Need help.

[urhk]

Hi,

How to shorten the time in moving the existing filing structures into a preferred structure (one such as IM-index?. It seems it will take me forever to organize the way... also the it's sometimes confusing when to file under "My stuff" or "IM info", whereby, "My Niches" can also overlap with files that supposedly go to "My Stuff".  I still have problem finding information after using IM-index.

I would appreciate if Index v.3. can also show us:
1) How to organize IM emails
2) How and when to backup the files for future archiving to prevent hard disk error / crashes

Cheers

Roy

[Alex Goodall]

Roy

First of all, I would not continue using My Stuff.

Move that into the relevant part of Operations since that gives you many more options for storing your information, an also allows for multiple projects.

In V2, I've tried to make it clear about the difference between the A-Z type material and the Operations (what was My Stuff) material by putting them in different sides of the Map.

Think of everything under "Reference" as a cross between your Library and your Storeroom.

When you want to store any books or other reference that you might want to learn from, or lare volumes of content that you might need someday, or stuff that you might want to sell - put that in relevatn part of Reference.

Think of Operations as your Office with its filing cabinets for storing your records and content that you actually are using on a project or multiple projects or generally in your business.

This rule isn't hard and fast, and you can obviously adapt it to suit how your business works best.

I've included detailed Notes against most of the topics under Operations to help you work out your options for storing content. That might help you.

For example, if you handle a lof of Niches and it doesn't make sense to have a seperate Project for each Niche, then perhaps have a single "Niche Project" under Operations for common material across all Niches, but store content specific to each niche under Niches.

If you think there is more than one place to store some type of content, decide on which place is the most convenient for your business and use that.

In the short term, there is no short-cut to moving your content into the right places, although I do know this is a major task for people. the other day I had the beginnings of an idea of how to make this task easier - but it will be a few months before this can be available.

Thanks for you input re V3.

Alex

[doxadon]

Where can I find the (a) write-up describing how to really use the new IM-Index structures?  The notes attached to each "branch" don't seem to provide that kind of detail.  Maybe I missed something somewhere...

Thanks!

Scott <><

[Alex Goodall]

Scott

I thought the notes attached to the topics DID provide enough detail! But if they aren't asnwering your questions, then I need to address that.

Are you really after "detail" or do you need help on "where do I start?"

If you need detail, can you give me an example of a detailed question you have so I can judge the sort of help you need.

I'm slowly getting videos created for the sales page, and they should also serve as training videos. I'll create more if not.)

Regards

Alex

[doxadon]

Hey, Alex.  The videos may well do it, but I'm looking for an in-one-place document that really outlines the strategy for using each section.  All the notes (when taken together) may paint the whole picture, but unless you have some idea about which pieces really fit together, it's difficult to know which notes to aggregate.  I'm not sure if that makes sense to you.  I hope so!!

Thanks!

Scott <><

[Alex Goodall]

Scott

OK - that does make sense. You want a big-picture overview rather than the details of individual topics.

I think the videos will do that.

I'm posting them here in the forum as I create them.

Take a look at this topic:

http://im-index.com/openforum/index.php/topic,16.0.html

Alex

[doxadon]

Thanks, Alex.  I'll take a look.

Scott <><

[Reg]

Alex

I can't seem to login to the members area. My old password wouldn't get me in so I tried forget password and the new one that was emailed to me won't let me in either.

HELP!

Thx....Reg

[Alex Goodall]

Alex

I can't seem to login to the members area. My old password wouldn't get me in so I tried forget password and the new one that was emailed to me won't let me in either.

HELP!

Thx....Reg

Reg

Would you try asking for a new password again, and if it fails again when you try to use it, please PM it to me.

Also, please ensure you use the correct email address during the login.

Alex

[Essie]

Hello,

Just adding my plug for a written item/product that lays out the structure big-picture style and aggregates the Notes. I realize you are putting your resources into making videos, and this is what the majority will probably prefer.

However, some of us still are text-oriented information people (even if we love mind maps) such that having a schema of the IM Index in writing, in text, would be delightfully helpful as an online PDF and printed-out reference.

Perhaps your notes for the videos could be the basis for a written reference?

Thanks for being so open to feedback.

Essie

[Alex Goodall]

I'm not getting a groundswell of requests for this, but one thing I could do relatively easily would be to export the whole map, including the Notes, into a pdf.

Would that at least partly address the problem?

Alex

[nig47]

Hi Alex,
There are probably many more people than you think would like to be able to read how to do something rather than have to waste time watching a video the whole way through just for one snippet of information that has been forgotten.
Videos have their place but I think they are now being overused and should never replace a good manual where we are able to go straight to the area of confusion.
Also not all people either have the time or can be bothered to write in forums so some will just give up and move on.
I like what you have done so I do not want to sound too negative as it will help me a lot in the future as I move everything over into your system.

On another issue I cannot get the search feature to find anything at all and use the windows search instead.Have I missed something ?

Nigel

[Alex Goodall]

Hi Nigel

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like I need to add this to my todo list for sure.

I have some promotional activities to complete, then I'll write the manual.

As regards the search: the Mind Map search searches only the map  - topics, notes and URLs - not the content of the folders pointed to by the map.

For that you need some form of desktop search, as you are doing. I used to recommend Copernic, but I'm finding it slows down my machine intolerably. That might just be my configuration, so it might be worth trying.

