Paul's Handy Little Guide to the Warrior Forum

[Paul Myers]

This was originally a free WSO. I think it might make a useful New Year's gift for the members here. So, no sign-ups required. Just download the attachment and unzip it.

You'll need a mindmapping program to use the thing. It was created using Freemind, which you can download at Download - FreeMind

It's available for most operating systems, and it's free.

If you already have a mindmapping program, you might try and see if it will open in that. It works with some others beside Freemind.

Here's the basic description from the original thread...

It's a treasure map.

Specifically, a nifty widget I put together to help you get more results from your use of this place. I call it...

Paul's Handy Little Guide to the Warrior Forum

It's rendered in the form of a mindmap. No, not one of those silly PDFs that you look at and think "Whoah. That's kinda cool" and then forget about because most of it doesn't have anything to do with the real world. Nope. You're gonna think, "Whoooah! That's REALLY COOL!"

And it's not a PDF. It's the original code for the mindmap, which you can tailor to your own needs.

I mean... come on. Seriously.

The real magic comes after that. If you're smarter than my cat (and you know you are), you'll actually do something useful with it.

It's deceptively simple. (The product. Not the ad copy.)

What you get is not what you'll end up with. The starting point is a mindmap (did I mention that?) which covers the whole forum. It includes links to posts on the rules, general moderation policy, every section in the place, and some of the more useful posts on getting the most out of your time here.

It also offers a few handy ideas a smart gal or fella could turn into some extra cash.

It's laid out in a way that will be useful for absolute beginners to the forum, and can easily be adapted to serve the grandiose plans for conquest of the most experienced Warrior Overlord Wannabe. (That would be you, yes?)

The manual says I'm supposed to do this every so often, so here are some more bullet points.

• It's a handy reference source

• It's a personal checklist

• It's a cool planning tool

• It's a wicked brainstorming system

• It's a floor wax and a dessert topping!

Sorry. I had to do it. You were starting to take the whole thing too seriously. Remember: It's all an experiment.

What it is mostly, aside from that, is a lesson in possibility thinking, and in turning possibilities into reality. Including being a live example of an easy and inexpensive way to create new products or bonuses or free giveaways that people actually use and get involved with.

Whoah. Head rush.

The software to work with the mindmap is free, and available for Windoze, Linux, the fruity toymaker's machines, and most iThings and Android critters. Yes, you can even work with it on a smartphone.

It was born on one.

No, I am not kidding. I was out for dinner one evening and overheard a discussion between a couple at the next table. They were talking about their kids. The guy complained about how they have all these resources available to them that he didn't have when he was younger, and haven't the sense to use them properly. The woman said, "What do we have to do, draw them a map?"

It was like getting a text message from the Idea Fairy.

I whipped out my trusty phone, captured the idea in Thinking Space, and saved it in Dropbox. It was waiting on my desktop machine when I got home. I suppose you could say I stole the concept from an elderly couple from Indianapolis.

Maybe I should have paid their dinner bill?

For those of you who are new to this, just click on the filename below to start the download.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Thanks Paul. I hadn't come across this before, but will give it a look over. Happy New Years!

[seoglobalexperts004]

Thanks Sir for such a gift for this new year.... :P

[ErikNilsson]

Thank you Paul.... As usual you are cool

[Pauline Bennett]

Thanks so much Paul, really useful
Pauline

[Paul Myers]

Marianne,

I've been contemplating a couple of WF-related ventures, and after playing around with your Mind Map for the last ten minutes, my mind is already reeling with possibilities.

[chuckle] Yeah. This place can do that to you.

The real old-timers here know how much more there is to the forum than there was "back in the daze." As in, 1997 to 2002. We had a single forum section. Period. No automatic signatures, even. Technologically, it was a desert.

On the flip side, folks who made it to the forum then were early adopters, and more than a little innovative. The group was small compared to our current horde, but they were all more adventurous and open to partnerships and trying new things.

Mix that spirit with the options available now, and there's no telling what you could accomplish. And some people are doing just that.


