The creative atmosphere has always been my calling, but the templates we use for planning, brainstorming, client presentations, RFPs, etc., just don’t require too much creativity. So how to turn my spreadsheets, calendars, lists, etc., into creative fun, while still being organized and professional?

The answer took some time, and to be honest a big push, because I was quite hesitant to try something new. But one day I got so bored with building the same old planning calendar that I said funk it, and gave this whole mind mapping thing a try. Not to be a lame-o or anything, but it was pretty damn exciting!

The first mind map I did was our 2010 marketing plan. Being that I am a very visual person, I decided to start brainstorming ideas on the page: different events, campaigns, video ideas, banner and print ideas, social media, etc., to see the many channels of marketing that are available. It’s amazing how one idea leads to another! I was able to move nodes and ideas around to build a hierarchy of priorities and costs, then stem off nodes and ideas from one another. I was even able to insert video clips and pictures supporting my ideas. Before I knew it, I had painted a beautiful marketing picture.

As a marketer and creative soul, what really sold me on mind mapping is that I was able to make this LIST of ideas into a colorful piece of art! When I met with the sales manager and the president to present my proposed plan they were in awe of the actual presentation. It was not the normal black-and-white squares-and-graphs presentation, but a digital map that revealed lots of surprises hidden inside…inside each node of course!

While I am no expert mind mapper yet, I have found that with Spinscape, I am able to exercise the creativity that sits inside anyone passionate about what they do.

By: Katie Kremhelmer