World Memory Championships

Becoming a Buzan Licensed Instructor

Computer Enhanced Thinking

Tony Buzan DVDs - Master Class and Age Proof Your Brain

Big Challenges, Bigger Possibilities is the underlying theme for our focus in 2010. We borrowed it (with permission) from our friends at BIIG - the Queensland "Business Improvement In Government" group. It is the theme for their April 2010 conference we will be facilitating. It is great working with people motivated to champion creativity as a way to improve and innovate in all areas. For many, this year has been tough and, while more challenges lie ahead, we believe the possibilities and opportunities will be even bigger. As 2009 came to a close, we were imagining the future we want to help create, in order to then engineer it into reality. This is the essence of the Imagineering process, and we encourage you to take some time, before things get too hectic, to do your own Imagineering for the year ahead. And if you don't think you really need to think about the future we suggest you watch this 5 minute YouTube video. It's been viewed by almost 8,000,000 people. 2010 Open Programs to Upgrade Your Neck-Top Computer ® The dates have now been set for the 2010 Buzan Centre: Aust/NZ public programs - in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. Continuing our popular half-day format the six programs focus on giving individuals the thinking and learning skills to be truly successful, and to support the growth and success of their organisations and in their lives. These range from a new program called Computer Enhanced Thinking to stalwarts such as Mind Mapping and Speed Reading. Check out the programs on  Buzan Centre Open Programs  and start planning your professional development for 2010. Imagineering Walt Disney said "It's fun doing the impossible." In many ways doing the impossible begins with imagination, backed up with deliberate action to engineer the vision into reality - what is called Imagineering. While this is easily explained and not difficult to understand, we know from our own experience it can be tough to do. Read more and watch an 18 minute eLesson on how you can turn the power of visualisation into success.   Buzan's Study Skills Program The Shortcut to Successful Studies for students, adults returning to study at any level, and those attending corporate education. With the increasing demand on everyone to know more and do more, whether at school, at work or in business, we are seeing too many people having trouble managing information overload. For years we have run a very successful Study Skills for Students course aimed primarily at Secondary Students. But we now see demand for something for Junior High students as well. Parents of young and older children are seeking to learn how to learn so they can really help their kids. And more and more we are getting calls from Adults who have gone back to study another degree or do an MBA, and even from business people who want to get more out of the corporate programs they attend. What they are all saying is they want a program that gives them an advantage in their study - a program with all the best bits of our various programs tailored into something special. So we have built it. Read more about this remarkable new program…   The next program for 2010 is in July so get some more information and download the Information Sheet and Booking Form now.   Buzan Licensed Instructor (BLI) Program 2010 BLI Brain Camps on the Gold Coast – 8-11 June or 19-22 October Download: BLI 2010 program information sheet & Application form For all the details on the Buzan Licensing Program, please contact Jennifer Goddard on jennifer@buzan.com.au or +61 (0) 407 541 497 The 4-day Brain Camp is stage two of the BLI licensing process, and over the last eight years we have accredited about 150 instructors to teach others in Tony Buzan's Mind Mapping. Many of these BLIs also go on to become Advanced BLIs training other in Speed Reading, Enhanced Memory and Buzan's Success Formula TEFCAS. The Brain Camp is an fabulous learning event where Buzan Master Trainer Jennifer Goddard takes participants behind the scenes to truly uncover the secrets of Mind Maps, and Tony Buzan's principles and methods. Having worked with Tony around the world - Jennifer just returned from London where she helped Tony run the World Memory Championships, she is the most senior master trainer in the world, and one of only 4 globally. Designed for teachers, corporate trainers, change agents and professional consultants, coaches, and facilitators, you should learn more about how being a BLI adds to your repertoire of skills. Go to the BLI program page now. And if you'd like to chat to Jennifer about becoming a BLI give her a call on 0407 541 497 or email her at jennifer@buzan.com.au.

World Memory Championships

For many months, across twenty countries, eighty-five of the world's top mnemonists have been practicing the ten disciplines that make up the 19th World Memory Championships  in London, held on 12-14th November There is no other test of memory so thorough and inspiring anywhere in the world.

This is the toughest and most international competition ever held. China, the largest team, are the hosts for 2010 Competition, courtesy of the New Mind Team. Germany fielded 12 competitors and Norway, India, South Africa, USA, Malaysia and UK are all represented.

Why? you ask! It is our human nature to be competitive and strive for improvement.

Our own Jennifer Goddard, Buzan Master Trainer and Senior Arbiter, World Memory Championships, guided a group of volunteers who ensured things ran smoothly.

