So, my spreadsheets to organize shit look like roguelike games.
- Thread starter thelorax
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Get basecamp, keep everything as sep projects, sep files, sep to do lists. Free for a simple account with them.
How do you personally use mindmaps? I know its a central topic, with branches of relating topics. Just curious.
I use TeamworkPM for all my projects. They have an iPhone app too so you can check stuff on the go.
I use DropBox to sync all my files, and will upload those to TeamworkPM (major versions) to keep for later or to let clients see what's going on. I've got all my files separated by folders for personal stuff and business stuff. Then I have those broken down too. I've even got SEO Projects in its own top-level folder with shortcuts to the specific site folders deeper in to keep the structure without giving me carpel tunnel.
I'm currently looking into Subversion. That's my next step in keeping track of some of my programing work flow.
But yeah, you need to keep projects separate. Having a single spreadsheet keep track of them all is nice, but you can't expect it to tell you everything. If you want, make one main spreadsheet and link to the others to access the data and update you.
I use DropBox to sync all my files, and will upload those to TeamworkPM (major versions) to keep for later or to let clients see what's going on. I've got all my files separated by folders for personal stuff and business stuff. Then I have those broken down too. I've even got SEO Projects in its own top-level folder with shortcuts to the specific site folders deeper in to keep the structure without giving me carpel tunnel.
I'm currently looking into Subversion. That's my next step in keeping track of some of my programing work flow.
But yeah, you need to keep projects separate. Having a single spreadsheet keep track of them all is nice, but you can't expect it to tell you everything. If you want, make one main spreadsheet and link to the others to access the data and update you.
I use it two different ways.
#1 as it was intended (my understanding of it) by using it to brain storm and graphically show a project in logical groupings. With this I adhere to the one word topics as much as possible so as not restrict new ideas. Also keeping the individual groups down to 5 elements or less. Anymore than 5 the topic gets broken down further into smaller branches.
#2 I use it as a very granular todo / task list. Complete with notes attached to flesh out ideas. I also have it integrated with Outlook. All time sensitive elements have a reminder time that at a glance shows me elements that have gone yellow (due date getting close) and red (past due). With this method I do not adhere strictly to the MindMap suggested method.
I have pretty much eliminated all projects viewed as an outline and now use the mapping system exclusively. With a quick glance I can tell where I'm at and what needs to happen next. It stays dynamic and as the situation changes it forms to the new landscape. If something doesn't get done it's not because it was forgotten about.
#1 as it was intended (my understanding of it) by using it to brain storm and graphically show a project in logical groupings. With this I adhere to the one word topics as much as possible so as not restrict new ideas. Also keeping the individual groups down to 5 elements or less. Anymore than 5 the topic gets broken down further into smaller branches.
#2 I use it as a very granular todo / task list. Complete with notes attached to flesh out ideas. I also have it integrated with Outlook. All time sensitive elements have a reminder time that at a glance shows me elements that have gone yellow (due date getting close) and red (past due). With this method I do not adhere strictly to the MindMap suggested method.
I have pretty much eliminated all projects viewed as an outline and now use the mapping system exclusively. With a quick glance I can tell where I'm at and what needs to happen next. It stays dynamic and as the situation changes it forms to the new landscape. If something doesn't get done it's not because it was forgotten about.
> How do you personally use mindmaps?
Depends which mapping program you use, but I think what you're probably missing is that in many mindmap programs, each 'bubble' can have attributes like due date, completion state, notes, task allocation, url links, document links, etc.
Some programs have an 'Outline view' that basically produces an editable to-do list when you toggle between graphical map and the outline list view. Some also have a static Gantt chart view (or even full Gantt charts with dragable timelines). Some can import/export Outlook task lists, and allow you to send tasks as emails.
So they can be quite powerful. If you've got several projects on the go, dozens of future ideas that you want to record and develop, if you frequently brainstorm stuff, and use GTD lists, then a mind map program might help you keep all that in one place.
The catch is that the free ones are fairly basic, and only tokenistically delve into some of the project management features mentioned above.
Depends which mapping program you use, but I think what you're probably missing is that in many mindmap programs, each 'bubble' can have attributes like due date, completion state, notes, task allocation, url links, document links, etc.
Some programs have an 'Outline view' that basically produces an editable to-do list when you toggle between graphical map and the outline list view. Some also have a static Gantt chart view (or even full Gantt charts with dragable timelines). Some can import/export Outlook task lists, and allow you to send tasks as emails.
So they can be quite powerful. If you've got several projects on the go, dozens of future ideas that you want to record and develop, if you frequently brainstorm stuff, and use GTD lists, then a mind map program might help you keep all that in one place.
The catch is that the free ones are fairly basic, and only tokenistically delve into some of the project management features mentioned above.
I've started using Evernote, I've got a few trivial pieces of information about my sites stored on there already but nothing too sensitive. I'm creating one note per site, pertinent info like which IP it is on, which account was used to create things, etc... I think you can encrypt everything client side before sending it to their servers, once I get that in place I'd probably be comfortable putting just about everything up there.
Check out Bubbl.us if you want a straightforward and quick mindmapping option. They don't have all the robust features (todo's, gantt's, etc..) but they have a great simple interface for outline projects.
this is what I use to plan link building. Numbers indicate the amount of links. In comments I put details. Top row is days. Once task is complete I color it yellow.
Know why I color it yellow?? Because:
(bet you this ^ is the most appropriate use of that gif on this forum)
p.s: btw mindjet is the shit also... used to work for a big telecom. Mindjet is what the big dogs upstairs used for mindmapping.
