Mind Mapping, - AdvisorFlex

Mind Mapping,
a Simple Yet Powerful Tool for You and Your Clients
Mind Mapping – what is it?
Mind Mapping is a technique that engages both sides of the brain for a powerful
way to improve one’s thinking skills. Michael Gelb, Founder and President of High
Performance Learning, in the foreward of Joyce Wycoff’s book, Mindmapping, describes
Mind Mapping as follows:
“Mindmapping was developed in the early 1970’s by Tony Buzan as a tool to help people
take notes more effectively. As he applied the tool, he realized that he had discovered
not just a better way of note taking, but a new and powerful means of improving his
students’ thinking skills.
The value of mindmapping is perhaps best understood in contrast with the technique
most of us learned for generating our ideas and taking notes: the traditional outline.
However, outlining demands that we order ideas before giving free reign to the process
of idea generation, thereby interfering with the speed and range of our idea production.
Our brains possess unlimited potential for idea generation. They work best when we
allow our ideas to flow freely before attempting to organize. While numerous non linear
note taking systems have evolved to free the mind to generate ideas before having to
organize them, mindmapping provides a systematic means for recording and
encouraging the natural flow of the thinking process by creating a ‘positive feedback
loop’ between brain and notes.
Try this: Think about the last book you read and imagine that you have to write a
report on it. As you begin to recall ideas, you will probably not see a formal outline in
your mind’s eye. Rather, you get key words, associations, pictures and images that
seem to ‘float up to consciousness.’ In order to produce your report, you will ultimately
have to organize these streams of association.
In addition to enhancing the freedom of association, mindmapping provides an
innovative, comprehensive approach to idea organization. Many of our students
comment that mindmapping seems natural, that they’ve devised their own note taking
system involving images, colors and key words that approximate mindmapping. They
are thrilled to discover that their own intuitions have been developed and systemized in
a way that allows them to explore new dimensions of flexibility and precision of
thought.”

Wikepedia states the following on the subject of mind mapping:
“A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked
to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate,
visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem
solving, and decision making.
It is an image-centered diagram that represents semantic or other connections between
portions of information. By presenting these connections in a radial, non-linear graphical
manner, it encourages a brainstorming approach to any given organizational task,
eliminating the hurdle of initially establishing an intrinsically appropriate or relevant
conceptual framework to work within.
A mind map is similar to a semantic network or cognitive map but there are no formal
restrictions on the kinds of links used.
Most often the map involves images, words, and lines. The elements are arranged
intuitively according to the importance of the concepts and they are organized into
groupings, branches, or areas. The uniform graphic formulation of the semantic
structure of information on the method of gathering knowledge, may aid recall of
existing memories.
Mind maps (or similar concepts) have been used for centuries, for learning,
brainstorming, memory, visual thinking, and problem solving by educators, engineers,
psychologists and people in general. Some of the earliest examples of mind maps were
developed by Porphyry of Tyros, a noted thinker of the 3rd century as he graphically
visualised the concept categories of Aristotle. Ramon Llull also used these structures of
the mind map form.
People have been using image-centered radial graphic organization techniques referred
to variably as mental or generic mind maps for centuries in areas such as engineering,
psychology, and education, although the claim to the origin of the mind map has been
made by a British popular psychology author, Tony Buzan. He claimed the idea was
inspired by Alfred Korzybski's general semantics as popularized in science fiction novels,
such as those of Robert A. Heinlein and A. E. van Vogt. He argues that 'traditional'
outlines rely on the reader to scan left to right and top to bottom, whilst what actually
happens is that the brain will scan the entire page in a non-linear fashion. He also uses
popular assumptions about the cerebral hemispheres in order to promote the exclusive
use of mind mapping over other forms of note making.
… Mind maps have many applications in personal, family, educational, and business
situations, including notetaking, brainstorming (wherein ideas are inserted into the map
radially around the center node, without the implicit prioritization that comes from
hierarchy or sequential arrangements, and wherein grouping and organizing is reserved
for later stages), summarizing, revising and general clarifying of thoughts. For example,
one could listen to a lecture and take down notes using mind maps for the most
important points or keywords. One can also use mind maps as a mnemonic technique or

