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An Open Love Letter to Mindjet MindManager 7

by Celine on February 5th, 2008

Dear Mindjet MindManager 7,

Yes, your name is a bit long, but I take pleasure in typing it, saying it, enjoying the sound of each syllable. The alliterative M’s echo what I say in my mind when I think of you, which is, of course, “mmm!”.

First, I have to be honest with you - you are not the first mind mapping program I tried. I was flirting with all sorts of freeware. After I’ve used most of the free alternatives around, I was frustrated. They were too difficult, took forever to load, or were web based. I didn’t need something web based - I needed something I could come home to, a face I’d expect to see when I turn on my work station. I couldn’t find that with my former flings.

Then I thought, “Mind mapping just isn’t for me”. I should’ve known that I was lying to myself.

Of course, that’s when my love story with you started.

Former Pimp Your Work blogger Tris Hussey kept talking about you. I forced myself to give you a try, since I knew that deep down, mind mapping represented my thought processes. I’ve always been a visual person. That’s the quickest way for me to learn and express.

So I said “Hello”, pressed that “Free Trial” button, and before I knew it, I completely bought into your charms. Literally. Roughly $99 worth of charms.

But it was completely worth it. (We did use company funds, but that’s not the point.)

Yes, I’ve had mind mapping tools before, but not one quite like you. What was it about you that captured me so?

Simplicity. One of my frustrations with my previous tools was that they made mind mapping complicated, when it’s supposed to be the simplest thing. A bunch of shapes with arrows and lines. You made mind mapping simple for one who was frustrated, for one who thought it wasn’t for her. For one who almost gave up.

User-friendly. It was very easy to figure you out. It seemed almost intuitive. I never had any doubts in my mind as to where the needed function was - everything you can do can be accessed wherever it needs to be accessed. It was like we’d made an instant connection and you immediately understood my thoughts.

Web-friendly. You are friendly with the web, but not too friendly. I could insert hyperlinks, notes, spreadsheets - and you were also interacting with my Microsoft Office friends.

Beautiful. Your interface is sleek, and soothing to my eyes. Your mind map templates are creative. You know which one is my favorite? The blue and orange one with your faint watermark in the background going “Mindjet Mindjet Mindjet”. Apart from the fact that blue and orange are our corporate colors, reading your name in the background reminds me of a lover’s name etched in a tree.

I do not know if you share these feelings, or if you already know that I think so fondly of you. But what I know is this - my love for you is so strong that I would share you with the world so that they will stand in your light in the way that I already have.

Faithfully yours (or at least until version 8 comes along),

Celine

Tags: , , , , , , ,

POSTED IN: MindManager, MindMapping

5 opinions for An Open Love Letter to Mindjet MindManager 7

  • Benson
    Feb 6, 2020 at 1:07 am

    lol, that’s one creative way to review a product. BRAVO!

  • Celine
    Feb 7, 2020 at 11:15 am

    Thanks! :) Couldn’t help it. Very much in love with it.

  • Andrew Wilcox
    Feb 7, 2020 at 5:46 pm

    Celine

    A very refreshing review. I have been in love with it for ten years.

    You seem to have treated it like a new girl or boy friend. If you want a lasting and rewarding relationship you find out what they want and how they do it.

    Too many people want MindManger to behave like Visio, PowerPoint or the one that did not work for them last time.

    Each version has been better despite the critics. Eight will offer many more opportunities, I am sure.

  • Celine
    Feb 7, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    Thanks for the comment, Andrew :) Glad to hear you’ve formed a lasting relationship with MindManager.

    I’m only scratching the surface with the program right now. I bet with a little more time and practice, I can really see where it can take me and my ideas. (Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to maximize using it for the company as well! )

  • The Mindjet Blog » Open Love Letter to MindManager 7
    Feb 19, 2020 at 10:49 am

    […] quite fitting that Mindjet came across a love letter, from MindManager customer Celine, just in time for Valentine’s […]

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