Harnessing the Power of Mind Mapping: Turning Chaos into Clarity

When I first proposed an incentive program to the manager of our local Sizzler, it didn’t even have a name that I can recall. 

My mom, a teacher at Loomis Grammar School, was searching for a way to encourage good behavior in her classroom. At the same time, I was working as a waitress at Sizzler while taking a business class that required me to create a marketing idea for a business.

It all seemed to align, the school’s need, my class project, and my workplace connection. The only request from the elementary school was a “Caught Ya Being Good” certificate, something small to recognize positive behavior. I thought, Perfect, that’s my project.

But as I began developing the program, I felt there was more potential hiding just beneath the surface. I had one good idea, but what if it could be bigger? What if we could celebrate not just good behavior, but effort, kindness, academics, attendance, leadership, and growth?

That is when I turned to mind mapping. I placed “Incentive Program” in the center of the page and began branching out. From that single “Caught Ya Being Good” idea, six additional certificates emerged, each one representing a different way to recognize and inspire students.

The transformation was remarkable. Teachers had more ways to celebrate their students. Children were motivated by the variety of recognition opportunities. Parents noticed the difference in their kids’ pride and engagement. What started as one certificate became a vibrant, multifaceted system, thanks to the clarity and creativity that mind mapping provided.

The program grew beyond that first classroom. It grew beyond that one store in Auburn, California to Northern California and then more states.  Over time, I created versions for KFC, Taco Bell, A&W, and Sizzler, before eventually deciding to move into corporate America. Looking back, mind mapping gave me the structure and vision to take a simple school idea and expand it into a larger business concept.

Why Mind Mapping Matters

Mind mapping is not just about staying organized. It is about unlocking new possibilities. Instead of keeping ideas trapped in scattered lists, mind mapping mirrors the way our minds naturally connect thoughts.

• Clarity: Breaks complex programs into clear categories

• Creativity: Sparks fresh insights and new directions

• Retention: Combines visuals and words for stronger memory

• Confidence: Turns overwhelm into actionable steps

For professionals, educators, and leaders, mind mapping becomes a bridge between inspiration and implementation.

When to Use Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is powerful in situations where you need both structure and imagination:

• School and Community Programs: Designing initiatives like Sizzler

• Project Planning: Outlining goals, timelines, and responsibilities

• Strategic Thinking: Exploring scenarios before committing to a path

• Brainstorming: Generating content, campaign ideas, or presentations

• Personal Growth: Mapping goals, values, or future vision

Whenever you feel limited by a single idea, or overwhelmed by too many, it is the right time to map it out.

How to Use Mind Mapping

The process is simple and energizing:

1. Start with the Central Idea: Place the main theme (for example, “Incentive Program”) in the center

2. Branch Out: Add main categories like behavior, academics, leadership, teamwork

3. Expand with Details: Build sub branches (specific certificates, logistics, recognition methods)

4. Add Color and Symbols: Highlight priorities and bring energy to the map

5. Refine: Review, expand, and adjust as new ideas surface

My first mind map was on a piece of poster board that I carried all the way to LA to pitch to Sizzler's Head of Marketing.  Nowadays, I recommend digital tools like MindMeister or Miro, mind mapping makes complex planning feel approachable.

The Feminine Edge Vision with Structure

What I love most about mind mapping is how it balances intuition with structure. It is expansive yet organized, creative yet practical. For the Incentive Programs, it allowed me to honor the original idea while expanding it into something bigger and more inspiring, programs that celebrated not just behavior, but character and community.

Closing Thought

The journey from one “Caught Ya Being Good” certificate to a full suite of student recognitions, and later to multiple restaurant brands, is proof of what happens when we give our ideas room to grow.

Mind mapping does not just help us get organized. It helps us see possibilities, spark innovation, and lead with clarity and grace.

Your next great idea may be waiting for you to map it out.

Happy Thursday dreamers,

-srt

P.S. What projects might you use a mind map on?  If you need a place to start, reach out via email or cell and I can help you get going.  

Unlocking Innovation: How SCAMPER Transforms Stalled Ideas

I still remember sitting in a conference room, staring at a whiteboard filled with half-baked concepts for a new platform to capture innovative ideas across the organization. The goal was simple yet ambitious: build a space where creativity could thrive, where every employee, from intern to executive, could share ideas to shape our future.

But the brainstorming session? It was painfully uninspiring.

Every proposal looked predictable. The features mirrored tools we already had, the design lacked spark, and the conversation turned quickly to limitations, budget, time, and technology. The energy drained from the room, and it felt like we were about to create a platform no one would actually use.

That was, until we paused, regrouped and decided the next day to try something different. 

The next day we introduced the SCAMPER technique to the room.  And, let me be clear, it wasn't me ... I had never heard of SCAMPER.  But, someone on our team had and thank heavens they threw the idea out!  

While we received groans and a couple sighs, by noon the team had structure and energy again. Instead of circling the same old ideas, we began asking new questions: What if we substituted the submission process with voice notes? What if we combined recognition with gamification? What if we eliminated barriers like logins altogether?

By the end of the session, our ordinary project had transformed into something extraordinary. The platform vision evolved into a dynamic, engaging hub that truly reflected the innovative spirit we wanted to unleash. That’s the power of SCAMPER.

