This holiday I went diving and fishing in the lovely Doubtless Bay located on the upper East coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I was introduced to fishing for Snapper using soft bait by my boating partner Stephen. The results were remarkable as my photo illustrates. However, it was not only the soft bait that lead to the excellent fishing result - my fishing success can largely be attributed to having someone available to coach me who had a vast amount of experience regarding fishing technique, weather conditions and the Bay we were fishing . This got me to thinking about my own training and coaching business and how often I get clients purchasing MindManager but declining the opportunity to attend a course or opting for mentoring to become skilled in using the software. My core belief is that the most important aspect of deciding to purchase a piece of software is not the purchase per se. It resides in the ability of the user to understand and apply MindManager functionality in context according to a predefined need to achieve a predefined result. What I am going to attempt in this blog article is to link my own experience to business practice using MindManager.
Having the right equipment
In the same way as a fishing rod is a hunting tool used to catch fish, MindManager is a business tool used to improve business results. In fishing having the correct rod and reel as well as the correct fishing bait is important to be able to achieve the desired result- a fish at the end of your line. When you go fishing you normally go to great lengths to make sure your fishing gear meets certain criteria. Similarly in business when you make a decision to purchase a piece of software it is based on a desire to use the software in a way that achieves a desired result. In the case of MindManager it is normally being able to use MindManager to visualize business results, develop strategic or business plans or to manage business projects more effectively to a desired result. However, buying a piece of software is not enough. Learning how to use it to achieve a desired result needs to be factored in to the overall purchasing equation. What many clients do not comprehend is that this equates to a cost savings by ensuring MindManager gets used as a business tool that delivers on desired outcomes. When one buys a car or a boat or an aeroplane one must acquire a skill set to operate each competently and effectively.Learning to use software to it maximum potential and acquiring a relevant software specific skills set (MindManager) means a potential gain of days, weeks and months of productivity.
Developing technique
Having a good fishing rod does not make the fisherman. With fishing there are many variables that need to be taken in to account - location,weather conditions, bait, etc. These change at a constant rate and the competent fisherman changes fishing technique to meet the changing variables to maximise fishing result. Similarly in business having a software product, in this case MindManager ,does not make the businessperson. Business conditions constantly change and the competent business person adapts business approach to meet the challenges to maximise business outcome.
With fishing you need to know what line to use, what bait to use, how to cast, how to strike and more importantly how to adapt fishing technique to the type of fish you are trying to catch. This does not happen by chance. it happens either from years of fishing experience, or more likely from watching and learning from someone such as a father,mother, uncle or brother or a close friend - a fishing mentor or coach. My recent fishing experience attests to the value of an experienced coach. My first boat trip was disappointing in that I kept on missing to hook my fish whilst Stephen kept on reeling them in. Seeing my downcast state he put aside his rod and spent time taking me through the techniques of fishing for Snapper using soft bait. The result ? Success in catching enough fish to feed the family. From a business perspective this is what also works most effectively in achieving results. Taking time to learn how to use MindManager functionality contextualised to business need for optimizing business result.
