FLOW AND SHOW

Sunday, January 31, 2010

MIND MAPPING MY WAY

In January 2009 I wrote these lines answering to Chuck Frey's call at his blog (look here, number 26). They somehow express my view on mind mapping. Let it be interesting to you!

THE PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS A MIND MAP SKETCH I PREPARED ON THE SUBURBAN THAT TOOK ME LAST MONTH TO GETXO, WHERE I WAS PRESENTING MY IDEAS ABOUT GETXOBLOG, A BLOGGERS' MEETING NEAR BILBAO

My name is Eleder Aurtenetxe (1969, BILBAO) and I´ve been caught in this nice trap that takes me to play and share a bit about myself… and how I´m mind maps in this recession time…

Let´s start saying I discovered mind mapping through Robert S. Winter (University of Chicago) in the late 90´s when I met him in the University of the Basque Country. I was a teacher and he came to head the Total Quality Management work… a difficult task indeed, but what a great teacher, Robert!

Mind Manager 5.0 came to my way in my next job in the Biscay Administration as an organization technician through Jon Doncel (thanks!). That was year 2003 or so.

Both two discoveries supposed paradigm changes in my life and career…

I´m delighted to say that I succeeded in “failing” the exams for the administration “for-ever” job… and this has pushed me to follow my dreams…

Mind mapping and Mind Manager are key in my way (I add now, in year 2010, that I'm quite more using XMind nowadays). Some hints to reinforce this statement:

- I´ve just started training people to MM. Really successfully.
- This is the first blog about MM in Basque language: http://www.burumapak.com. I started it 2 months ago.
- All my radio interviews (http://www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz) are based in a MM sketch.
- If you ask any of my 4 small children (uuups! not the 8 months old, yet) “What does dad love doing?” they´ll, all in one, say: “MIND MAPPING!”. So, they may have the good luck to acquire it from the cradle…
- Lots of creative projects come to me all the time and they take their place in a MM and serendipity often happens. This has made me free from fear…

In a word: thanks (partially) to MMing my life has changed from looking for a job to un-jobbing. From fear about my job to joy and play around work, around life. Anything more important could be said?

Eleder
BM31_ BILBAO: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Creativity

Twitter: @Eleder_BM

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Why do I attend OST Learning Exchanges? (by Jo Toepfer - BOSCOP)

I picked this lines by Jo Toepfer from OSLIST and posted them as I find them really interesting. WOSONOS 2010 will be taking place in May 12th to 15th. I think it is an important meeting point, whatever your life is like. Take a minute to consider your participation. More information here

I hope we will see each other in May!

Why do I attend OST Learning Exchanges?

Whenever an OST Learning Exchange (LEX) is going to take place in my
region I try to attend these type of events. And, I always try to
convince my co-workers and clients to do so. There are a couple of good
reasons for this:

First, I have a chance to be at an OST event as participant. This is a
rare chance for me as facilitator to be just a participant. But it
implies a massive learning opportunity to concentrate on my sensations
and feeling while I am just there. I also learn more about my own needs
how and when to apply the law of two feet. This gives me significant
food for thoughts for my work as facilitator.

Second, it is a brilliant opportunity to deepen my knowledge of OST.
Every single LEX is a practical exercise in Action Research. I discover
new countries, situations and fields where OST has been applied. I learn more about possible occasions where OST is appropriate. Colleagues tell
me about their experience and their ways of applying OST in different
countries, situations and fields.

Third, since a whole bunch of colleagues with different backgrounds show
up the LEX represents a chance to meet new and old friends. OST folks
are normally easy going people and it is very easy to get in touch. The
LEX itself transforms into a playground for new ideas and projects that
I would never ever have been able to create on my own. When I go home
and browse through the Book of Proceeding with all the projects and
agreements made I am normally surprised and feel gifted with a lot of
new opportunities.

Fourth, at a LEX I advance my facilitation skills. I have a chance to
reflect upon the way to facilitate OST events. This includes reflection
about pre- and after work and logistical aspects. We tell each other the
way we work and this is a tremendous rich resource of differences. This
includes not only behavioural aspects of the facilitation work but also
technical details of materials used, timing for set-up and take-down,
size of the team, type of paper used, computing and software applications.

Fifth, there is normally an issues like "One thing less to do" and I
love it. For me this represents a very productive mental exercise to
find out things that are not necessary to do and we can call the result
still an OST event. This makes life much easier for me.

Sixth, Every single LEX is a good chance to spread OST. Since the group
of participants is diverse it includes not only facilitators (which
would turn the event into a boring occasion) but also assistants,
helpers, sponsors, to name just a few. I walked never away from a LEX
without at least a prospect of a future assignment. It simply have the
chance to advertise myself for free and this supports my business.

