Last week, I shared how to build maps faster by leveraging map parts. Henry Patterson commented:
- “I’ve been using MindManager for many years but only recently begun to use the Map Parts to create meeting and seminar notes quickly. Is there also a means to use/reuse or save Map Markers, ie. Text Markers? I’ve found after using Text Markers like email:, phone:, or for an Alumni Map I created class year, to be really useful and tedious to recreate when I create a related Mind Map.”
The answer, yes! And, it’s very easy to repurpose and reuse. Over the next few days, I’ll review everything I know about map markers. We will explore how to set them up, apply them, and how to effectively utilize them across your maps.
What is a map marker? Map markers let you codify your topics with visual icons or textual tags. They’re basically icons or keywords that add additional contextual information to your topics.
Why use map markers? Markers transform ordinary information maps into powerful maps that empower processes and enable greater focus and clarity. You can use markers with your power filters to show and hide topics. This lets you filter out the noise and focus your attention on areas that need to be addressed or reviewed.
When could you use map markers? There are infinite ways to apply markers! Here are a few:
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Projects: Track task status, priority, % complete, resources, etc… Flag issues, action items, milestones, and more.
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Brainstorms: Prioritize and categorize results. Apply filters to help you decide which ideas are the best.
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Meetings: Tag action items, priorities, decisions, and parking lot items that need to be revisited at a later point in time.
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Requirements: Mark priorities and track who submitted each requirements along with other key attributes.
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Dashboards: Add markers to prioritize, track status, and flag items that need attention.
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Presentations: Hide sections of a master map to create multiple variations that can be presented to different audiences eliminating the need to create different presentations for each group.
Stay tuned. Over the next few days, I’ll share how to customize map markers, quickly apply them to maps, share your marker lists across multiple maps, and finally, ways to use them to improve your processes and mapping techniques.
Reader Feedback:
How are you using Map Markers? What interesting ways have you applied them?
About the Author: Michael Deutch is Mindjet’s Chief Evangelist, content contributor for the Mindjet Blog and the Mindjet Connections newsletter. Get more from Michael on Twitter.