Paul

[WikiWarrior]

Wow, this is a great little guide Paul, thanks. Got my wheels spinning with ideas. I've been a member for a couple years and didn't even realise we could list a free ebook for others.

That FreeMind tool is really cool. I love the compact layout and all the little icons. I've been using Mindmeister to date but might give FreeMind a whirl for my next mindmap.

[Andyhenry]

Is it free?

[Richard Van]

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

Is it free?

Apparently it is but there's no money back guarantee Andy, that put me right off I can tell you.

I think this "Myers" chap is just building up to a WSO.

[Eduard Stinga]

Can I get a refund ASAP? Here's the PayPal transaction ID: 3333-21112s-x214231-541326td

J/k

Definitely a good download - got it from your free WSO some while ago (last year)

[sbucciarel]

Does it do the dishes?
Can I get a refund?

I kid. I got it. Thanks for the gift.

[dealers]

Thanks, Paul, for the ideas...

- Rick

[mvirtual]

Thank you for this great new year gift Paul. It is perfect for newbies and advanced warriors.

[tjmiller]

Thanks so much Paul! I got the link to this in my email this morning, and clicked over to check it out. You said you didn't want rah-rahs, just ideas on how this is useful to us.

Your mind map gave me a few ideas about using some sections of the WF that I haven't before. It will certainly be handy for that. It does just what I always knew a mind map would do, and that is to lay things out in front of you.

What was even more helpful to me was the pdf guide to using the mind map. I've only recently started using mind maps. It wasn't originally my tool of choice. But the way you talk about using them, I can see myself very quickly become a true convert.

I've always thought of them as being a static, visual sort of tool - kind of a "pretty outline." The way you describe using a mind map, it is so much more dynamic and interactive. You definitely flipped my idea switch.

Thanks, and Happy New Year.

By the way, yours are some of the few emails that I ALWAYS read.

[Stefan S]

Thanks Paul

And Happy New Year to you too

---
Stefan

[TimAtkinson]

Nice Paul and thank you! I have gone through this and it's a great resource. I vote to have this as a sticky I appreciate everything you do for us on the forum. Happy New Year

[Christian C]

What a great way to kick off the year - this really gets my creative tech side going. There is so much that I can do with technology in implementing and creating but from which I have shied away from before. Looking to change that in 2012.

This is a great start. Thanks for the free gift! Happy New Years.

[HeySal]

Technology = smarter than cat? Oh freaking meow.
No idea what some of that you were rattling about means. But thank you very much for the vote of confidence. I'm going to be downloading the software and product. It will be interesting to find out if I am indeed smarter than the average house pet. If my dog is any indication of that........this is going to be a long tough haul.

Thanks Paul - happy new year.

[HonestJ]

Paul,

Thank you for your generosity! A great tool for a successful 2012!

Cheers!

[tpw]

I bow down Paul and kiss your shoes. It sure beats kissing what other people do... j/k

[sbucciarel]

So I just installed the Free Mind application and opened it up. That is way cool. First Mind Map I've seen.

[Steve Hunt]

Thanks for this Paul, a nifty and helpful little new year pressie to play around with

[Paul Myers]

Marianne,

Now clearly there's a right way and a wrong way to do this. But while I've tried to introduce myself with great care (avoiding anything at all "spammy"), I've often secretly wondered if unsolicited intros might be perceived by Warrior vets as a faux pas.

Your Mind Map has given me the confidence to proceed with caution!

I think the closest I can come to expressing a proper guideline would be: Would this approach be considered polite and appropriate by most people if you made it face-to-face? At, say, an industry conference...

We don't usually get nasty about normal introductions and JV proposals, as long as they're not just excuses for a sales pitch. I doubt you'd be likely to cross that line. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't even aware the line exists.

Suzanne,

First Mind Map I've seen.

Really? Wow.

Have fun with them.

Sal,

I specifically said, "smarter than my cat." His name is Dumbass, so that should give you a bit more slack than you might have expected.

Bill, Andy, Richard, Eduard, and Suzanne,

You may all consider yourselves "told."