Why SCAMPER Matters

Innovation rarely happens by accident; it happens when we give ourselves both permission and structure to think differently. SCAMPER matters because:

• It sparks divergent thinking and challenges the status quo.
• It provides a framework for creativity, so teams don’t get stuck in the “blank page” problem.
• It can be applied to products, services, processes, or platforms—any challenge can be reframed with its prompts.
• It levels the playing field, giving every team member, not just the loudest voices, a way to contribute fresh ideas.

SCAMPER is the bridge between “we’ve tried this before” and “what if we tried this differently?”

When to Use SCAMPER

Think of SCAMPER as your secret weapon when ideas stall or need a refresh. Use it:

• At the start of innovation projects to broaden the creative landscape.
• When teams feel stuck in sameness or uninspired.
• To re-energize stalled conversations or overcome creative roadblocks.
• In design thinking workshops or ideation labs.
• Anytime you’re aiming to transform the ordinary into the remarkable.

How to Use SCAMPER

Each letter is a lens to see your challenge differently:

• S – Substitute: What processes, tools, or materials could be replaced?
• C – Combine: What features or functions could we merge?
• A – Adapt: What approaches from other industries could we apply?
• M – Modify (Magnify/Minify): What can we expand, shrink, or simplify?
• P – Put to another use: How else could this platform serve people?
• E – Eliminate: What unnecessary steps or barriers can we remove?
• R – Reverse/Rearrange: What if we flipped the process or reordered the flow?

Start with your core challenge.  In this case, designing an idea-capturing platform. Work systematically through each prompt, capturing every possibility without judgment. Evaluation comes later; the goal is exploration.

Inspiration for Leaders

As leaders, it’s easy to feel the pressure to have all the answers. But true innovation doesn’t emerge from lone genius, it comes from collective creativity. SCAMPER equips you to lead those conversations with clarity and confidence.

It’s not about inventing something entirely new, it’s about reimagining what’s already possible. SCAMPER asks us to look at the same challenge with fresh eyes and bold curiosity.

When you bring SCAMPER into your projects, you do more than brainstorm. You ignite a culture of possibility. And in that space, ideas that once felt impossible begin to take shape.

Happy Thursday dreamers,

-srt

Tell me … what challenge in your work right now could benefit from being seen through the SCAMPER lens and how can Rea Coaching and Consulting assist? 

The Power of a Stakeholder Analysis Matrix

I’ll never forget the enterprise technology policy republish that nearly unraveled before it even began.

We had the vision, the funding, and the mandate. But what we didn’t have was alignment. Meetings ran in circles, decisions were questioned after the fact, and resistance bubbled up in places we didn’t expect. The project timeline slipped, not because of technology issues, but because we hadn’t taken the time to fully understand and engage the people most impacted.

It wasn’t until we paused and built out a Stakeholder Analysis Matrix to accompany the RACI that the fog lifted. Suddenly, we could see who needed to be kept closely engaged, who simply needed updates, and who might quietly derail the effort if ignored. With clarity came focus, and with focus came progress.

That project taught me one of the most important lessons in leadership: technology doesn’t fail people, people fail technology when we don’t bring them along.

Why Use a Stakeholder Analysis Matrix?

Projects don’t exist in a vacuum; they live in human systems. A stakeholder analysis matrix helps you:

• Anticipate resistance and build support. You’ll see where concerns may surface and address them proactively.
• Clarify roles and communication needs. Not everyone requires the same level of detail or frequency of updates.
• Prioritize wisely. Energy is finite—direct it toward the voices and influencers that matter most.
• Build trust. Transparency and inclusion reduce the “surprise factor” that often breeds opposition.

At its heart, stakeholder analysis is about managing relationships and expectations, not just lists and grids

When to Use It

Think of stakeholder analysis as a living document, not a one-time exercise. Key moments include:

• At the very beginning of a project, during planning.
• When embarking on a major change initiative.
• Any time conditions shift or new players enter the scene.

If you wait until problems arise, you’re already playing catch-up.

How to Use the Matrix

The process is simple but powerful:

1. Identify stakeholders. Who has an interest in, or influence over, your project? Think beyond the obvious.
2. Analyze influence and interest. Place stakeholders on the Influence/Interest Grid:
• High Power / High Interest → Manage Closely
• High Power / Low Interest → Keep Satisfied
• Low Power / High Interest → Keep Informed
• Low Power / Low Interest → Monitor
3. Engage and communicate. Tailor strategies to each quadrant. Ask yourself:
• What are their motivations and concerns?
• What support or information do they need?
• How can trust be built if they resist?

And then, update it regularly. Because relationships shift as quickly as policies do.

Inspiration for Leaders

If you’re leading change, whether in technology, business, or community life, remember this: your success is tied not only to the brilliance of your solution, but to the hearts and minds you carry with you.

A stakeholder analysis matrix isn’t just a project management tool; it’s a leadership mindset. It’s about seeing people clearly, respecting their influence, and creating pathways for partnership.

When you do, projects move from resistance to momentum, from chaos to clarity.

Happy Thursday all,

-srt

P.S. Share in the comments or DM what project are you working on right now that could benefit from mapping your stakeholders?  And, how can Rea Coaching and Consulting help you?