Is there A better way to track Higher Horizons using Mindmanager?

[mavakil]

Hi everybody,

I use Mindmanager to track my Goals at 30,000 ft, 40,000 ft and even my Vision and Purpose at 50,000 ft.

My dilemma is that after a year is over. Once I stand at the edge of 2008 and begning of 2009 and I look at my 1 year goal, 2 year goal and also 5 year goals. Some I've acheieved, some I've not. I have new goals to add and some goals have fizzled away in importance. Now I'm confused how to take my mindmap forward.

Every year, should I archive my old mindmap and begin a fresh one? do I make a branch for archived goals, and retype new goals for the year? Both approaches seem doable, but am curious how other GTD-ers track their goals once each year is over.

Happy GTD-ing,
Arif

 

[MichaelDeutch]

MindManager Horizons of Focus

Arif,

I've been using GTD for a little over a year now (and I work at Mindjet). In my GTD map, I consider my goals 'rolling'. That is, if they change, I do not wait for the calendar year to change them. When new goals arise, I add them. If a 'goal' is no longer a true goal, I remove it. If I complete goals throughout the year, I show them marked completed using the task information. I'll keep these goals in my list to provide myself with the positive reinforcement that I'm making progress on my life journey.

I have a completed goals branch on my map too! Periodically, I'll move completed items from my active horizons to the completed branch. You can use task information, topic notes and sub-topics to document any details about the completion of your goal that you'd like to track (e.g. when you completed it, how you felt about your accomplishment, what you'd do differently next time, etc...).

You raise a great point which I had not considered earlier. I'm now going to use the 'start date' to document when I added my goals. That way, I'll have the context to judge how I'm doing 3 years from now against my longer term & life goals that were set in 2008!

I'd love to hear how everyone else is approach this with your maps.

Michael Deutch
michael.deutch@mindjet.com

 

[dschaffner]

Every year, should I archive my old mindmap and begin a fresh one? do I make a branch for archived goals, and retype new goals for the year? Both approaches seem doable, but am curious how other GTD-ers track their goals once each year is over.

Arif,

Like Michael, my goals are rolling. I don't use mindmaps too much, but I'm starting to use them more.

I'd suggest that the archive the old ones, make new ones to focus on for 2009 - too keep your focus sharp. Then when you close out 2009, add a tickler item to look back at all the past maps - i.e. including 2008.

I've often been surprised by how often things that hang on for a while suddenly either take off begin progressing or I'm able to just let them go because they just aren't important anymore.

- Don

 

[Barb]

MindManager and GTD Connect

Arif,

I've been using GTD for a little over a year now (and I work at Mindjet). In my GTD map, I consider my goals 'rolling'. That is, if they change, I do not wait for the calendar year to change them. When new goals arise, I add them. If a 'goal' is no longer a true goal, I remove it. If I complete goals throughout the year, I show them marked completed using the task information. I'll keep these goals in my list to provide myself with the positive reinforcement that I'm making progress on my life journey.

I have a completed goals branch on my map too! Periodically, I'll move completed items from my active horizons to the completed branch. You can use task information, topic notes and sub-topics to document any details about the completion of your goal that you'd like to track (e.g. when you completed it, how you felt about your accomplishment, what you'd do differently next time, etc...).

You raise a great point which I had not considered earlier. I'm now going to use the 'start date' to document when I added my goals. That way, I'll have the context to judge how I'm doing 3 years from now against my longer term & life goals that were set in 2008!

I'd love to hear how everyone else is approach this with your maps.

Michael Deutch
michael.deutch@mindjet.com

Michael,

I love MindManager and use it daily, especially for project planning. It's the one piece of software I'd want with me if I were stranded on a desert island!

May I suggest you work with the Connect folks to bring us a POWERFUL teleconference seminar on Mind Mapping? I know David has done his thing for you all.

 

[mavakil]

Hello Michael,

Thank you so much for your reply. Now that you mentioned it, I too had my 30,000 ft and upwards, personal goals rolling. But when I started using the Horizons of Focus for our Company, the rolling method would not work. We have specific Construction Projects that we need to deliver within 1 year, 2 years and 3 years. So every few months, as we get closer to our delivery date each of our Construction Projects, our goals change. So that made it slightly tricky, coz then every few months (at least every 6 months) I would have to revise my mindmap. That's when I thought let me ask around here how others were handling this.

Thanks again Michael. Looking forward to more posts on this thread.

Warm wishes,
Arif Vakil
Bangalore, India