I’ve often asked people I coach what is the one most important skill that we could learn that would dramatically transform our lives? Most people actually say that networking and building relationships with others is the most important skill we could learn to master. I don’t argue with this answer, as this skill is absolutely critical, however do you ever catch yourself asking…

These are typical questions that we tend to ask ourselves on a daily basis and make us feel inadequate and incapable.

When things are going well most of us feel on top of the world. We’re full of confidence and optimism, in fact we feel unstoppable and psychologically strong. However, this only lasts so long, because when unexpected things go wrong or problems arise we begin to question our own abilities, which leads to stress, doubt and pessimism.

The fact is that we are not naturally wired to deal with pressure situations in an effective and efficient manner for this day and age. Going back to our cave-dwelling days we would either fight when danger came our way, or we would literally run the other way. Today this strategy doesn’t work so well, however this doesn’t stop many of us reacting to unexpected problems, pressure or circumstances as our cave-dwelling ancestors did so long ago. We either respond angrily towards circumstances or we get down on ourselves and wilt emotionally under the pressure.

Life always has, is and always will be full of problems. In fact problems are the things that encourage progress, growth and development.

If we dig into the historic landscape and lives of our ancestors growing up throughout the ages we will discover that every great breakthrough that was made was preceded by a mostly unexpected problem. Some of our ancestors wilted under the pressure and took no steps forward, while others stepped up by utilizing the creative and critical thinking capacity to come up with solutions that moved society and technology forward into the future we are experiencing today.

Without the discovery of these solutions there would be no progress. Life would be stagnant and the world as we know it would certainly not be as it is today.

History has proved time and again that the one skill that separates the highest achievers from the rest is our ability to think critically and creatively under difficult circumstances. In fact battles have been won, great monuments have been built and incredible breakthroughs have been made by individuals who were able to think effectively under difficult conditions while facing seemingly insurmountable problems.

What can we learn from these individuals? What did they do specifically that helped them create the world as we know it?

The most important skill you can learn to master to achieve your life’s goals and objectives isn’t networking or relationships building, it’s not time management, sales or marketing. It’s none of these because these skills are worthless if you don’t have the capacity to think effectively under difficult situations.

The skill of effective thinking is incredibly powerful and it will naturally enhance all the other skills you have in your personal repertoire. You must simply take the time to learn and master this skill step-by-step, and there’s no better way to learn this material than by using a mind map.

This material is presented within a mind map because of it’s simplicity and easy of use.

Here are the key advantages that result from using a mind map as a reference tool on a particular topic area:

So What’s Included in the Effective Thinker Bundle Pack?

The Effective Thinker bundle pieces together some of the best information, strategies, tools and techniques about how to improve your ability to think effectively and efficiently under different circumstances. The six mind maps (plus bonus maps) that are included within this package are designed to help you incorporate simple yet practical tools that will naturally force you to think more flexibly about problems and difficulties in your life. Keep reading to learn more about each mind map and how it could potentially assist you in reaching your goal to become a more effective thinker.

#1: Six Thinking Hats

This mind map will help you to think more effectively, critically and creatively about life’s problems and circumstances using the six thinking hats process originally created by Edward de Bono. The mind map breaks down the following six thinking hats:

• Managerial Blue Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the blue hat. The blue hat’s main objectives are to organize ideas and layout plans of action.
• Neutral White Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the white hat. The white hat’s main objectives are to seek facts and pinpoint statistics, solutions and knowledge gaps.
• Intuitive Red Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the red hat. The red hat’s main objective is to identify intuitive insights while seeking the emotional point of view.
• Pessimistic Black Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the black hat. The black hat’s main objectives are to eliminate weaknesses, poor ideas and inadequate contingency plans and flaws in thinking.
• Optimistic Yellow Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the yellow hat. The yellow hat’s main objectives are to seek out positive solutions and feasible ideas based on the resources and skills we have on hand.
• Creative Green Hat: This branch summarizes the roles, objectives and the questions you should be asking yourself to solve problems more effectively while wearing the green hat. The green hat’s main objectives are to expand the process of thinking while providing creative ideas, perspectives and solutions.
• Read Six Thinking Hats Article

#2: Creative Thinking

This mind map will help you to think more creatively and flexibly about your life’s problems and circumstances. It will help push the boundaries of what is possible while stretching your ability to adapt your thinking to changing conditions and circumstances. The mind map explores the following areas:

• Your Creative Genius Capacity: Delves into the evolution of creativity and how it impacts and influences every area of your life.
• The Creative Genius Mindset: Breaks down the characteristics, beliefs, self-talk and actions of incredibly creative people.
• Creativity Roadblocks: Discusses common creative roadblocks that will rob you of your creative potential.
• Creativity Enhancing Strategies: Pinpoints several effective strategies and techniques you can start using today to help you think outside the box about your life’s problems and circumstances.
• Read Creative Thinking Article

#3: Critical Thinking

This mind map will help you to think more critically and effectively about life, information and your circumstances. It will force you to question things like never before and probe for further insights and answers that other people simply fail to recognize. The mind map explores the following areas:

