Step-By-Step Guide To Mind Mapping

In 1996, I had the pleasure of speaking at a 3-day corporate training event with Tony Buzan. My topic was holistic stress management based on my first book, “Everyday Wellness for Women,” and Tony’s topic was creativity based on his book, “The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential”  

Each evening when we came back to the hotel after a day of speaking, we’d eat dinner and then we’d share with each other. I’d share about Ayurveda and yoga and he’d share his method for expressing mind and heart in a creative, expansive, organized and functional manner.

All these years later, I still use mind mapping to help me envision and set goals for my business and my life.

Recently, my friend and colleague Alyson Simms (check out her fabulous malas and other products here) and I got together for a morning of Mind Mapping. It was so much fun that I wanted to share the process with you.

Mind mapping with Dr Deb Kern.jpg

Here’s what you’ll need:

  1.  A BIG blank paper (Poster board works great)

  2. Colored pens

  3. Your brain

  4. Your imagination

**And it’s extra great if you have a friend to share the experience with.

Step-by-step guidelines from Tony:

  1. Start in the CENTER of a blank page turned sideways. Because if you start in the middle you have lots of room to expand in all directions.

  2.  Use an IMAGE or PICTURE for your central idea. Why? Because an image is worth a thousand words and helps you use your Imagination. 

  3. Use COLORS throughout. Why? Because colors are as exciting to your brain as are images. 

  4. CONNECT your MAIN BRANCHES to the central image and connect your second- and third-level branches to the first and second levels, etc. Why? Because your brain works by association. It likes to link two (or three, or four) things together. If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.

  5. Make your branches CURVED rather than straight-lined. Why? Because having nothing but straight lines is boring to your brain.

  6. Use ONE KEYWORD PER LINE. Why Because single keywords give your Mind Map more power and flexibility.

  7. Use IMAGES throughout. Why Because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words. So if you have only 10 images in your Mind Map, it’s already the equal of 10,000 words of notes! (Alyson and I need to add images to ours)

  8.   Tony doesn’t suggest this, but when I do a Mind Map for my business, I also add revenue goals at the very end of my mind mapping. 

Wayne Fickbatch1