Mindmapping

As I continue to refine my workflow process I've begun to rely on mind mapping for my brain-storming sessions. It's also a great way for me to keep my focus in meetings and I now have notes that actually make sense to me when I go back and look at them.

Amazingly as I was working on this I noticed that Lifehacker covered the mind map on Monday. I still get some strange looks around the office, which I find interesting since I work at an Ad Agency (everyone doodles during meetings... mine are just on-topic)

So far I've had the best luck with a big sketchbook, I really like the feeling of putting pen to paper. Mapping on the computer is good for somethings, but I've noticed that I works better if I start with paper.
That being said, mindmeister is great, so far the best software I've tried. In the beginning I tried some of the others - but the terrible clip art shapes killed me. MindMeister doesn't let me doodle in the margins, but they don't insult my design intelligence either. I still haven't tried the map via email, although that looks like a pretty good way to get something started on the road.

I'm not sure if mind mapping has made me all that more productive, or if my projects are better thought out. Only time will tell. I do know that it has made long boring meetings tolerable and given me notes I can actually decipher after the fact!