Mind Mapping by Hand

A few months ago I shared a post on applications for mind mapping.   Today's short post features mind mapping by hand.

I use mind mapping frequently to capture ideas and to plan presentations, blog posts, and details for projects.  I use a small notebook to record ideas, occasional shopping lists, and ideas that might result in posts.  At the time I am ready to create a post, I will create a mind map.

For me, the mind mapping technique is more creative than simple outlining.  Part of the power behind mapping is that you can jot down ideas as they come to without needing to be in sequential or organizational order.  The mind maps below are very simple for illustrative purposes.  After determining the Topic and Subtopics, I can jump from idea to idea, so that I might think about Idea A then Idea G followed by Idea B, etc.

EXAMPLE 1
This style of mapping, with a different color for each level is typically how I draw mind maps.  I usually have a pen with me and use highlighters to color the different levels.  This mind map was drawn using the Adobe Ideas app for the iPad.

 

EXAMPLE 2

This next mind map was drawn in the traditional style with one color per subtopic.  This mind map was drawn using the UPAD note taking app.

For more on mind mapping, I recommend Tony Buzan's Modern Mind Mapping.

Patience

JURY DUTY
Some years ago, I was called for jury duty.  At the time, I was busy working as a therapist at a mental health center, and didn't want to take the time I thought would be needed for jury duty.  My supervisor wrote a letter to the judge asking for my release from duty.

I drove to the county courthouse and gave the letter to the judge's secretary.  She asked me wait until the judge was available.  From my vantage point in the waiting room, I could look directly into the judge's office.  His back was to me and I could plainly see that he was working on his computer.  Upon closer examination, I noticed that he was playing Solitaire!  Two of his assistants were helping him.

As a side note, if you're ever stranded on a deserted island, start playing Solitaire, because someone will come along and tell you how to play.

As the judge was playing his computer game, I watched as the secretary approached him and told him about my request (the entire office was fairly small).  He nodded his head and kept playing Solitaire!  He kept playing the game until he won!

Needless to say, I was a little frustrated at having to simply wait while someone finished a game.  What kind of situations frustrate you?  What are potential ways to reduce the frustrations that you experience?  I believe that increasing our levels of patience can at least help us tolerate frustrating situations.

COMMUNICATION SPEEDS
Until the mid Nineteenth Century, the process to mail a letter or package from one location to another could take from weeks to months.  The only way to send a letter to another part of the world was by ship.  In the United States, the Pony Express and stage coaches were used to transport mail.  From the invention of the telegraph until today, the speed with which we expect to receive information has decreased substantially.

Today, if we don't receive a text message back from someone or a confirmatory e-mail, we wonder if they received our messages or are ignoring us!

AN ATTITUDE OF PATIENCE
How does one develop an attitude of patience?  How can we demonstrate patience to others?  I believe that we can find encouragement from the Bible to help us become more patient.

The key word that is included in most of these texts is "long-suffering," which is really a synonym for "patience."  The dictionary definition of patience is "1) an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay, 2) quiet, steady perseverance."

Another favorite text of mine is Galatians 5:22, 23:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

To me the secret for an increased level of patience is attitude of forgiveness and lack of expectations about the behaviors of others.  When someone does something that I don't like, I must remember that I can only control my own actions, and then forget about their actions.  If I had contemplated this years ago when waiting for the judge to finish his Solitaire game, I would have been more content with my wait. 

When you find yourself becoming impatient or frustrated with others, I encourage you to think about the "fruits" listed above and how God is patient with us.  I believe you will experience less anxiety over situations and become more patient.

Meeting an author-Garrison Keillor

As I was driving around town on Oct. 24, I heard an advertisement on the public radio station for Salon@615, a lecture series sponsored by the Nashville Public Library. On a regular basis, Salon@615 hosts authors who discuss their books and inspiration for writing.

