Join The Top 8% in Goal Setting

 

A whopping 92% don't achieve their goals, let's change that

A Mind Map is a simple yet transformative tool that turns your jumbled thoughts into a clear roadmap for success.

Whether you're a seasoned planner or just dipping your toes into the realm of structured creativity, this edition will guide you through the art of Mind Mapping.

A Brief History of Mind Maps

Mind maps trace their roots back to ancient times, with early versions seen in the works of Greek philosophers like Aristotle.

These early diagrams were used to categorize knowledge and understand complex relationships between concepts.

The 3rd-century philosopher Porphyry of Tyros notably created tree diagrams for categorizing Aristotle's ideas, representing an early form of mind mapping.

The modern mind map, as popularized in the 1970s by British psychology author Tony Buzan, was a significant evolution.

Buzan formalized the mind map as a radial diagram centered around a key concept, using lines, symbols, words, colors, and images.

This structure was designed to mirror the associative thought processes of the brain, improving learning and thinking by utilizing a non-linear and non-hierarchical organization of ideas.

Today, mind mapping has expanded beyond paper and pen, with digital technology enabling dynamic creation, updating, and sharing of mind maps.

My favorite digital mind-mapping tool is Coggle (no affiliate link - just a good tool!).

Used widely in education, business, and personal development, mind mapping continues to be a powerful tool for brainstorming, problem-solving, and organizing complex sets of information.

Demonstrating the enduring value of visual tools in cognitive processing and communication.

Here's How to Create a Mind Map:

• Start Central: Write your main goal in the center

• Branch Out: Draw lines to major categories

• Add Leaves (I did boxes): Note specific actions

• Review Regularly: Adjust as life evolves

Today, I have created a Mind Map for Full Potential.

Let’s dive in further…

1. Personal Growth: Unleash Your Potential

   • New Hobbies: Dive into new experiences that spark joy and creativity. Whether it's painting or coding, hobbies can be gateways to unexpected opportunities.

   • Literary Adventure: Challenge yourself to read across genres. Join book clubs to share insights and takeaways.

   • Seminars: Invest in your growth. Find seminars that resonate with your aspirations and learn from the masters.

   • Blogging: Share your journey. Writing can clarify thoughts and connect with like-minded souls.

2. Education: Lifelong Learning

   • Online Courses: Knowledge at your fingertips. Pick a course that fills a gap or sparks curiosity.

   • Workshops: Interactive learning. Workshops can offer hands-on skills and immediate application.

   • Libraries: Treasures of knowledge. Libraries are portals to any world you wish to explore.

   • Teach: Share your knowledge. Teaching is learning twice.

3. Public Service: Give Back

   • Volunteering: A few hours can change lives, including yours.

   • Support Causes: Stand for something. Your voice can amplify a message that matters.

   • Council Meetings: Be informed. Local governance affects your day-to-day life.

   • Fundraising: Gather resources for change. Your initiative can fuel community projects.

4. Attitude: The Inner Game

   • Affirmations: Words shape reality. Start your day with a positive declaration.

   • Reflection: Insight comes with introspection. Take a moment each day to look inward.

   • Gratitude: A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles. Notice the good, it's always there.

   • Challenges: Embrace the hurdles. Each one is a stepping stone to your evolution.

5. Health: The Foundation of Everything

   • Regular Exercise: Movement is life's vitality. Find an activity you love, and it won't feel like a chore.

   • Mindful Eating: Savor each bite. Eating mindfully can transform your relationship with food.

   • Meditation: Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak. Start with five minutes a day.

   • Sleep: Never underestimate a good night’s rest. It's not lost time; it's invested time.

6. Wealth: Your Financial Health

   • Budgeting: Control your money, don't let it control you. A budget is a plan for your prosperity.

   • Investing: Let your money work for you. Start small, think big, and begin now.

   • Cutting Expenses: Small savings lead to big treasures. Assess your needs versus wants.

   • Savings: Build your safety net. Every penny saved is a step towards financial freedom.

