Hi Dien!

> My problem is I end up seeing links from any
> topic to anything in the universe, if I go
> long enough....

**One of the ideas is to keep your links "on topic" with room for those "a-has" to be born. I am going to try to explain this succinctly so you can hopefully apply it to your mind mapping.

In pondering the idea of Creativity, I was exploring "Brain Power"....In the center, draw a replica of a brain with the words "Creativity and
Brain Power encircling it.....lead me to associated with Hydro-Power which lead me to a naturally powerful source of water power, the Tidal Wave.

On a separate branch cluster, I drew a modern art looking representation of a Tidal Wave and wrote the word "Tsunami"...not sure if that is how it is spelled! with a straight line to the center which says "TUBED!"

Now I know even the most incredible surfer could not TRULY get tubed in a Tidal Wave, but I know from my surfing friends there is nothing like being tubed in a really large wave. Very powerful....exhilarating, frightening while incredibly freeing.

That reminded me that to Use the Power of a Creative Tsunami, there are several elements, and I created a picture of a trumpet to "pronounce" what those elements are (limiting myself to three since I knew eventually I will use these in some sort of writing)

1. The surfer must be PROACTIVE! He studies
waves and then paddles out into the surf! Also, you can't REACT to a great wave, you have to be ready and GO FOR IT, MAN! Same application in business...literally

2. The surfer must go through a PROCESS. Chances are, unless you are a naturally gifted surfer, you are not going to be able to "ride a tube" the very first day. It will take some days out there in the surf with more experienced surfers, time, and the right conditions to experience the tube.

Sure, some folks get TUBED by sheer luck (I remember my first (one and only flash in the pan tube experience mind you) body surfing. That enough was incredible, I can only imagine what it must be like on a board!

3. The surfer must have a Single Minded Purpose.
Not stray off course to check out the tide pools, not to show off muscles to the babes on the beach, not to go have a heated discussion on the latest survivor episode. The surfer has to be mindful of his purpose while he is growing towards experiencing "Riding the Tube"...certainly he can take breaks to do all those other fun things I just mentioned, but the more purposeful, deliberate and authentically engaged he is in the process, the more likely he will have repeated and continual success rather than my "flash in the surf" experience.

So, Dien, do you see how those associations were sort of laser-like in focus rather than a path of free association brainstorming?

Another analogy that came to mind is that I would rather map a detailed city district than a map of the entire state of California showing the freeway system (which it sounds like your mapping has done in the past).

> I get engrossed following one single path
> until I've started with principles of
> success and ended up with Himalayan yak
> yoghurt (or something like that)....

****Or, as I said, the California freeway system rather than the La Cresta area in Northeast Bakersfield...yes, thats my house with the two Palm trees in the yard!

Taking the time to do some symbols helps me to slow down some of the continual-association-pathway as well. The multiple associations can uncover some interesting stuff, but keeping it focused really helps to accomplish what you set out to do in the first place.

Does this help?

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


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