The Underlying Blog

Fried Chicken is Good and So is Vacation

Folks, it's been a great year so far:

• VisualStrategist.com launched to great fanfare: We're talking people crying in the streets, parades, all-you-can-eat buffets, etc.
• I've put out the VSS (Visual Strategist Solution) FREE Life Management Template Set for MindManager. Personally, it's a pain-in-my-neck because it's made me work so hard to implement (yes, I do eat my own dogfood). Does that make me a pain-in-my-own-ass? Either way, it has given me a framework I trust.
• And I'm finally going to be getting Mindjet Certification Training in late-September. I really hope they have good eats at the certification as I eat like Joey Tribbiani when the food is free/someone else is paying. 
• So, in celebration of Labor Day, I'll be going on my vacation the first part of September and then gearing up for a long-term engagement starting in early October.

Mainly, I have to take some time off to avoid hypocrisy: If you're a client, you know I advocate taking vacations and personal retreats to offset the grueling hours we all deal with. As I've done an absolutely abysmal job of this so far in 2007, the time has come.

The blog will be silent for a few weeks: Never fear though, I shall return after extreme laziness.

Technorati tags: Kyle McFarlin, Mindmanager, VSS, Visual Strategist Solution, Visual Strategist, Vacation, Laziness

GyroQ Interview Featuring Nick Duffill at BizTechTalk

Nice interview at BizTechTalk with my friend Nick Duffill of Gyronix. Not only does he provide a good overview of GyroQ, he also gives a nice history of his own involvement in the field:

Check out the interview, which includes some insightful GTD discussion, here: http://www.biztechtalk.com/2007/07/q-up-your-distr.html

Technorati tags: Kyle McFarlin, Nick Duffill, Gyronix, GyroQ, MindManager, ResultsManager, Knowledge Mapping, Mind Mapping, Visual Strategist, GTD

Get Sexy and buy MindManager, ResultsManager, GyroQ and Training Through VisualStrategist.com

For those of you who've asked me when they can buy software through my biz, your day has arrived. VisualStrategist.com now offers ResultsManager, MindManager and GyroQ as an affiliate of Gyronix here.

Further, you can buy Visual Strategist training through the same purchase page, transactions being handled by PayPal.

And if you haven't signed up for the Visual Strategist Newsletter yet, sign-up for it here and download the free life management MindManager template solution here.

I'm hungry, will someone please e-mail me some Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Technorati tags: Visual Strategist, ResultsManager, MindManager, GyroQ, Gyronix, Knowledge Mapping, Kyle McFarlin

The Mind Map Life Framework of Your Dreams... FOR FREE

I've gotten everything related to mind mapping out of my head, have gone a bit bonkers and decided to release it all... FOR FREE.

Why?

A) I hope it makes you want to work with Visual Strategist and use Mindjet MindManager and Gyronix ResultsManager.

B) I know a business-building expert and guru named Rich Schefren who gives away loads of spectacular free content and does blockbuster business as a result.

C) I feel a moral obligation. As a Visual Strategist and Gyronix Certified Trainer, I've worked with hundreds, if not thousands of people on structuring their mind maps and managing projects. If I knew all of the common goals, shared feelings and desired experiences sought, and could give you THE solution at no cost, wouldn't it be a crime not to deliver it to you?

D) I'm in a festive mood with the release of MindManager 7.

What you're going to get with the Visual Strategist Solution template package:

1. A mind map framework from which you can rule the Personal and Professional Realms of your life.
2. A Files & Folders framework to store your mind maps, documents and files that is tracked in the mind maps using the File Explorer Map Part.
3. A set of scenario templates on such topics as Negotiation, Strategic Management, Strategic Relationships and more.
4. A map marker (icon) set to help you portray almost any business, personal or social scenario you may encounter.
5. ResultsManager users get a Life Balance set of Gyronix Projects baked right into the map set. Therefore, you can run Gyronix Dashboards right out of the gate.

All I ask is your feeback, word-of-mouth and consideration.

• Feedback given that the solution I'm releasing is by no means perfect.
• Word-of-mouth that if you like what you see, you'll blog about it, link to it, or even tell someone in person the old-fashioned way ;). 
• Consideration that if you need mind mapping expertise, you'll ponder working with Visual Strategist.

It's worth noting that you can have my solution for free even if you don't have MindManager by downloading the free MindManager Viewer. This release is for EVERYONE.

Now, without further ado, take charge and download the Visual Strategist Solution template package here!

Top 10 Software Mapping Mistakes to Avoid

Recently, I was asked by Chuck Frey of Innovation Tools and the Mind Mapping Software Weblog to Provide him with answers to questions about what Mappers deal with. I went a little overboard with my answer, so what better place to park it than my blog! Yeah, Yeah... I think you may find some of them helpful, so without further ado...

What common mistakes should people avoid when creating Software-produced mind maps?

1. Go with Jared Diamond's 'Guns, Germs and Steel' Approach: Horizontal expansion is better than vertical. I recommend heavy use of the hierarchical structure to accomplish this. A key reason is that it's easier to draw lines between bodies of information when they are horizontally next to each other, as opposed to vertically separate as in a vertical-shaped map. Download the Strategic Management Core Template here.

2. Avoid the mistake of NOT using icons. They give you a database-like functionality in your maps. Further, decide on your icon-set for the map upfront, as on-the-fly can produce haphazard results.

3. Avoid creating a map for brushing your teeth. Okay seriously, you can have too many worthless maps. They breed like rabbits: Watch out!

4. Avoid creating one map with everything in it and no more. Seriously, I applaud the desire to rule your maps, but this just ends being a giant, unmanageable empire.

5. Avoid not using color in maps. You'll be more engaged when it looks pleasing to the eye. Just watch out for using too much color. As usual, less is more.

6. Avoid not using images in maps. The topic text will engage the left-brain, so why not get the right brain going for free with topic images. In a way, that's what mapping is: A way to get the whole brain engaged. There's great ROI implied here, because most employers get employees' creativity or logic in whichever area employees are stronger. Mapping should get both sides of the brain without a change in compensation plans, so in a way its double the brainpower for your money.

7. Avoid not opening at least one map a day. Relentlessness is key if you want mapping to become a habit and not just a fad.

8. Avoid the conventional wisdom that mapping is simply about inspiration and creativity. It is also about taking ground, holding it and expanding it.

9. Avoid reinventing the wheel: Look online and in books for best practices and habits.

10. Avoid not working with Kyle McFarlin and Visual Strategist. (Shameless, absolutely shameless.)

 

 

Stay tuned for my answer to Chuck's second question.

ActivityOwner's Can't Miss List of Mapping Must-Do's

I recently posted my Top 10 Mapping Shortcut Tips for MindManager & ResultsManager, and I've been blown away by the quality of responses I've gotten. The latest is ActivityOwner's Top 12 (yes, AO's bested me) MindManager/ResultsManager Tips.

They're a great list of tips to get the ball rolling with the Gyronix System (the combination of MindManager and ResultsManager), and for power users they'll easily add to the value you get from the solution. Check out AO's Top 12 MM/RM Tips here.