7. Career: Crafting Your Path

   • New Skills: Stay relevant. Embrace lifelong learning to keep your edge sharp.

   • Networking: Your network is your net worth. Connect authentically, and build relationships, not just contacts.

   • Resume: It's your career story. Make it compelling, clear, and current.

   • Mentorship: Seek guidance. A mentor’s hindsight can be your foresight.

8. Family & Friends: Your Tribe

   • Family Time: Time is love. Schedule it like your most important meetings.

   • Friend Meetups: Laughter with friends is therapy. Make it a regular part of your calendar.

   • Reunions: Bring everyone together. Reunions remind us where we come from and who we are.

   • Traditions: Create memories. Traditions are the stories that families write together.

Personal Growth

A client came to me feeling lost in their routine, expressing how life seemed to revolve solely around work with little time for personal interests.

They felt stuck and yearned for a more fulfilling and enriched personal life.

As I delved deeper, it was clear their dissatisfaction stemmed from a lack of personal growth.

They missed being engaged in activities that stimulated their creativity and intellect.

Their daily life lacked variety, and they felt disconnected from their passions and hobbies, leading to a sense of fulfillment.

What I did first was introduce them to the concept of a mind map focused on "Personal Growth."

Together, we brainstormed and added the first branch: "Pursue a New Hobby."

They had always been intrigued by photography but never pursued it.

I guided them in setting up a plan to start exploring photography, beginning with weekend courses.

Next, we added "Read More Books" to their map.

We set a goal to read one book per month, choosing titles across different genres to rekindle their love for reading.

The third branch, "Attend Self-Help Seminars," led us to identify local events that provided insights into personal development.

Finally, "Write Personal Blog Posts" was added.

I encouraged them to start a blog to document and share their journey, creating a platform for reflection and connection with others on similar paths.

Through the mind map, we were able to transform their life from a monotonous routine to an enriching journey of self-discovery and growth.

Each branch brought new challenges and experiences, significantly enhancing their sense of personal achievement and fulfillment.

Career

A client came to me feeling stuck in their career.

They had been in the same position for several years, feeling underappreciated and undervalued.

They were unsure how to progress or make a change, leading to a sense of professional stagnation and dissatisfaction.

The client’s dissatisfaction was growing.

They felt they were not utilizing their full potential and were missing opportunities for professional growth.

This lack of progress was affecting their motivation and confidence, creating a sense of being trapped in their current role with no clear path forward.

I introduced the client to a career-focused mind map.

The first branch we added was "Learn New Skill."

We identified key skills relevant to their desired career progression and set up a plan for acquiring these skills through online courses.

The second branch, "Network More," involved creating a strategy to build professional connections, including attending industry events and joining professional online groups.

The third branch was "Update Resume." I assisted them in revamping their resume to highlight their new skills and experiences.

Finally, we added "Seek Mentorship." We identified potential mentors in their field and discussed strategies for approaching them and establishing a mentor-mentee relationship.

Through this structured approach, the client was able to make significant strides in their career.

They gained new skills, expanded their professional network, and with an updated resume, they felt more confident in seeking new opportunities.

The guidance from a mentor provided them with insights and advice that helped in making informed career decisions.

Ultimately, this led to them securing a position that was more aligned with their career goals and aspirations, reigniting their passion and motivation in their professional life.

Here's how you can do your Mind Map this week:

Step 1: Choose Your Focus

• Decide what you want to work on most. This could be anything from "Personal Growth" to "Career Development."

  • Place this as the central theme of your mind map.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Help me brainstorm different central themes for a mind map focusing on personal development. I'm looking for areas like career growth, health improvement, or skill development."

Step 2: The Four-Branch Challenge

• Create just four branches from your central theme.

  • Keep it simple and focused.

    • Each branch should represent a key area or action that will help you progress in your chosen theme. 

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I've chosen [insert central theme from Step 1] as my mind map's central theme. Suggest four key areas or actions related to health improvement that I can use as branches for my mind map."

