Brainstorming & MindMapping
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Keyword Technique
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To begin KEYWORD brainstorming, place
the subject keyword at the top of a sheet of paper.
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Make sure that you are not going to
be disturbed, and set yourself a time limit.
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Then start to write down all of your
ideas that the start word prompts you.
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Just focus on the start word, not being
judgemental on 'what's coming out'.
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Only write key words. Just enough to
be able to trigger the thought in the future.
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Write as fast as you can.
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Write in a list form, not worrying
about spelling, word choice, etc.
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Get as many ideas on paper as quickly
as possible.
You can take this further by choosing a fresh keyword
from this list to start a fresh list,
allowing yourself to get deeper into the subject.
You can also set yourself a minimum number of responses
to come up with.
The first few will be easy, but the last will really make you think!
Example of how a KEY-WORD brainstorming page may
look like:
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Relaxation
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relax
smile
rest
laugh
open
free
joy
joke
breathe
breath
heart
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aromatherapy
massage
therapy
yoga
alternative
beach
holiday
meditate
zen
read
sunshine
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Free drawing
The FREE-SKETCH technique begins with a picture or
a drawing of an idea.
By looking at the drawing or sketch, as well as bringing
your creative brain into play, you will prompt yourself to think
of varieties of ideas.
Jot all of your ideas down. Do not prejudge them.
Draw lines, move quickly, doodle, experiment.
Anything that comes to mind is okay.
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SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities,
Threats SWOT Analysis is an effective method of identifying your
Strengths and Weaknesses, and to examine the Opportunities and Threats
you face. Often carrying out an analysis using the SWOT framework
will be enough to reveal changes which can be usefully made.
To carry out a SWOT Analysis write down answers to
the following questions:
Strengths:
What are your advantages?
What do you do well?
Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of
view of the people you deal with.
Don't be modest, be realistic. If you are having any difficulty
with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some
of these will hopefully be strengths!
Weaknesses:
What could be improved?
What is done badly?
What should be avoided?
Again this should be considered from an internal and external basis
- do other people perceive weaknesses that you don't see? Do your
competitors do any better? It is best to be realistic now, and face
any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.
Opportunities
Where are the good chances facing you?
What are the interesting trends?
Useful opportunities can come from such things as:
Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale
Changes in government policy related to your field
Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes,
etc.
Local Events
Threats
What obstacles do you face?
What is your competition doing?
Are the required specifications for your job, products or services
changing?
Is changing technology threatening your position?
Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems?
Carrying out this analysis is will often be illuminating
- both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting
problems into perspective.
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PMI
What is PMI?
PMI stands for 'Plus/Minus/Interesting'. It is a valuable development
(by Edward de Bono) of the 'pros and cons' technique used for
centuries.
PMI is a basic decision making tool. When you are
facing a difficult decision, simply draw up a table headed up 'Plus',
'Minus', and 'Interesting'. In the column underneath the 'Plus'
heading, write down all the positive points of taking the action.
Underneath the 'Minus' heading write down all the negative effects.
In the 'Interesting' column write down the extended implications
of taking the action, whether positive or negative.
Scoring your PMI table
You may be able to make a decision just from the table you have
drawn up. Alternatively, consider each of the points you have
written down and assign a positive or negative score to each appropriately.
The scores you assign can be entirely subjective. Once you have
done this, add up the score. A strongly positive score indicated
that an action should be taken, a strongly negative score that
it should be avoided.
An example is shown below:
Should I move to the big city?
Plus Minus Interesting
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More going on(+1)
Have to sell my house (+5)
Easier to find a new job? (-6)
Easier to see my friends (+5)
More pollution (-3)
Meet more people? (+2)
Less space (-3)
More difficult to get work done?(-4)
No countryside (-2)
Easier to get places (+3)
More difficult to get to work? (-4)
13 -14 -5 = - 6
Total = -6 - I'm happier living just outside the city.
For further information
Edward de Bono, Serious Creativity, HarperBusiness, New York,
US, 1992.
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MindMapping
By combining both left (logic) brain and right (creative) brain,
and fully exploiting our full potential, it has been proven
that brainstorming goes to a new level...
Tony Buzan 'discovered' mindmapping in the 1970's and has
written extensively on the subject over the years:
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The MindMap Book - Millennium Edition
Synopsis A key goal for
many of us is to increase our ability to learn, remember and
record or store information. The reader is shown how to accomplish
this using a range of techniques developed by the author
Order
Now With Amazon.co.uk
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Use Your Head
Synopsis This manual
on how to use the human brain has been translated into more
than 20 languages. It presents a range of techniques that
are all designed to teach the reader how to think effectively.
Order
Now With Amazon.co.uk
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Head First
Synopsis Did you know
that you use less than 1 percent of your brain? The good news
is that world-renowned brain expert and mind map inventor
Tony Buzan can help you to access the other 99 percent.
Order
Now With Amazon.co.uk
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Reviews
The Express
'The whole world should Mind Map.'
THE TIMES
'Tony Buzan will do for the brain what Stephen Hawking did
for the universe.'
Order
Now With Amazon.co.uk
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The Power of Verbal Intelligence: 10 Ways to Tap into
Your Verbal Genius
Synopsis Simple techniques
to help improve your recall How to be brilliant with words
-- reading, speaking, remembering and understanding them!
Includes the best of Buzan's world-famous techniques for improving
recall and understanding. Increase your vocabulary. Learn
to speed read.
Order
Now With Amazon.co.uk
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NEW: Generate infinite
instant ideas following five simple steps. Use them to discover
the secret of creative heaven - they work for business, for hobbies,
for projetcs or for hassle-free problem solving! Get the 'total
formula' for brainstorming now! Brainstorming
System
A
good site offering a good explanation of mindmapping technique plus
links here
Creativity
Web... Very well laid out site focusing on making
the most of your creativity...
Who said being an entrepreneur couldn't be fun!
The
World Wide Brain Club... you've got one haven't you? Use
it!
SuccessMind
Index - Books, Articles and Software focusing on Your Success
Attitude
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