The events are free, but require tickets. A few advance tickets are sold 2-3 weeks prior to the event, and the remaining tickets are available to those willing to wait in line, a couple of hours before the 6:15 show time (the library's address is also 615 Church Street).

The event that piqued my interest was author and entertainer Garrison Keillor. Best known for creating and hosting the weekly radio program A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor also hosts a daily 5-minute program, TheWriter's Almanac, which includes author trivia and a poem reading. Keillor has written a number of books from biographies to poetry.

Because I only learned about the event a few days before, I had resigned myself to waiting in line for tickets. At the time I arrived there were already a few people waiting. As I waited, watching the time slowly pass, a woman sat down beside me. She had advance tickets and soon realized she was in the wrong line. However, before moving to the special line for advance ticket holders, she gave me an extra ticket that she had reserved.

Promptly at 6:15 the mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, stepped to the podium and introduced Garrison Keillor. Keillor walked out carrying a copy of his book and some notes.

Keillor spoke for about 90 minutes, regaling us with tales and backstories for some of the poems from his new book. He also answered several questions ranging from "How do you come up with new ideas?" to "What is your weekly schedule like?" In responding to the observation, "How do you keep up with all you do?" Keillor responded with his characteristically wry sense of humor, "Well, I didn't realize it was a problem until now."

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Complete training before you join the war

Tonight I was reviewing documents that I created and saved in Google Docs, Google's online equivalent of Microsoft Office.  I found this short story and decided to use it as this week's blog post.  The first part of this was written in 2010.

PLAYING WAR
My twelve-year old daughter, Erika,  likes to play with a group of other neighborhood girls.  Yesterday, after returning home after several hours of play, she explained to me that the girls were playing “nerf war.”  Erika looked more like a football player than a warrior with football-like stripes on her cheeks.

In order to prepare for the “war,” the girls devised an obstacle course, utilizing existing playground equipment and fences, as obstacles to go over, under, or around.  The goal was to successfully complete the obstacle in sixty seconds or less.  As of last night’s report, only one girl had completed the course within the target time. 

This morning we continued discussing the obstacle course.  The girls are apparently focused on meeting their time goal on the obstacle course prior to resuming the nerf war.  Erika commented, “You have to complete training before you join the war.”  This reminded me of one of my early work experiences that taught me the importance of proper instruction or training prior to joining “the war.”

DOMINO'S PIZZA
After graduating from high school, I secured a summer job at Domino’s Pizza delivering pizzas.  I had no experience in the pizza or delivery business.  Once I was outfitted with my blue and red Domino’s shirt, I was introduced to my trainer.  The plan, I was informed, would be to ride with my trainer for the entire shift, and then begin delivering independently the next night.

I accompanied my trainer for about an hour.  As we walked back into the store after completing a delivery, the manager said, “Doug, do you feel comfortable going out by yourself?  One of our drivers called in sick and I need a driver.”

Being the confident 18-year old that I was, I said, “Sure!  I’d be happy to.”

I strapped the triangular Domino’s sign on my car, a 1972 Pontiac Ventura II, and readied for my night of deliveries.  Driving around with the sign prominently displayed atop my car translated into a significant increase in my wage, an extra $1.50 per hour!  I wondered at the time why some drivers opted out of utilizing the sign, but I needed all the extra income I could easily earn. 

I spent the rest of the evening trying to find streets and addresses in a town that I thought I knew a town I had lived in for six years!  It was amazing to me how many streets were drawn on the large map displayed at the drivers’ entrance to the store.  I was even more surprised at how many new subdivisions and streets existed that were not on the map!  When the additional confusion of darkness was added to the mix, it really complicated my first shift!

TRAINING IS IMPORTANT
I have seen the same scenario played out in business as well.  In a rush to complete tasks or improve efficiency, adequate time is not allowed for training.  Especially with software, there can be an expectation that users will learn from others or use the help function.

If you are in a leadership position, take the time to ensure that your staff is trained on whatever new processes, procedures, or tools (including software) you are implementing.  If you are not in a leadership position, take the assertive action of requesting training. 