Step 3: Actionable Steps

• For each branch, identify one actionable step you can take this week.

  • These should be small, manageable tasks that contribute to your larger goal.

    • For example, if your theme is "Health," one branch could be "Exercise," with the action step being "Take a 30-minute walk on Monday and Wednesday."

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "One of the branches of my health improvement mind map is 'Exercise.' Provide an example of a simple and actionable exercise plan I could follow over a week."

  • (Change as needed)

Step 4: Reflect and Document

• At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect on your progress.

  • How did each action step help you move closer to your goal?

    • Jot down your thoughts and observations.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I've completed the steps in my mind map challenge. Guide me on how to reflect effectively on my progress and document my thoughts and observations."

Remember, the goal of this challenge is to make Mind Mapping a practical and effective tool for you.

It's about taking those small, yet significant steps towards achieving your larger aspirations.

As we wrap up this edition, I encourage you to see your mind map as a compass, guiding you through the journey of life's goals and dreams.

May your map be ever-expanding, reflecting the growth of your ideas and the depth of your aspirations.

Remember that every idea, like every branch, has the potential to grow into something extraordinary.

Until next week and with lots of love,

Justin

Marketing Fishing or “Hooked. How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover

 

In the modern world, manufacturers constantly produce new products, expand the range of existing goods and try to run more effective marketing campaigns. The consumer faces a choice of what kind of goods to buy from the presented variety. In this situation, the main goal of the seller should be not only the sale or marketing of its products, but also the retention of its consumer. In their book, Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover describe the Hook Model that teaches the basic principles of consumer habits formation in consumers and consists of four stages: trigger, action, reward and investment.

1. Trigger

Trigger is a kind of stimulus that causes a person to want to do something. Triggers are of two types: external and internal.

External triggers are some information that attracts the user’s attention and pushes him to perform the required action.

Types of external triggers:

1. Paid triggers (advertisements, contextual advertising, etc.)
2. Free Triggers (positive responses in the press, popular viral video)
3. Triggers of the relationship (recommendations of friends or relatives)
4. Embedded triggers (always come to the user’s eyes, but he decides whether to pay attention to them).

When consumers have a habit, they are controlled by other triggers-internal. The internal trigger is a certain association fixed in the consumer’s brain and prompting him to act.

2. Action

The second stage of the model is action. After the consumer received the signal, he must perform the action. Here the rule “it is easier to do than to think” is applied. The simpler the action, the more likely it will become a habit.

3. Reward

At stage 3, you reward the user, solving his problems and reinforcing the motivation to perform the required action again.

Three types of variable compensation

– remuneration of the tribe – social reward;

– compensation of extraction – the need to extract material objects;

– internal reward.

4. Investments

The more effort we put into something, the more we appreciate it. We tend to do the same as in the past.

 

Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover in the book also discuss the ethical application of the Hook Model, since it is associated with a change in human consciousness. For this purpose, the authors propose a manipulation matrix. In order to use the matrix, it is necessary to answer 2 questions: “Would I use this product myself?” And “Will the product significantly improve the life of consumers?”. Answering these questions, you can determine to which type of creators you belong: “helpers”, “hawkers”, “showmen”, “drug dealers”.

After the product is created, then by testing habits you can identify its hot fans, find out what features of the product are addictive and why they do it.

Testing a habit consists of the following steps:

Step 1. Determine. Examine the available data to determine how people behave and how to use the product.

Step 2. Encode. Then systematize the results to identify consumers who have already developed a habit of the product.

Step 3. Change. Change the product to influence more users and push them to the same path as people who have already acquired a habit, then evaluate the results and change the product again.

The “hook” model helps not only to form a habit of a new product/service but reveals weaknesses in an already existing product.

Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover discuss in detail each step of the model, give concrete examples and cases from advertising and social networks, and also describe some psychological experiments in the field of marketing. The main task of the book is to teach you how to create a habit of the product/service in order to solve the specific problems of the consumer with the help of habit.

