Sheet 1
My
Board of
Directors
  Richard Branson
    Runs many experiments
    Holds creative events to promote his companies
    Relentless adventurer
  Steve Jobs
    Relentlessly simplify
      "Lite" version of our product
      Simplify distribution of it
    Passionate
      Loyalty program for our best customers
    Uncompromising
    Favored product "ecosystems"
      Partner w/ a company that provides
complementary products or services
  Albert Einstein
    Loved doing thought experiments
    Relentlessly curious
    Spent a lot of time defining problems clearly
  INSTRUCTIONS
When it comes to thinking creatively, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Our ideas tend to fall into the same predictable categories, despite our best efforts to the contrary. How can you jump-start your thinking in some new, creative directions? One way is to form your own personal “board of directors.”
Because we’re talking about creative thinking, this isn’t an actual board of directors. Rather; it’s an imaginary one. Here’s the beauty part: It can be composed of any famous person or individual who has influenced you, living or dead. The key is that they need to be innovative thinkers in their areas of expertise. This technique is an excellent example of lateral thinking – changing your perspective to expand the variety of ideas you’re able to generate.
What can you do with this imaginary group of Big Thinkers? It’s quite simple, really: put yourself in THEIR shoes. Imagine how THEY would approach your current problem or challenge.
Mind mapping is the perfect way to perform this “sleight of head.” Here’s how it works, in 3 easy steps:
First, pick your personalities: In the example displayed on your screen, I have selected three big thinkers: Richard Branson, the late Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein.
Second, outline the characteristics of the people you’ve selected for your board. In the example on screen, I have created subtopics that describe some of the key characteristics for which they’re known. That helps me bridge the gap between my thinking and the ways in which these famous people have successfully solved problems.
Finally, step 3 is to generate ideas based on those characteristics: I imagine how each person would approach the problem I’m trying to solve. I imagine myself standing before them, describing my current challenge to them as they listen intently. I then listen and take notes as they share their best thinking on how to solve it. In other words, their defining characteristics become catalysts to help me generate new ideas and insights to solve MY creative challenge.
Add any ideas that come to mind to this mind map.
Chuck Frey
Visual Velocity
(formerly the Mind Mapping Software Blog
https://mindmappingoftwareblog.com
chuck@chuckfrey.com