To everyone else who's commented so far... I hope the thing helps you make a ton more money this year.


Paul

[Tamara Watts]

Thank you Paul!

[Jacqueline Smith]

Thank you Paul!

You seem to have a knack for getting my creative juices flowing. Hopefully this will help me start the new year off with some great insight!

[Paul Myers]

Jacqueline,

You seem to have a knack for getting my creative juices flowing.

Nah. I just give you occasional tools you can use to do that for yourself. This is actually one of my least creative efforts. It's just an outline of something that was already there.

The thing with a working mindmap is that, once you start working with it, you steer yourself, rather than being directed by the vision (or lack thereof) of the creator. It becomes YOUR system. And because you can change it into anything you like, or connect whatever pieces seem to fit in your own mind, you see things you were looking for but didn't know existed.

That is all on you, ma'am.


Paul

[drmani]

The first link, expanded into the first set of guidelines, said:

"Should include a call to action"

Duh!

I changed my signature accordingly

Now to read the rest!

Thanks, Paul. Happy New Year.

All success
Dr.Mani

[Torreylee]

Awesome download Paul. Cheers!!!

[James Brown]

Great stuff Paul, super cool to read this & refresh the ol brain cells

[Justzoe]

Thank you Paul

[Kezz]

Good idea!

If I could offer a secondary suggestion, it's possible to import .mm mind maps into Mind42.com and create publicly available mind maps.

Could be a great link to add to a "New to the WF? Read this first" sticky post.

[Britt Malka]

That went directly into my Paul Myer's folder. Thanks added

I'll remove them, if the product wasn't worth it, but I would be surprised ;-) So far I've liked everything coming from Paul Myers.

[mainsource]

Thank you Paul, have a great 2012!

[mywebwork]

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

• It's a floor wax and a dessert topping!

Paul, I'm confused. Is the PDF the dessert topping, or is it the mindmap file? I would hate to get the two mixed up!



Seriously this is a great resource, thanks for sharing it. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012!

Bill

[Paul Myers]

Bill,

I'm confused. Is the PDF the dessert topping, or is it the mindmap file? I would hate to get the two mixed up!

[sigh] Lousy documentation on my part. Sorry.

You are supposed to mix them. When the foam settles down and the toxic fumes dissipate, the resulting paste can be used for either purpose.


Paul

PS: Do not mix near, or serve to, children, the elderly, or anyone who has ever seen a physician in any capacity or for any reason. Including one just walking by at the mall.

[The Lighthouse]

Thank you, Paul! It is a big help for newbies like me!

[aeri]

Thank you for the gift! =) Looked over it and I like your warrior map breakdown and explanation!

[mvimes]

Thanks Paul - being new to the forum this is very useful.

[Cybria]

Thank you Paul, this is a great tool!

[Steven Miranda]

Really cool guide, thanks Paul!

[Cybria]

Paul, thanks so much for this tool. It's helped a lot in helping me get organized. I can offer no criticisms/suggestions as it does everything you meant it to do. I am reading NeedToKnow.pdf now. Thanks again...thank you thank you!

[john b]

thanks for the free tool, gonna dive right in tonight

thanks,
john b

[hustlinsmoke]

Just answered about a dozen of my unanswered questions. Thanks.

[Paul Myers]

Nick,

Just answered about a dozen of my unanswered questions. Thanks.

Cool.

You surprised me with the question about private discussions. Not so much the topic, but the fact that I don't think I've ever seen anyone ask that here before.

But hey... It's in there.


Paul

[stuff2]

thank you very much
I am very fan of mindmaps. Looking forward to checking it out.

[theysawgold]

Thanks Paul for sharing!

[The Lighthouse]

Thanks a lot! Maps are handy and really help a lot especially for newbies like me. Have a fantastic 2012!

[Daniel Evans]

Thanks!

A good read on my dinner break!

[deejones]

Thanks for this. I'm going through it right now.

[slick54]

Thank you for the free resource, may the giving come back ten fold for you!