Hooked is written for product managers, designers, marketing specialists, start-up founders, and anyone who seeks to understand how products influence our behavior.

https://tinyurl.com/3etrtz7w

RoundMap® : Framework 4 Pillars of Long-Term Success

 

Empowering Transformation: The Four Pillars of Long-Term Success

 

In a world where change is the only constant, RoundMap® is a beacon of transformative success. We are excited to introduce our four-pillar framework, a compass guiding businesses toward a bright future that is sustainable and inclusive. 

Selecting a feasible and viable business model is a crucial first step toward achieving initial success. However, to sustain growth over time and truly thrive in today’s dynamic business environment, a deeper, more holistic approach is required. This is where the four pillars of sustainable growth come into play, serving as a comprehensive guide for long-term prosperity.

The Four Pillars

Pillar #1 - Bolster Vitality

Organizations with high vitality are characterized by their remarkable adaptability, resilience, and proactive approach to change. These businesses are agile, able to respond to market shifts and embrace innovation swiftly. They exhibit a balanced mix of operational efficiency and strategic foresight, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability. High-vitality organizations are also known for their robust stakeholder engagement and collaborative culture, which fosters a sense of shared purpose and collective success.

F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.”

 

The RoundMap® framework, emphasizing whole-system thinking and transformative approaches, suggests several critical aspects to bolster business vitality:

1.                Holistic Systems Thinking: This involves understanding and managing the business as an interconnected system. It means recognizing the interplay between different parts of the organization and how they affect each other. By adopting this perspective, businesses can identify more effective strategies, anticipate the impact of decisions across the system, and foster a more resilient and adaptable organization.

2.              Stakeholder-Driven Leadership and Collaboration: Prioritizing stakeholder engagement and collaborative leadership is crucial. This means focusing on customer needs and expectations and considering the perspectives and contributions of employees, partners, and the community. Collaborative empowerment helps in breaking down silos, facilitating cross-functional teamwork, and ensuring that decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of their impact.

3.              Continuous Innovation and Adaptability: In a rapidly changing business landscape, continuous innovation is critical to staying relevant and competitive. This involves fostering a culture of creativity, encouraging experimentation, and being adaptable to change. Innovation should be cyclical and continuous, allowing businesses to evolve in response to emerging challenges and opportunities.

4.             Purpose and Impact-Driven Strategy: Aligning the organization’s actions with a clear, purpose-driven strategy ensures long-term sustainability and success. This involves setting profitable goals that contribute positively to society and the environment. It’s about creating value that transcends financial gains, focusing on long-term impact and sustainability.

5.             Trust, Transparency, and Collective Success: Building trust and maintaining transparency are fundamental to the RoundMap® approach. This includes open communication, ethical business practices, and a commitment to shared success. By valuing trust and transparency, businesses can foster stronger relationships with all stakeholders, leading to a more cohesive and successful organization.

These aspects focus on immediate success and ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and adaptability in a complex and dynamic business environment.

Pillar #2 - Design for Impact

 

Impact can be defined as ‘having an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life.’ Organizations that design for impact strategically focus on creating significant, positive changes in their industry and community. They are distinguished by their forward-thinking vision, aligning their business goals with broader societal and environmental objectives. These organizations prioritize sustainable practices and ethical decision-making, ensuring that their operations contribute positively to the world. This approach goes beyond profitability, encompassing a commitment to social responsibility and a drive to leave a lasting, beneficial legacy.

Stephen Covey: “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.”

Designing for impact within the RoundMap® framework involves:

1.                Integrating Systems Thinking: Designing for impact requires deeply understanding how elements within and outside the organization interact. Systems thinking enables this by considering the complexities and interdependencies in business operations. It helps identify leverage points in the system where changes can have the most significant and beneficial impact.

2.              Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Creation: Engaging a wide range of stakeholders – including customers, employees, partners, and the community – in the design process ensures that diverse perspectives are considered. Co-creation with these stakeholders can lead to more innovative and inclusive solutions. This approach also helps align the organization’s strategies with stakeholders’ needs and expectations, increasing the likelihood of achieving a positive impact.

