Cluster Thinking & Creative Mind Mapping

Posted by on May 12, 2009 in Business Tips | 4 comments

How do you best like to do your thinking and planning?

For me, I love to get my hands dirty with a box of markers and some big, white post-it notes. I love the scent of the Mr. Sketch markers and I love the vibrant colors that exude from my walls. In fact, it’s one of the few things that just lets me release into this feeling of both nothingness and creation all at once.

I made this YouTube video to show you how I do cluster thinking. It’s one of the ways I mind map without using those boring software applications (yes, I find them boring and honestly – I stare at the computer enough already!) and so that I can create decorative art for my office walls. The video will demonstrate for you what materials I use and how I do it so that you too can copy what I do!

The coolest part is once you are finished a bunch of cluster thinking post-it notes, you can tack them up on your office walls which really helps to cut through the stark white of the walls, etc. I love the look of my office when it gets “busy”… In fact, the picture in this post is my office walls taken a few weeks ago!

When my Build & Grow Your Online Business mentees and I meet, I talk about things by throwing up the large post-it notes and drawing live on camera. It’s great and tangible… Plus, provides something different than the “sit at your PC and stare at me staring at my PC.” I’ll do a quick demo on this Friday’s Ask Erin Live!

So, watch the video and then let me know — do you do the same? Something different? How do you organize your thoughts for maximum success and efficiency?

[tags]Erin Blaskie, cluster thinking, creative mind mapping, business processes, map, strategic thinking, strategic visioning, graphics, doodling, drawing, markers, Mr. Sketch, internet marketing[/tags]

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  • http://techbasedmarketing.com/ Lynette Chandler

    Hey Erin,

    Like you, can’t use mind mapping software, though I’ve tried. There’s something cathartic in being able to draw out my ideas freely. My methods lean more toward traditional mind mapping. Just something I learned in my school days and there’s a science behind the use of colors – it helps aid retention of key information and also spur creativity :)

    Anyhow, glad to see I’m not that strange :)

  • http://techbasedmarketing.com/ Lynette Chandler

    Hey Erin,

    Like you, can’t use mind mapping software, though I’ve tried. There’s something cathartic in being able to draw out my ideas freely. My methods lean more toward traditional mind mapping. Just something I learned in my school days and there’s a science behind the use of colors – it helps aid retention of key information and also spur creativity :)

    Anyhow, glad to see I’m not that strange :)

  • http://www.MarilynnDeLucca.com/ Marilynn

    Hi Erin,

    I really LOVE this idea-way of mind mapping!! It FEELS so much more creative…not so stoggie!! I agree with Lynette…the colors DO help with memory and creativity!!

    Thanks so much!

  • http://www.MarilynnDeLucca.com Marilynn

    Hi Erin,

    I really LOVE this idea-way of mind mapping!! It FEELS so much more creative…not so stoggie!! I agree with Lynette…the colors DO help with memory and creativity!!

    Thanks so much!