Unleash Your Creativity Using Mind Maps

Jayne Cormie shares practical, engaging techniques for unlocking creativity using mind maps. Drawing from decades of experience in training, storytelling, and business consulting, Jayne introduces two key tools—the Six Servants (Kipling Questions) and the Random Input Technique—to help generate, evaluate, and communicate ideas. Through real-world examples, including a successful pitch to Disney, she demonstrates how mind maps move you from blank page to breakthrough ideas, quickly and creatively. Condensed Timestamped Key Topics [00:01:36] Introducing the Six Servants & Mind Map Templates Jayne explains her use of Kipling’s questions (What, Why, Where, When, Who, How) as a go-to creativity starter and shares how a printed template helps her begin any project or challenge—personal or professional. [00:06:52] Case Study: Winning the Disney Pitch with a Mind Map Jayne describes how a large hand-drawn mind map helped her win a competitive pitch against major agencies. She aligned her content to Disney’s philosophy ("Dream, Believe, Dare, Do") and used the map to structure her proposal and deliver it creatively. [00:14:31] Communicating Visually & Memorably The Disney mind map became not only a thinking tool but also a visual aid. Delegates received laminated copies—unlike printed manuals, the map actually got used. Jayne emphasizes the power of using maps as both design and delivery tools. [00:15:18] The Random Input Technique for Idea Generation Borrowing from de Bono, Jayne demonstrates how using random objects, words, or images can unlock surprising creative connections and help populate mind map sub-branches. [00:18:33] Party Planning Demo: From Blank Page to Themed Event Jayne uses a birthday party example to show how combining mind mapping with random inputs can create a theme—e.g., a Hollywood film festival—then flesh it out with ideas for invites, music, catering, and entertainment. [00:28:58] Storytelling with Mind Maps: From Genre to Plot She shares how she uses the same tools to plan fiction and business storytelling. Using her “Six Servants” structure again, she outlines character types, story worlds, themes, and moral arcs. [00:35:25] Push Your Creative Boundaries Jayne encourages viewers to move beyond comfort zones—choose unfamiliar genres, time periods, or formats. Creativity comes from combining divergent elements and letting the brain wander freely. [00:36:15] Learning, Planning, and Communication Courses Brief overview of Jayne’s e-learning programmes, including courses on mind mapping, creativity, strategic thinking, and storytelling—available via The Thinking Business. [00:38:42] Choosing Mapping Tools Based on Purpose & Audience Jayne explains her use of different mind mapping software: MindManager for structure, brainstorming, and exporting iMindMap for communication and creativity Hand-drawn maps for storyboarding, training and idea pitching Tool choice is always based on audience and context. [00:44:18] Mind Mapping in Academic Study Jayne shares how mind mapping helped her earn a first-class MBA and now supports her creative writing Master’s. She uses templates for assignments, characters, and plotting, and shares them with peers.