Simple and beautiful GTD Mind Mapping with MindNode
I need to admit that I haven't been a great mind mapper in the past. This had several reasons: I felt it did not support my way of brainstorming and I simply found all mind maps to look like, yah, ... shit. Partially I've been also overwhelmed by the endless feature set of products such as MindJet's MindManager or disgusted by clunky user interfaces of FreeMind or Xmind. This was until I've recently came across MindNode Pro. It changed a lot for me and all of a sudden mind mapping wasn't only beautiful and simple, it started to make sense. Obviously also my creative thinking process has changed over the years and mind mapping now comes more natural to me, but MindNode Pro made me start practicing it.
MindNode Pro is developed by Markus Müller (@mindnode), a software developer from Vienna, Austria. He is doing a great job in supporting his user base and has recently engaged in creating a iPhone version of MindNode called MindNode touch, which is said to be close to release. While there is a free desktop version, you definitely should invest the 15 US$ into the Pro version which gives you the right, albeit minimal feature set you'll need for solid mind mapping.
Pure Mind Mapping
There isn't actually much to say about the feature set of MindNode Pro. It offers the essentials of mind mapping, great and pleasing user interface, strong support of keyboard short-cuts and zero bells and whistles. And this is exactly what I have looked for so long: Simple and pure mind mapping. No pictures, notes or ugly clipart. No priority settings, icons or document attachments. For many this might be a no-go since they may be looking for as many features as possible but for those simply looking into an easy-to-use mind mapping software, MindNode Pro is just right. I would urge the developer to continue down this path of reduction to the essentials and not get tempted to create another "all-encompassing" mind mapping software.
Strong Import/Export
If there is something to point out than it is MindNode Pro's simply and easy import/export feature. You can easily create images or PDFs of your mind maps for sharing, but even more important you can import and export OPML files. This allows you to take your brainstorming results and detail them in an outlining software such as OmniOutliner or the other way around.
MindNode vs. MindNode Pro
The free version of MindNode offers you very, very basic features but enough to create mind maps. The Pro version adds various, but still basic features (that's what it is about, right?) such as automatic reorganisation of nodes, folding and unfolding of nodes plus a number of more preference settings. Just the option to fold and unfold notes makes you want to buy the Pro version at its modest price.
Mind Mapping in GTD
In GTD I now use MindNode Pro on a regular basis for mainly two different purposes:
- Managing my higher levels of perspective at 20-50.000ft (Areas of Responsibility, Goals, Vision, Purpose & Values)
- Brainstorming projects (outcome, guiding principles, high-level considerations of what needs to be done and who needs to involved).
With my higher-level perspectives I regular pull out the files and review, re-validate and alter my mind maps that give me a very simple and nice access to those things relevant on the various levels. I've recently send a PNG of my mind map covering my professional Areas of Responsibilities to my manager to support our yearly goal setting conversation. It did a great job. When brainstorming projects I very often export the MindNode Pro mind map as OPML and load it into OmniOutliner Pro to organise and detail-out my thoughts. Very handy. So go and check out MindNode Pro if you are looking for simple and beautiful mind mapping. It's very much to mind mapping what TaskPaper is to list management: Reduced to the minimum.