Maps as Prompts for Stories

Many, many books exist on writing memoirs.  One of my favorites is On Writing Well by William Zinser.  His suggestion is to write one story per day based on whatever comes to mind at the time you sit down to write.  After 2-3 months of writing, you can review your stories and see how your writing "voice" has developed.  Sometimes, a challenge can be to think of an event to write about.

IDEAS FOR STORIES

Author Richard Stone has written two books which focus on how stories can have a healing influence.  In both The Healing Art of Storytelling and Stories:  The Family Legacy he suggests that you draw maps of places you have visited or lived.

You can also draw blueprints of houses where you lived, schools you attended, or places you worked.  Because our lives of filled with experiences, often thinking of these places is enough generate many stories.  Family trees are also great for generating story ideas and remembering events with favorite (and not so favorite) aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.
 
MY CHILDHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
From 3 to 12 I lived outside of Chattanooga in the small community of Collegedale.   With the ability to visit any part of the planet vicariously via Google Maps, I revisited my old neighborhood and saved the satellite image.  Using an illustration application, I drew some notes onto the map.  As I made these notes, I was reminded of many stories that occurred in my neighborhood.



SHORT STORIES

• In the 1970s, a tornado destroyed a house under construction in our neighborhood.  The spiked nailed panels that held the roof trusses together were scattered and could be bent around your arm to make Roman-styled arm bands.
• There were several trails in the vacant lot owned by my parents next to our house.  The back property line was shared with an adjacent cow field, where many games were played with friends.
• My friend Jeremy lived in a duplex at the bottom of the hill.  Later on, his family moved to a house on the same street.  
• My first piano teacher lived a couple of houses away from us.  Despite her best efforts, I was more interested in watching Batman on TV and was more concerned about being back at home by 5:30 to watch Batman than complete a full 30-minute lesson.

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL
As you can see, this mapping technique is a great way to develop stories and remember events.  There are many more stories I could tell just from viewing the map.  I'm sure that if my brother or sister viewed the same map, they could generate many of their own stories based on their experiences.

With just a little effort, I could make a map for other places I have lived:

• Murfreesboro, TN
• Jasper, AL
• Nashville, TN  

I could have easily zoomed out to display the entire city of Collegedale.  Had I done so, I could have shared stories about walking to school, my school playground, and many other events.

I encourage you to think about all of the places you have visited or lived.  Draw a map or create one using Google Earth (or another mapping application).  You'll be amazed at how many events you can remember.

MY MAPPING PROCESS
I used three iPad apps to create the map for this post.

Adventures with Storyboarding

Storyboards have traditionally been used by the film industry as a way to map out cinematography, such as camera angles and acting positions, for many years. Storyboard was introduced by Walt Disney, who used the technique with his creative team to work through stories prior to committing thousands of man-hours to handdrawn panels for animated cartoons.

The film industry continues to use storyboarding as a planning tool. There are several books available that contain the storyboard drawings from popular movies such as Star Wars and Titanic.

Presentation Planning
Storyboarding is also useful as a planning tool for presentation planning. A tip I picked up along the way is to print PowerPoint slides at the small size of nine per page. When you cut these miniature slides out, they are the same size as the 1.5x2 inch sticky notes. Once all of your slides and stickies are together you can tape them on to a whiteboard or wall to easily organize into a presentation. I have done this many times.

Revealing Revelation's Hope
My church is conducting a series of meetings in a month entitled "Revealing Revelation's Hope." The series focuses end-time events as prophesied in the Bible. I was asked to work up an ad for the local Christian radio station. After reviewing the printed brochures for the series, I developed this script that is approximately one minute in length.

Tornadoes, war, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks. There are signs everywhere that we are living in unusual times. People realize that we are on the verge of something big. History’s hourglass is almost empty; but, there is a bright future!
Revealing Revelation’s Hope is a dynamic end-time prophecy series coming to Nashville beginning September 6.

