Biggerplate Development Options

We have been spending some time recently considering what the options might be for the next stage of development for Biggerplate.com. With the current financial meltdown restricting budgets, we are looking carefully at what changes and additions might be of most value to Biggerplate and its members!

We decided an interesting way of deciding what might be the most valuable changes would be to throw the map onto Biggerplate and see if any of our members offered opinions and feedback regarding the ideas being discussed.

We have therefore uploaded our map, which is a very simple map that we have been using in our meetings to consider the added value of certain additions for Biggerplate, and for our members. This map originally started as a huge brainstorming session where we gathered ideas about what might be done next, and over time, we have condensed it down to what you see now on the map.
We hope you might consider downloading the map, having a read, then posting your thoughts in the comments box on the site below the map. We would really appreciate any thoughts, ideas, and feedback, as we are keen to ensure that the changes we make really enhance the site experience for you the user. Let us know what you think, and you can help shape the future of Biggerplate.com!

How to Twitter for Business

Once again Michael Deutch is putting his mapping to use for the greater good by providing an excellent map on "How to Twitter for Business" for anyone (like me) who is trying to get to grips with Twitter and its potential uses for individuals and businesses.

The map is packed full of useful advice and tips as to how to get the most out of twitter, including a "10 Best Practices" and "7 Things to Avoid" which should help newcomers to the site avoid making a Twitter faux pas!

Perhaps most useful (and potentially daunting) is the "Terrific Twitter Tools" section of the map, which shows just how much additional functionality can be harnessed through Twitter to create a marketing medium unlike any other.

This map is well worth a look, and if you have a moment, why not leave Michael a comment on Biggerplate!

The Hammer and the Screwdriver

The Hammer and the Screwdriver are respectively two of the most useful tools that have ever been at the disposal of man. Both are noble tools of great heritage, enabling man to attach stuff to other stuff for years, through the age old combinations of hammer and nail, screwdriver and screw.

While these two implements serve equally useful and profound purposes, it is important to recognise that each tool has its own limitations and in certain circumstances, one cannot do the work of the other. Sometimes the aggression of the hammer must be replaced with the slow methodical operation of the screwdriver, and sometimes the slower methodical approach of the screwdriver must be replaced by the ability to knock the crap out of something.

So why the tool-time chat? Essentially I think computer tools are no different, and a couple of situations over the last couple of weeks have made me realise that sometimes people can be far too attached to mapping or mindmanager to realise that it is not actually the correct tool for the job! No matter how good it is, it cannot (for example) do the calculating and formulating that an excel spreadsheet can do; so dont try and use it for predicting complex cash flow (you know who you are!) Recognise that other tools (word, powerpoint, excel etc) have their uses, and then learn to recognise if and when your preferred tool(s) can be used instead, or in addition.

Fully understanding which tools are most appropriate for which tasks mean you will very quickly be able to decide whether you want to map or chart, to word process or slide create, and in the case of the hammer and screwdriver; to bang... or screw.

Moral of the story: Dont get MindMap Blindness!!!