• Critical Thinker Traits: Lists the mindset, characteristics, and vocabulary cultivated by outstanding critical thinkers. This branch also lists the advantages of being able to think critically about your life and circumstances.
• Critical Thinking Process: Presents a step-by-step guide that will help you to think more critically and effectively about your life’s problems and circumstances.
• Critical Thinker Questions: Lays out an indispensable set of questions and tools that are essential to critical thinking.
• Read Critical Thinking Article

#4: Problem Solving

This mind map will help improve your ability to overcome any problem or challenge more effectively under a variety of circumstances. The information and techniques contained within the mind map are also quite flexible and adaptable. The mind map explores the following areas:

• Indispensable Problem Solver Attributes: Breaks down the attitude, beliefs and habits that separate outstanding problem solvers from everyone else.
• The Primary Problem Solving Method: Delves into the six step primary problem solving method that you can use and apply in many different circumstances.
• Ongoing Problem Solving Tactics: Presents effective techniques, tactics and strategies you can use today to help you become a better problem solver.
• Read Problem Solving Article

#5: Strategic Questioning Tactics

This mind map will help you to ask better questions throughout the day that focus you on solutions, answers and ideas. Therefore instead of focusing and dwelling on problems, you will be able to think more clearly, effectively and efficiently by focusing your mind on asking questions that will naturally expand how you think about your world and circumstances. The mind map explores the following areas:

• Strategically Inspired Questions: Breaks down the fundamental purpose behind the questions we ask ourselves on a daily basis. This branch also helps explain how the questions we ask ourselves influence our lives in a multitude of ways.
• Two Common Types of Questions: There are two common types of questions that people tend to ask themselves every day. The first type leads to problems while the second type leads to answers and solutions. This branch provides practical examples that will help empower you to find solutions amidst difficult circumstances.
• Effective Questioning Tactics: Delves into several effective questioning tactics you can utilize today to help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals and objectives with greater ease and efficiency.
• Read Strategic Life Questions Article

#6: Unhelpful Thinking Styles

This mind map will help you to better understand how your thinking influences your life and perspective of the world and circumstances. Each of these 10 unhelpful thinking styles naturally shifts your understanding of reality. Becoming aware of these tendencies will help you to take control over your thoughts and your life in remarkable ways. The mind map explores the following areas:

• Mental Filter: Filtering IN and OUT information negatively.
• Jumping to Conclusions: Making quick negative assumptions.
• Personalization: Blaming yourself for everything.
• Black and White Thinking: Seeing only extremes of any situation.
• Catastrophising: Making problems seem more horrible than they are in reality.
• Overgeneralization: Making broad generalizations upon little evidence.
• Shoulding & Musting: Putting unreasonable pressures and demands on self.
• Labeling: Making global statements labeling others and self upon behavior in very specific situations.
• Magnification & Minimization: Magnifying positive attributes of others, while minimizing personal attributes.
• Emotional Reasoning: Taking emotions as evidence of truth.

Click on the images below to view the premium mind maps that are included within this bundle pack. All mind maps are downloadable in a high resolution format ideal for printing.

Below you will find additional mind maps to help you think more effectively. These mind maps are available as a free download at the IQ Matrix Blog, however within this bundle it is available in a high resolution format (ideal for printing).

The Effective Thinker bundle package is for you if:

Who Should Not Purchase the Effective Thinker Bundle?

You should not purchase the Effective Thinker bundle if you have no intention applying the powerful techniques and strategies presented within these mind maps.

All the content presented within this bundle will work for you if you just take the time to apply it on a daily basis, learn from your mistakes and adjust your course and actions accordingly. However, you must be committed and willing and able to step outside your comfort zone to become a more effective thinker.

Each of these mind maps can be used as an effective reference poster to keep you on track and focused in the right direction. Simply print out the mind map you wish to learn and master and post it on your wall, refrigerator, bathroom mirror, beside your bed, or in your office for easy reference throughout the day. Alternatively you can also place the mind map you want to study on your desktop as a background.

Discover how to generate more ideas easily and quickly with bonus mind maps and summaries created by Paul Foreman. This short eBook cannot be measured by it’s length but rather by the value of the information it presents providing you with even deeper insights about how to think more effectively and creatively about your life and circumstances.

 If you order today you will receive a pdf summary (one for each map) which breaks down each of the branches step-by-step while also providing you with relevant links and other resources for further study and research. Some of these summaries are also available on the IQ Matrix Blog. However, as part of this bonus, each article has been rewritten and formatted into an easy to read pdf document that will make learning this material much easier and a lot more fun.

 

Over time, more thinker mind maps and additional resources will be added to this bundle. As the bundle grows in value so will the price. However, if you become an Effective Thinker Member today you will receive all the maps currently available within this bundle plus any future mind maps, eBooks, videos, reports and additional resources that will be included as part of this bundle package. Furthermore, all this extra value is available at no additional cost!

If you purchase the Effective Thinker Bundle pack today you will receive:

To order the Effective Thinker bundle pack simply click on the yellow “order now” button below and you will be given the option to pay via PayPal or Credit Card using PayPal as the payment processor. You therefore don’t need to have a PayPal account in order to make your purchase.