to sort out a complicated idea. Mind maps are also promoted as a way to collaborate in
colour pen creativity sessions.
Some of the literature around mind-mapping has made claims that one can find the
perfect lover, combat bullying, persuade clients, develop intuitive powers, create global
harmony, and tap the deeper levels of consciousness by using mind map techniques.”
So what does Mind Mapping look like? To show you how easy this is, and how it
can be used for almost anything, let’s imagine we’re going to plant a garden in the
backyard. Our title is “garden.” You take a plain piece of paper and put the main topic,
“garden,” in a circle in the middle of the page.
You then want to decide what you would like to plant in your garden. With “garden”
being the title, off of this you will create “main topics.” It could look like this:

A mind map would include topics and subtopics as you get more detailed in your
thinking. Each main topic would be a different item that you would want to plant in
your garden. A finished map, with main topics and subtopics would look like this:

A more elaborate, more artistic version of a mind map could look like this:
Source: http://www.peterussell.com/indexmap.gif
That’s it! Any topic you want to mind map goes in the middle of the page, main topics
are drawn in any fashion off of the title of your topic, with branches then being drawn
for each layer where you want to go deeper.
There are no wrong mind maps. However, keep in mind as you begin this
process that it’s important to write down every idea that pops into your head without
censure. If you are thinking that something doesn’t belong or isn’t appropriate you can
get stuck and block the creative flow of ideas. You can always modify and make
judgments about the items on the map after it’s done, but during the process just let
ideas flow.
Also, it helps in the beginning to use plain, unlined paper, the larger the size the
better. We’re so used to using 8½ X 11 lined paper, that breaking out of that mold
alone can help us tap into our creativity. Feel free to use a whiteboard and markers, or
large drawing paper and colored pencils. Or use colored paper; whatever feels best to
you. Feel free to play with this a little and come up with your own style. It won’t take
long to find your way.
There are also numerous mind mapping software programs available now. I like
making maps by hand. But I also like taking my maps and client’s maps, with their
permission, and re-creating them in the software so we can easily make changes over
time. You may need to try these programs to see if they will work for you. Some offer

a free trial period. But it’s not mandatory that you use software. In many cases, again
because we are so used to working on the computer, breaking away and making
colorful maps by hand can really enhance our creativity and idea generation. You’ll just
have to see what works best for you.
Why is Mind Mapping so Powerful?
Joyce Wycoff, in her book Mindmapping, states:
“Mindmapping is a whole brain, visually interesting version of outlining. It has none of
the constraints of outlining – you don’t have to follow a strict format of Roman
numerals, capital letters, numbers, etc. Because mindmapping is not restrictive, your
mind allows information to flow more freely. The information also organizes itself into
clusters as it flows from the mind to the page.
Recent brain/mind research has shown that the mind’s attention span is extremely short
– between five and seven minutes depending upon subject matter and level of interest.
The mind works best in these short bursts of activity. Mindmapping takes advantage of
the tendency of the mind to work in short, intense ‘mind bursts’ by allowing you to
‘dump’ your ideas and thoughts onto paper in just a few minutes.”
I have used mind maps for everything from the preliminary stages of designing a
home, to business plans, to taking notes with a client, and so much more. It’s really
helped me unleash my creative side.
How Can Your Use Mind Mapping In Your Work?
Mind Mapping is a great way to prepare business plans, do strategic planning,
create job descriptions, handle project management, make decisions, and tackle just
about any problem solving task. I continue to find more and more ways to use mind
mapping.
Goal setting is another great way to use mind mapping. You can quickly map
the different areas where goals need to be established and then decide what you want
to accomplish. These maps can be big and colorful and posted somewhere in the office
if you wish.
To better engage your staff in your business, you can gather them together to
do group mind mapping. Whether you are creating a job description for a new position