3.              Sustainability and Long-Term Orientation: In designing for impact, it is crucial to consider the long-term consequences of business decisions on the environment, society, and future generations. This means prioritizing sustainability in all aspects of the business, from product design to operational processes, ensuring that the business contributes positively to the ecological and social systems it interacts with.

4.             Adaptive and Resilient Strategies: Adapting to changing circumstances and returning from challenges is essential for sustained impact. Designing adaptive strategies and building resilience into the organization’s structure and processes enable it to navigate uncertainties and disruptions effectively. This adaptability ensures the business remains relevant and impactful in a rapidly evolving landscape.

5.             Continuous Learning and Improvement: An impactful design process is never static; it involves continuous learning and improvement. This can be achieved through regular feedback loops, data-driven insights, and a culture encouraging experimentation and learning from failures. By continuously refining strategies and approaches, the organization can enhance its effectiveness and deepen its impact over time.

These aspects ensure that the design process contributes to the long-term success and sustainability of the organization, making a lasting positive impact on its stakeholders and the environment. 

  

Pillar #3 - Harmonize Strengths

 

Organizations that align strengths are characterized by their emphasis on leveraging the diverse talents and capabilities of their team members. They focus on identifying and harmonizing the unique skills and strengths within their workforce, fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment. These organizations believe in the synergy that arises from a well-aligned team, where each individual’s strengths are recognized and utilized for collective success. This approach enhances innovation, efficiency, and employee engagement, leading to more cohesive and effective operations. 

Peter Drucker: “The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths so strong that it makes the system’s weaknesses irrelevant.”

 

Harmonizing strengths within the RoundMap® framework involve:

1.                Identifying and Leveraging Individual Competencies: Recognize and utilize each individual’s unique skills and talents within the organization. This involves creating an environment where individual strengths are acknowledged and effectively aligned with team and organizational goals. Encouraging personal development and aligning individual talents with strategic objectives can significantly enhance performance and innovation.

2.              Fostering a Strengths-Based Culture: Cultivate a corporate culture focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses. This approach, rooted in appreciative inquiry, involves recognizing and building on what the organization does well. By emphasizing positive aspects and successes, you create an environment of positivity and motivation, which can drive higher engagement and productivity.

3.              Strategic Alignment of Organizational Resources and Capabilities: Ensure that the organization’s resources, including human, financial, and technological assets, are aligned with its strategic goals. This means strategically deploying resources where they can have the most significant impact and ensuring that all parts of the organization work cohesively towards a shared vision.

4.             Effective Communication and Collaboration: Encourage open and transparent communication across all levels of the organization. This fosters a sense of unity and ensures that everyone is on the same page. Collaboration is crucial in bringing together different strengths and perspectives, leading to more holistic and practical solutions.

5.             Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Promote a culture of continuous learning and adaptability. Adapting and learning from experiences is crucial in a rapidly changing business landscape. Organizations should learn from successes and failures, adapt strategies, and continually evolve to meet new challenges and opportunities.

By focusing on these aspects, businesses can harmonize their strengths effectively, leading to increased efficiency, innovation, and overall success.

Pillar #4 - Cultivate Empowerment

Cultivate Empowerment focuses on creating an organizational culture where empowerment is not just a concept but a practice. It’s about building structures, like Consentricity, that support shared understanding and empowered action, ultimately leading to a more dynamic, innovative, and effective organization.

Myles Munroe: “Leadership is not about control but service. It’s not about power but empowerment.”

 

Cultivating empowerment within the RoundMap® framework involves:

1.                Fostering a Culture of Trust and Transparency: Creating an environment where trust and transparency are paramount is essential for empowerment. Employees and stakeholders should feel confident in expressing ideas and concerns without fear of negative repercussions. This includes open communication channels, transparent decision-making processes, and a clear demonstration of ethical practices.

2.              Encouraging Autonomy and Decision-Making at All Levels: Empowerment enables individuals at all levels of the organization to make decisions relevant to their roles and responsibilities. This involves delegating authority and encouraging autonomy, allowing people to take ownership of their work and contribute meaningfully to the organization’s goals.

