For the past 9 years, I’ve served as the general manager of SimTech USA, which is best known for its MindMapper software. More often than not, when I talk to people about my work, they associate the software with psychology or neuroscience – that is, until I describe the incredible impact it has had on my life
To be honest, I don’t know what I would do without a mind mapping program to manage my work and life, from notetaking and strategy to project management.
Allow me to explain.
Notetaking
Like most people, my capacity to memorize, retain, and retrieve information has declined as I’ve gotten older. It takes a tremendous amount of effort for me to acquire new knowledge and skills, and to understand complex ideas outside of my area of expertise. From the moment I began using MindMapper for notetaking 9 years ago, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities to me. Essentially, it helped me to jot down notes quickly and then organize them into a logical, hierarchical, and visual structure. By simply looking at key phrases, categories, and the mnemonics I had written down, I was able to retain and consistently work through a large volume of information.
Without question, MindMapper played a major role in enabling me to earn my master’s degree as a mature student, and to become a certified project management professional.
Strategy
When I first became a manager, I struggled with strategy, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving. I quickly discovered that my team could deliver on every task that I set for them, but that I needed to set a clear, targeted strategy for us to truly deliver for the company.
As it turns out, MindMapper was not only a great resource for our clients, it helped me to explore every angle of a work problem and devise comprehensive strategies that covered every contingency.
Beyond gathering information, planning, synthesizing, and analyzing information, it helped me to see the “big picture” and get a clear sense of direction by categorizing and grouping related information. Ultimately, this helped me to focus on what is important, outline effective tactics, and achieve goals with confidence.
Project Management
Since I obtained my project management credentials in 2018, I’ve come across many certified professionals who had never even heard of mind mapping. It’s incredible to me since the PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition (Project Management Body of Knowledge) lists mind mapping as a way to consolidate “… ideas created through individual brainstorming sessions into a single map to reflect commonality and differences in understanding and to generate new ideas.”
I have used it for every stage of project management – from initiating, planning, executing and monitoring to closing. The best part is that I can see the entire project in one map. (That being said, my projects have never gone beyond $1 million, and my teams are capped at 50.)
Try it for Free
In addition to using MindMapper for notetaking, strategizing, and managing projects, I have used it to store my passwords, run meetings, collaborate, write posts (like this one), set goals, ideate, run coaching sessions, and even create a life plan. If you are looking for a tool to help you learn, strategize, drive projects, and set and achieve major life goals, give it a try and experience the benefits for yourself. No doubt, it will make you more productive, knowledgeable, and creative.
Our education edition is only $39, and the most popular professional edition is $120. Try it for free for 30 days, and see how it changes your approach to problem-solving and improves your quality of life.