The Mysterious Mind Map

The MySpace of Maps

I have been testing a free mind-mapping tool, Bubbl.us, for the past few months. I must say, these tools really do work -- especially if you're looking for that quick strategic planning reference you can update and refer to daily to keep you and your business on track.

Bubbl.us basically marries MySpace to a simple yet powerful set of mind-mapping tools. Simply go to the Web site, open an account, and you'll find a white page with a single greenish cell plunked in the middle saying "Start here." And that's what you do.

Name the cell something you want to study in your business -- say, customers. And then create a new cell by clicking on the little graphics in the current cell. In about 20 minutes you will have laid out a nice map of your customer base.

I keep all the different parts of my affairs arranged by platform: print, TV and radio work. I can change the names of clients as they piss me off, and I get rid of them. And I can strategically factor in other issues, such as how likely they are to pay me.

Bubbl.us is not for everyone. If you have truly complex problems, I would move to a desktop solution such as Cayra or XMind.