During this live series you will learn about the battle of Armageddon, the seven last plagues, the Mark of the Beast, six, six, six, and much, much more.
Revealing Revelation’s Hope will be held at West End Middle School beginning Friday, September 6 at 7:00PM and continue every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday through October 5.

Admission and all study materials are free.

Visit Revealing Revelations Hope dot com for more info. That’s, Revealing Revelations Hope dot com.

Video Ideas
After creating the script, I made a quick recording using my iPhone. My original intention was to send this to the radio station as an example of the pauses and emphasis needed by their professional voice talent. However, while listening back to the recording, I was inspired to create a video that corresponded and illustrated the script.

Storyboard for Revealing Revelation's Hope
In thinking about the video, I decided that an outline was needed to determine which "scenes" would need to be illustrated and what ideas would be best for each scene. My storyboard is pictured below.

Simple Storyboards
A storyboard does not have to be fancy. There are some applications and software for storyboarding, but I have also used 4x6 and 3x5 cards for storyboarding. Moleskine produces a storyboarding journal.

However, the template for storyboarding is simple: draw a series of rectangles.
Originally, my intention was to find video clips for each of the disasters at the beginning, but ultimately decided to use photos instead. Since I had a clear concept of what I envisioned for each scene, and because I was working alone, I did not need elaborate or large storyboards.

Video Process
Initially, I created a test video using the original quick recording made with my iPhone. After sharing the video with the planning team, I realized that I wanted a higher quality recording for the narration and needed more "hopeful" music than the "X-Files" genre soundtrack used throughout the entire video.

I was satisfied after re-recording the narration and contrasting the somber "X-Files" soundtrack at the beginning - during the disasters - and a brighter soundtrack during the second part of the video.
The resulting video is available on my YouTube channel and embedded here.



Do-It-Yourself
Whether you are planning a presentation, creating a one-minute video, or a feature-length film, I encourage you to utilize the storyboarding technique to plan your key points and illustrations. Even if you are not using visuals as part of the presentation, adding a visual element to the planning process will be beneficial.

Douglas G Pratt, 2013

Project Imaginat10n

Project Imagination

Canon, manufacturer of photography and video equipment, has launched creative venture named "Project Imagination." The concept, in association with actor and director Ron Howard, is to create a short film based on submitted photos. For Project Imagin8ion, the film was based on photographs submitted in eight general categories. For the second film, photos were submitted in ten categories. With Project Imaginat10n, the contest for the second film, photos were selected by celebrity directors and a scriptwriting contest was also part of the project.

Themes for Project Imaginat10n

Project Imaginat10n has ten themes.

1. Setting - Any location or environment.
2. Time - Time of day or within history.
3. Character - Anyone or anything.
4. Mood - Conveys atmosphere tone or emotion.
5. Backstory - A history that promotes fuller understanding of the narrative.
6. Relationship - A relationship between anyone or anything.
7. Goal - Whatever the character is pursuing.
8. Obstacle - Anyone or anything in the character's way.
9. The Unknown - Anything unexpected.
10. Discovery - A key or pivotal item, place, or truth that is uncovered.

Adaptable for Presentations

I believe that these same themes can help you create a presentation with more impact. Give some consideration to each of these elements when creating the content and narrative for any talk or presentation you are preparing for.

A presentation is a story. Within the business world, many have still not learned to appreciate that facts and data alone do not generally move people to action. It is the meaning related to the data that can motivate decision makers. Thus, telling a compelling story is vital.

Create a Planning Sheet

When planning a talk or presentation, take a sheet of paper and write down each of the themes. Write a sentence or paragraph that describes each theme as it relates to the presentation. For example, if I am doing a project presentation for continued funding, in the "Time" theme, I would provide a history of the project. Any events (funding, competing projects, etc.) that have impacted the project would be listed under Obstacles.

Douglas G Pratt, 2013