!
Mind Map Exercise
Find a recurring problem in your life right now.
Got it?
‘Yessir.’
Now aim to solve the problem today.
‘Geez Armani, the problem of mine is severe. I can’t possibly solve it today.’
All good. Set the high stakes anyways. Often, you’ll get your best creative insights when your back is against the wall.
Get a pencil & paper.
Then:
- Creating knowledge boxes
- Connect knowledge boxes
Let’s say you are getting sued for using a picture on your site that you were not supposed to use.
How do you resolve it?
Knowledge boxes:
- Negotiate with the person suing you
- Sue them back
- Research the law to see if you did anything wrong
- Create a payment plan
Etc.
How you connect the knowledge boxes is up to you.
Using Mind Maps for Endless Creative Ideas
You’ll be surprised by how many different fields connect with each other.
Through my mind maps, I was able to see a stellar connection between content marketing and farming.
I noticed there wasn’t much content on content marketing (no content on content? Make it make sense!).
Didn’t know where to look.
One day, I discovered farming.
Content resembles farming in many ways.
Content is like a digital seed.
SEO optimizing is like watering the seed.
Over time, the seed turns into a plant, aka the traffic.
And then the plant creates fruits, aka money.
I saw the STUNNING parallel between content & farming by using mind maps and getting a view of the big picture.
Which useful insights are waiting for you?
Join my Beginner’s Class on Brainstorming
Brainstorming and mind maps go together.
I would say brainstorming was one of the most useful skills I learned in school.
It allows you to:
- Think of endless solutions
- Approach problems in innovative ways
- Create compelling content that can never be found on other sites
Use mind maps to ramp up your brainstorming skills.
Then use your brainstorming skills to develop a bigger picture for your mind maps!
Looking to learn more?
If so, then join my Brainstorming 101 Class:
JOIN HERE
– ArmaniTalks