the Design Experience Weblog

It seems the most popular page on the site is http://www.thedesignexperience.org/weblog/one-entry?entry_id=40672 which is pretty short and just links to an online mind mapping tool.

I don't really do much mind mapping, but since everyone who vists my site is interested in it, I looked around some more.

On the Mind Mapping Software Blog I found a post about a dashboard style of mind map for keeping track of everything.

I use Planner Mode for Emacs for this. It seems to flow alot better for me, its all text based, but since I do the majority of my work in emacs, it seems to fit better with my style of work and thinking.

I wish I could get into mind mapping more, so I am going to try to check out Idea Mapping a book that is said to be accessible to learn the ideas behind mind mapping.

So I hope if anyong is looking for mind mapping resources this post will help them, its not really my area of expertise and I hope at least one person can learn about using Planner Mode instead. Getting things done in emacs is a great post about implementing the popular organizational technique using planner mode.

What I am talking about is what it means to be an engineer's engineer. A serious engineer. I so clearly remember him telling me hat engineering was the highest level of importance you could reach in the world, that someone could make electrical evices that do someting good for people takes society to a new level. He told me that as an engineer, you can change your world and change the was of life for lots and lots of people.

This reminds me what I am always say about learing and keeping the wonder and curiousity you had when you were 5 years old. Wonder and curiousity, (desire to learn, whatever you call it) is essential to passion, and to doing great things. Let's not forget that teaching and sharing what you have learned with others is another great way to keep learning.

These steps are pretty obvious, but they are still good it keep in mind to help nuture your creativity. Of course, its easier to go get a 5-year-old and follow them around. In a pinch a 6, or 7-year-old can do. Even better if know an older child, or even an adult who still has curiosity.

Motivation is tied directly to curiosity, it basically means, if you are curious, you will go an learn as much as you can about what you are curious about, at least until you are full.

Intellectual Courage, or "thinking outside the box" or innovation is a great concept to keep in mind. This reminds me of my 7-year-old who came home from Camp Invention and told me about brainstorming, and how there are no bad ideas in brainstorming. I have to figure out a way to explain that you should think that way all the time, not get during "offcial brainstorming" sessions!

Relaxation, taking the time to daydream, and let your mind wander. Most people can tell you of a great idea they had in the shower, or just before falling asleep. You need to take a break and let you subconscious work on a problem and twist it around and compare it to the other bits lying around in your head. I think relaxation and clearing your head also ties into ideas like Getting Things Done, where you put all your tasks, and todos, and ideas someplace safe where you know they'll be when you need to refer to them. This keeps them out of your immediate thoughts and leaves room for good ideas.