Dear Mindjet MindManager 7,
Yes, your name is a bit long, but I take pleasure in typing it, saying it, enjoying the sound of each syllable. The alliterative M’s echo what I say in my mind when I think of you, which is, of course, “mmm!”.
First, I have to be honest with you – you are not the first mind mapping program I tried. I was flirting with all sorts of freeware. After I’ve used most of the free alternatives around, I was frustrated. They were too difficult, took forever to load, or were web based. …read more

You think that mind mapping is just for brainstorming?  Maybe a little document outlining?  Ah how wrong you are.  I think one of the best uses of mind mapping is taking meeting notes.  Gaelen links to Lifehacker’s post on mind mapping meetings and points us all to the MindManager map gallery:
The Mindjet Map Gallery also offers templates for managing meetings. Check out a sample meeting management map located here now. Source: The Mindjet Blog » Lifehacker’s “Beginner’s Guide to Mind Mapping Meetings”
Lifehacker’s examples are pretty basic, and with the crayon colours, enough to make any business person cringe. So let’s look at …read more

MindManager 7 Pro brought the Office 2007 look and feel to MM users, but the Ribbon Bar might get annoying for some people.  Brain Friedlander has a quick movie on saving space:
Many of us are really enjoying the new Fluid Ribbon Interface in MindManager 7, which has made the program much more accessible. However, there are times when we might want to hide the ribbon once we start working on the mind map. Here is a tip on how to hide the ribbon in MindManager 7. I hope that you enjoy this tip!Hiding the Ribbon in Mindmanager 7Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D Thu, 28 Jun …read more

I got an e-mail from the folks at MindJet today letting me know that MM7 was now available. Disclosure: Because of my participation in the beta and other MM7 events I received a free license to MM7 Pro.
MindManager 7 helps users and workgroups “mind map” — lay out concepts and manage information visually. The technique can be helpful for both individuals and groups of users to brainstorm and collaborate. It can help you create project plans, set up workflows and processes, and manage meetings. Source: PC World – MindManager 7 Visualization Software Ships

There has been some work on MM7 since …read more

Gotta love the folks at MindJet. As the count-down continues (4 more days!) until MM7 is released, here is a great map idea–use a drafting table metaphor.
You can, and I would suggest, taking it to the next level. Dart board? Cork board? I think with the right background image you can make a map not only useful, but fun too.
Why not, it’s only work ;).
 
Tags: free downloads, GTD, software tips, MindJet, MindManager, mind mapping

Man I’ve been dying to blog about this for over a month.  I’ve been in the private beta test of the new MindManager 7 Pro.  If you’re a MM fan, this is a good upgrade.  Must upgrade?  If you use Office 2007, I’d say yeah.
The new MM 7 Pro is officially coming out May 30.  I had the chance to listen to a MindJet overview of the new product yesterday (and for disclosure as an invited guest and attendee I get a free license for the new version).   What impressed me about this new version are the nice UI improvements.  …read more

 I got an e-mail from Tom Hodgers today.  Remember him?  Yeah he was one of our contest winners.  It sounds like Tom has been getting into MindMager and told me about a really cool new MM add-on called ThemeReader.  Here is how Mindsystems describes it:
Mindsystems ThemeReader™ is the latest edition to the MindManager® family of products. Offering an advanced new way to scan almost any document type for ideas and common themes. Mindsystems ThemeReader™ then instantly converts the relevant information in into an easy to understand visual MindManager® Map. Source: Mindsystems: Mindsystems ThemeReader™
You read this and think “Yeah, right. …read more

So you need to create a new document.  It doesn’t matter if you’re using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (or even OpenOffice), looking at a blank screen is almost as daunting as getting the document done.
Now, when you make this a complex task, like a form letter or invoice, you can waste a lot of time making one from scratch.  My first stop whenever I need to do something like this is to look for the built-in templates that of come with Microsoft office.
Like today, I needed to make a new invoice, my old PDF invoice wasn’t going to work anymore, so …read more

In the beginning, so to speak, there was brainstorming. And it was good.
It just didn’t work out very well in practice…
Brainstorming is critical to finding innovative ideas that will solve specific problems, both in your personal and business life.
 
The process is simple:

Focus on Quantity of ideas
No criticism
Unusual ideas are welcome
Combine and improve ideas

Kind of like Pimp Your Work, don’t you think?
It’s where the ideas meet the road that the trouble begins. The pitfalls in business are many:

A manager that doesn’t like ideas not invented here.
A department that says ideas are great, but never implements them.
A group that agrees with the …read more

Over at What’s the Next Action they are having a contest to see who can create the coolest, most colourful mindmap with MindManager, and there are five copies MindManager up for grabs!  The contest closes Nov 1 at 7 PM ET.  What are you waiting for, download MindManager (21-day trial don’t you know) and get going!
Tags: MindJet, MindManager, contest, GTD