I hope to see you at one of these events in future!
--

Jo Toepfer, boscop eg
Dolziger Str. 40, 10247 Berlin
++49-30-42018000
www.boscop.org

Eleder

BM31: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Sormena

TWITTER: Eleder_BM

Sunday, November 15, 2009

MANIFESTO

I recently took part in HELLO CHANGE!... These two writings where the answers to a question: "tell us about a project of yours', successful or not, in two ways: 1. as if you were speaking in front of a big audience; and 2. as if you where writing in Funky projects' (the company that designed Hello Change! as their hiring process) blog"

1... IN FRONT OF A BIG AUDIENCE

Have you ever experienced something inside you asking for change? Change to a more purposeful and fun living style? Do you sometimes hear a deep inner voice that says: "give up this job, sack your boss, follow your dreams!”. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

I spent some ten years in "comfortable" jobs, but I never felt fulfilled. One always knows it, but comfort is a hard drug. When used to it, the body needs more of it,... One good day I started again. From zero. I just stopped, took breathe, listened and set on. I started freelancing on the tasks I can accomplish due to my personality, experience, training and abilities. It's growing and it's exciting, and I can assure it to you: there is not a single minute I feel bored.

The word "job" does no more make sense. No boss, no clients,... just project-mates, life-mates. Family- and social- life is much easier and richer. One's whole life becomes a project, a life-project. It all makes sense again.

Do you know the good news? You are free too. Awake and act. Start. Now!

2.... AT FUNKY PROJECTS' BLOG

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Everything makes sense now. Not a single minute is useless. Connections appear all the time. All the people around can help. One idea makes place to another one, that sums up with another mate's one,... The buzz is started. It won't stop. It'll just grow, spread and multiply. The creativity virus has caught me. Fear is history. Dreams are the motor. Now as a freelance. Tomorrow collaborating with Funky Projects and all the happy shiny people out there.

Cheers!

Eleder

BM31: Mind Mapping-Open Space Technology-Sormena

TWITTER: Eleder_BM

Monday, October 19, 2009

THE MAYOR INVITES TO OPEN SPACE

Kai Degner, mayor of Harrisonbourg, wrote yesterday to OSLIST to share thies video in which we can get a good taste of what an Open Space meeting is and why it works so well.

It was the second OS in Harrisonbourg after May’s Sustainability Summit where they were honoured to have Harrison Owen, the founder of Open Space Technology, come visit Kay to give guidance on how to design the first summit. Over 150 people came, created 30 break out conversations, and turned downtown into a conference center.

Harrisonburg Summits continue, with two more planned this year (Intercultural/Interfaith Oct 22 and Sustainability II Nov 14).

____________________________________________________________________________
BM31_BILBAO

Mind mapping - Open Space Technology - Creativity
________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WHAT MAKES A GREAT BLOG POST

Paul Foreman has a very interesting website: Mind Mapping Inspiration.

He runs also a mailing list which is usually very worthy. Interesting subjects taken to artfully hand-made mind maps. You can subscribe in here to have a taste.

Today he has gave as a good present with this mind map: 101 Answers to What Makes a Great Blog Post.

If you have a blog or are considering to write in anyone I'm sure it will inspire you with some insight.

Cheers!

flowandshow@gmail.com

Eleder Aurtenetxe Pildain
BM31_BILBAO

Mind mapping - Open Space Technology - Creativity

www.flowandshow.blogspot.com
www.in-fluyendo.blogspot.com

www.burumapak.blogspot.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

ABOUT FLOW & SHOW

Ibaizabal river in Bilbao. Photo by Jose Manuel Vargas

This blog is written by someone who uses English as a tool to learn from and communicate with the world. I can read and understand English quite well. When I write I may make some mistakes, but I hope you will understand the message.

I start this blog in English as a window to the world.

Some months ago I started my first blog: BURU-MAPAK in Basque language mainly. I'm passionate about our ancient language, which is joyful for (almost) whatever original contribution...

Some days ago I started another blog in Spanish: IN-FLUYENDO. Trying my way as a freelance in the creativity field may be more realistic if I work for the Spanish market also. That's why I'll be posting bits and pieces in Spanish too.

FLOW&SHOW will be the third piece of the puzzle. The main learning resources and communitiesI learn from and take part in are English language ones. They also get interested in who I am, what I do,... I hope FLOW&SHOW will somehow answer these questions.

And, why did I start blogging some months ago? As I've just said, in winter 2008 I started my freelancing path, which aims to an integral lifestyle in which everything I do makes sense. The fields I'm focusing on: mind mapping, open space technology and creativity. Training and facilitation.

Those three blogs will be the way I'll tell about my activity and thinking (mainly related to these fields).

Hope it'll flow and show... just a bit, at least!