or are working on an operational issue, getting their input and having them help in the
process can get them more involved which can help with staff retention. And just
teaching your staff this process is of great value. They can apply the process in any
area of their life, as can you.
I have used mind mapping to identify all the tasks that need to be completed in
my business, which of those tasks can only be handled by me, and which can be
handled by staff. This exercise can help you achieve the life balance that most of us
are striving for. By identifying and delegating the tasks that others can do, you free up
more of your own time to spend in activities other than work.
There are virtually unlimited ways to use mind mapping in your work. It may be
worth spending a little time mind mapping all the ways you can use mind mapping to
help you with the work you do.
How Can Mind Mapping Strengthen Your
Relationships With Your Clients?
It’s been my experience that clients enjoy learning to mind map. It seems very
non-threatening to them. There seems to be something that the client taps into during
mind mapping that they don’t get to verbally in our meetings. According to the experts,
this may be due to the fact that the process of mind mapping uses the whole brain, not
just the parts that control analysis and communication. A result of this is, in virtually
every instance where I have had a client mind map the answer to a question, even if
we’ve discussed this same issue time and time again, I’ve learned something new which
has helped strengthen our relationship.
An example of where I have found mind mapping to be a great tool is in the area
of retirement planning. There has been a lot of buzz in the financial planning
community in the last few years about the changing face of retirement. In order to
help clients get that “picture” of what their retirement may look like, I ask them a series
of open ended questions and have them mind map the answers. Questions I have used
include the following:
• If money were not an issue, how would you want to spend your time?
• If you knew you only had a limited amount of time to live, say 3-5 years,
how would you want to spend that time?
• What would an “ideal” retirement look like to you?
• What things did you love doing when you were a child?
• What things do you do where you lose all track of time doing them?

With married couples, I have each one create their own map. This brings out
the individual interests of each person, along with where they have matching desires.
Individually, perhaps the wife wants to continue to work, while the husband wants to
play more golf, and together they may want to spend more time with their
grandchildren, or travel, etc.
I’ve also found that some clients have a very difficult time articulating answers to
some questions. By mind mapping, and engaging both sides of the brain, the client can
get to answers that they might not have come up with verbally. And they can get there
quickly. This is not a long, drawn out process.
This process has also helped with getting a handle on what their spending needs
may be in retirement. Once we’ve uncovered how they want their retirement to look,
we can project what their spending will need to be in order to accomplish their goals.
Clients have found this process enlightening. It often uncovers some real
passions they have that they may have put on the back burner. It also helps them get
in touch with what is really important to them. I’ve experienced that our discussions
then revolve more around their life, and less around their money. By the way, this
same process also works well with clients already in retirement. It’s never too late to
talk about what they’d like to do with the rest of their lives.
With younger clients, rather than focusing on retirement, I ask them to mind
map their “ideal life.” This could incorporate topics such as work, play, relationships,
health, giving back, and spirituality or religion. We’ve created mind maps for each one
of these subjects, and then a master mind map that is their “ideal life.” You can always
add or subtract to this list, or come up with your own topics. My goal is to get the
client thinking about their whole life. Then, as a financial planner, I can help them
match their money to their desires.
As you can see, these mind maps become pictures of what they’d like their lives
to look like. Very few people that I have worked with are leading their ideal lives. Most
want to make some sort of change to improve the quality of their lives or increase their
sense of fulfillment. The completed mind maps become the road maps for them to
follow in achieving what’s important to them. And, of course, that is really the key. It’s
not about what I think they should be doing; it’s about their values, what’s important to
them, that we are really trying to uncover. By living their life based on their values they
have the opportunity to experience great fulfillment.

Final Thoughts
This paper was written in such as way as to allow you to immediately put mind
mapping into practice. It is not intended to be a thorough description of mind mapping,
for I am not an expert on the subject, just a practitioner of the process. For expert
commentary I would like to refer you to Tony Buzan’s book, The Mind Map® Book, in
which he explains in great detail the concept of Radiant Thinking, and a great deal on
the workings of the brain itself. The book also contains mind maps from the basic to
the very complex. He discusses various applications in great depth. And Mr. Buzan is
an expert in this area. He has been a consultant to BP, Barclays International, Digital
Equipment Corporation, HP, and IBM, among others. Yes, the giants of many industries
have used mind mapping, so maybe it’s time that we, as a profession, embrace it as
well.
In my opinion, mind mapping is perfect for the financial planning profession. We
make decisions and solve problems each and every day. And while we deal in
numbers, without our creative input we are no better than a machine. By tapping into
and using this creativity we truly can bring the best to our clients, our employees and
ourselves.