Regards

Alex

[nig47]

Hi Alex,
Thanks for the prompt reply.Yes I used to use Copernic but, like you,I found it was heavy on computer resources.
When I file something in your mindmap I have to write the name of the download in my notebook or I will surely forget many of the things that I have filed away.
Yes I know I could have them all in Xcel but I like my notebook! There's still room for paper notes.

Nigel

[trevorbaret]

Hi Alex,

This is my first entry to the forum.

I was trying to find out where I could get a really thorough overview of the system - yes - I am a bit lost as to where to start.

I put things in place (I think) only to find later that there is another folder which might be more appropriate...  Then, of course, I have to go searching because the place I thought I put the file is not where it is at all - I admit it - sometimes my filing is not as smart as I would like it to be...

For my own mailing lists, I like to write a book of instructions with screen shots, rather than make a movie.  I can make a movie as well, but from my own viewpoint, I like to be able to refer to the pictures and text on my desk beside the keyboard, while I am working on the computer.  With a movie, I have to keep pausing the movie, minimise that window to go to do the task which has just been described, then restore the movie window again....  It is also sometimes difficult to "rewind" a video to a particular spot if you want to review what was just explained...

I think that videos have their place, but here, you are needing to explain a big topic with many complexities - I know - it is designed to make life easier for us, and I am certain that it will.  It is just difficult getting started.

For example, a couple of weeks ago, I put my copy of the Expert Guide (in a folder with the re-branding software) in the Mind Mapping folder under A - Z.  When I mentioned this to you in an email, you said that I had put it on the wrong side of the Index and that it should be on the Projects side.  I believe you, as you are the expert on this, but, for the life of me, I can't figure out where it should go in Projects, so it currently remains under A - Z, because I know where to find it...

I am very willing to bow to your expertise in this, but I need guidance.

I think that the notes that you include in the mind map are great, but it is difficult when you have no idea of where to go, to find the right note to tell you what to do.  They are most useful to me to let me know that I am about to file something in the wrong place, but they usually don't help me find the right place...

I must agree with Nigel (nig47) who suggested that there are a lot out there who will just give up rather than write to a forum.

I am one of those who loves the tactility of books.  Certainly, a print out of a pdf, even when bound with a ring binder, is not the same as a real book, but it still has huge advantages over a movie.  It is easy to flip back and forth to find the specific thing you are looking for, particularly if the book is well indexed.

The IM Index is too big a subject for movies, unless you plan to make something like "Lord of the Rings" (fantastic movies, by the way - it is hard to imagine anyone doing better than Peter Jackson did with these - but I still like to pick up the books to review some of my favorite sections).  I think a well designed eBook would do the job very well.

I hope this feedback helps

Regards,
Trevor

[trevorbaret]

OK - being greedy now...

Two posts so close together.

You had "greyed out" - almost - the "My Stuff" section, and you say you wouldn't continue using "My Stuff".

I never used V1, so I don't have anything filed in those folders - so you would think that this would not bother or affect me too much.

BUT - all of those things listed under "My Records" and "My Promotional Records" are really useful and I think it is appropriate to keep them all together.  You say that you have put them all in more suitable places on the two sides of the Index, but I have not been able to find some yet...

Would it be possible to have a "My Records" section - perhaps near "Operation Logs" which includes all of these folders, documents and Excel files?  Possibly even have these as shortcuts to the files where they live in more specific homes.  By keeping all of these types of records together, it is easier to find them quickly to update.

Just a thought, based on personal preference...

Regards,
Trevor

[Alex Goodall]

Hello Trevor

Thanks for your considered post.

I have a draft "exported" version of the Map as a pdf form which should go some way to address your needs. I hope to finish it off over the next few days. Feel free to give me prod if you hear nothing for a while! I'll make it available to all members in the Member area.

As for where to put the Expert Guide: two answers...

1. Where you know you will find it again! If you're happy with where you're putting it now - keep on doing that. The main point is to be able to find it again, rather than to comply with the "authoritative guidance".

2. If you Do want "authoritative guidance", then here it is....

It is something you are planning to use operationally - so it should have a home under "Operations". As always, there two options there. The Green and the Brown.

The Brown:

If your use of the Guide is related to some specific project you have set up (e.g. perhaps you want to be in the "being organized in IM niche" yourself in a serious way, in which case you would create a specific Project for that, and the Guide would be stored in the folder linked to the topic

P-JVs & Special Affiliate Programs

(read the guidance notes under that topic) - perhaps under a folder that you create named "OxfordAndBoston" to separate out affiliate info that I provide from that provided by others in this niche that you are an affiliate of.

Note that you will only see that topic as a sub-topic of the brown THIS PROJECT Information when you're looking at a Project map, with a blue background).

The Green:

On the other hand (more likely), if your use of the Guide is NOT related to any specific project, store it in the folder linked to the topic

AP-JVs & Special Affiliate Programs (All Projects)

... again, probably under a folder that you create called "OxfordAndBoston".

In relation to the V1 Compatibilty topics....

I don't want to raise the profile of those topics because it will cause confusion. Nearly all of those have equivalents in the main map - those that don't I felt were not needed. And it's important to maintain the distinction between the "All Projects" (Green) versions and the "Project Specific" versions (Brown), which the V1 topics do not.

If you feel there are V1 topics that don't exist in the main V2 area that ARE important, please let me know.

Also, if you think there are additional specific documents that can be added to the "Operations Logs" section of the Quick Links (which is where I bring together links to the most likely most-used documents)

Regards

Alex

[trevorbaret]

Hi Alex,

You said to give you a prod if we hadn't heard about the pdf version of your "exported" version of the Map...

Consider yourself prodded ;-)

Regards,
Trevor