About 8 years ago, I was searching for something to help facilitate and also make setting goals more fun and exciting! In my corporate life, we had goals passed down from our department head and managers, so it was something that I grew up doing. We would go over the company’s goals and objectives each new fiscal year. We would meet as a department to discuss in detail, the various quadrants that each goal would reflect and how we would measure success in each of those areas.
While I had been setting goals for years and years, throughout my career, I found that I started setting my own goals, driven by a desire to do more, be better and improve my life personally and professionally. During that time, I found my own ways to make goalsetting more fun, creating templates and visuals that some call a vision board now, before I even knew about vision boards. These worked, especially in wanting to have a new house or a new car, or even applying for a new job. I’d go over what I wanted, write down as many details about it, colour make, model, for jobs, what it would feel like to work in that department, how life would change if I were doing what I loved. I would also go through a planning process, identifying my strengths, gaps in knowledge or experience, then figure out what I needed, courses, do interest interviews, etc.
This process worked well, but it was missing something. I had to really think and even upon reflection, sometimes I needed time to go through and figure out what I wanted.
So, I began looking for another way. There had to be another way, right?! Well, as I discovered about 8 years ago, there was indeed another way. A much better way. That’s when I discovered Mind-mapping!!
What is a mind-map?
The genius who came up with this process is Tony Buzan. He has several patents on this and mind maps. Mind-mapping is taking the term pen-to-paper to a whole new level. It’s letting your ideas flow and your pen fly, allowing your mind to create and allow radiant thinking to draft the plan and get those brilliant ideas onto paper, not stalling your progress thinking so much. Instead, you create a free flowing idea chart giving way to planning and focusing on the developing of your ideas. The mind-mapping process, actually allows us to go into action more quickly and effectively.
How does a mind map work?
A mind-map has several components to it that actually propel your natural radiant thinking process. Once you learn the methodology behind mind-mapping, you can use it for many different applications; goal-setting, fitness and healthy eating practices, organization, decision-making, planning a vacation, and the list goes on!
5 Best Practices for Mind-Mapping
- Choose your main idea; Start my Business; Improve my Health & Wellness
- Keep an open mind and use a blank piece of paper with coloured pens
- Ask yourself questions to keep the ideas flowing; what do I want? What do I need? What helps motivate me?
- Resist the urge to think, just allow your ideas to flow and your pen to fly
- Take 20-30 minutes to create your mind-map, then choose one idea, move to action with three simple steps and make it happen!
Sound intriguing? If you are interested in learning more about mind-mapping, send us an email at meow@cheetahfusion.com for more information.
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