3.              Providing Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth: Empowerment comes from growth and development opportunities. This includes continuous learning, training, and development programs that help individuals enhance their skills and knowledge. It’s important to align these opportunities with the organization’s objectives and the individual’s career aspirations.

4.             Recognizing and Valuing Contributions: Acknowledging and appreciating the efforts and achievements of individuals and teams is crucial for empowerment. Recognition can be in various forms, from formal awards to informal acknowledgments in team meetings. This recognition reinforces the value of each person’s contribution to the organization’s success.

5.             Building Collaborative Teams and Networks: Empowerment thrives in a collaborative environment. This means fostering teamwork, encouraging cross-functional collaborations, and building networks within and outside the organization. By working collaboratively, individuals can learn from each other, share insights, and collectively solve problems more effectively.

By focusing on these areas, organizations can cultivate a more empowered workforce that fosters innovation, resilience, and sustainable success in a complex and dynamic business environment.

 

The 12-Step Evolution from Relevance to Significance

 

The following list delineates the transformative journey of an organization from being merely efficient and profit-oriented to becoming a leading, purpose-driven entity with a sustainable and significant presence. This progression encompasses financial success and adopting a cyclical and holistic approach that ensures relevance and meaningful impact in the future. 

Each stage in the list marks a strategic shift towards more integrated and responsible business practices, fostering resilience, innovation, and empowerment. The ultimate goal is to achieve significance in the marketplace by championing values that resonate deeply with all stakeholders, thus setting the organization apart:

1.                RELEVANT: Organizations ensure their offerings meet current demands and trends. Staying relevant involves closely aligning products and services with market needs and expectations.

2.              DISTINCTIVE: Distinctiveness is achieved by differentiating offerings, creating a unique value proposition, or adopting innovative business practices that set the organization apart.

3.              TRUSTWORTHY: Cultivating trust through consistency, reliability, and ethical behavior. This includes transparent communication and fulfilling promises made to stakeholders.

4.             FULFILLING: Creating a work environment where employees find meaning and satisfaction. This includes providing opportunities for growth and acknowledging their contributions to the organization’s success.

5.             EMPATHIC: Demonstrating a deep understanding of and response to the needs and emotions of stakeholders. Empathic organizations build strong relationships and foster loyalty.

6.             ADAPTIVE: Developing the agility to respond quickly to changes in the market, technology, or stakeholder needs. Adaptive organizations thrive in the face of disruption and uncertainty.

7.              INNOVATIVE: Fostering a culture that encourages new ideas and continuous improvement. Innovative organizations are at the forefront of creating novel solutions to challenges and opportunities.

8.             RESILIENT: Building the capacity to recover from setbacks and adapt to adversity. Resilient organizations are robust and can sustain their operations and growth despite challenges.

9.             IMPACTFUL: Making a positive difference that goes beyond the organization to benefit the community and environment. Impactful organizations commit to social responsibility and sustainability.

10.           ALIGNED: Ensuring that all aspects of the organization, from its strategy and operations to its culture and stakeholder interactions, are in harmony with its core purpose and values.

11.             EMPOWERED: Providing team members at all levels with the autonomy, resources, and authority to make decisions and take actions that drive the organization forward.

12.           SIGNIFICANT: Achieving a level of influence and importance ensures the organization’s relevance in the future. Significant organizations shape their industries and contribute to setting the direction for future development.

Each step builds on the previous, creating an upward trajectory toward becoming an organization that excels in its current market and shapes its future landscape.

At RoundMap®, we believe in the power of collaboration, innovation, and holistic growth. Join us on this journey of transformation, where we don’t just adapt to change – we lead it, together.

Let’s embrace these pillars and build a future that’s not just profitable but purposeful and impactful.

Knowledge comes by taking things apart. But wisdom comes by putting things together.

John A. Morrison

 

https://tinyurl.com/55snh3mc