The 2009 World Memory Championships saw the re-released a series of 10 online videos to provide insight into just what they get up to in a Memory Championships.

These 3-4 minute videos are for those interested in competing, volunteers who adjudicate, journalists and others interested in how a memory championships is run.

To get insight into this fascinating mental Sport, go to http://www.fuzz2buzz.com/en/node/1054 .

To follow the event search #WMC or http://twitter.com/wmemorychamps

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Computer Enhanced Thinking

- iMindMap, MindGenius and Zing

While the development of Deliberate Creative Thinking skills is a main offering, we always look for new ways to enhance thinking with technology.

Of course, as the Buzan Centre: Aust/NZ we love Mind Mapping, and are pleased to see that both MindGenius and iMindMap have released new versions.

We use both products all the time for different projects and they really enhance productivity.

MindGenius 3

We first discovered MindGenius www.mindgenius.com.au  in 2001 when Jennifer was working in the UK. Bill and Jen met the developers in Glasgow and became big supporters of the software.

With the principles of Mind Mapping at its core, MindGenius 3.0 is a must have productivity tool to organise random thoughts, stimulate your creativity and create/share insightful information that you can share in a Mind Map, Organisation Chart (yes, even a List) or easily export to more comprehensive MSWord, PowerPoint, Project and Excel documents.


iMindMap 4.1 has taken Mind Mapping software to a whole new level.

The iMindMap gang have developed features that truly work with your brain, and allow you to export it in so many ways that even your toughest presentation are professionally completed.

You can organise thinking, create, learn and be empowered. We particularly like iMindMap for publishing great looking Mind Maps for conferences, strategic plans etc.

Even if you have a passing interest in Mind Mapping (there are now an estimated 250M people mapping worldwide) then you will want this software.

iMindMap's Instructional videos ensure you get optimum use very quickly. www.imindmap.com.au

Special Pricing for Upgrades available for international and Australian/NZ subscribers email Debbie@buzan.com.au  or in Australia: call 1800 060 982

ZING

Put an end to typing up endless butchers paper or post-it notes with ZING

What on earth is ZING??

Zing Portable Team Meeting systems are designed for real-time meetings anywhere. Utilising wireless keyboards, participants enter their thoughts on any topic enabling shared understanding, creativity and innovation.

We facilitate a variety of sessions including:

Business - Strategy development, problem solving, innovation, cultural change, project management, process innovation, requirements gathering, training and knowledge management.

Events - Conference plenary and break-out sessions, seminars, workshops and retreats. Send everyone home with everything captured in a document.

Education - Whole classrooms or small group work from K-12, teacher professional development, university tutorials, business syndicate meetings.

We have been using Zing technology in facilitation sessions for ten years and the latest hardware and software make it a powerful collaboration system.

Learn more about Zing http://bit.ly/zingtech 

See Zing in Action http://www.screencast.com/t/eBFfRoVe

For more information on any of these great computer enhanced thinking systems simply email info@buzan.com.au or call 1800 060 982
 

Tony Buzan DVDs - Master Class and Age-Proof Your Brain

While you are at www.buzan.com.au be sure to check out the Tony Buzan DVD/CD/MP 3 programs we created when Tony was in Australia last year.

The Age-Proof Your Brain is a 5 hour fully edited version of the fantastic full-day seminar Tony and Jennifer did at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and provides incredibly valuable insights into how you can stay sharp as you age - and aren't we all getting older faster (or so it seems)?

The Master Class set is 3 hours of Tony sharing the stories of how he started his lifelong passion to create a world that is truly Mentally Literate.

This is a timeless recording of Tony speaking directly and personally to a group of his trainers, and is like being a fly on the wall as one of the world's leading thinkers and teachers shares his insights with you.

More information...

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Tony Buzan in Australia

The Buzan Centre: Aust/NZ brought Tony Buzan to Australia in May 2009 as part of the innovation festival.

During this time Tony worked with organisations throughout the country. Those who attended had the chance to work with the Master and Originator of Mind Maps. To see how The Buzan Centre: Aust/NZ can work with you and make a real difference to your staff, please e-mail bill@buzan.com.au or call 1800 0600 982. Email Debbie now to be keep up to date on any 2010 dates.

Here are just a few comments from his 2008 tour:-

"I could listen to Tony all day - in fact I did! Excellent event Thank you."
Carla Simpson, Brisbane

"Enlightening, amusing and attention grabbing"
Graeme White, Dept Health, Brisbane

Tony will only be available for a very limited number of corporate and government engagements so if you are interested, get venturous and contact us right away. E-mail bill@buzan.com.au now.

Leadership in Times of Crisis - thoughts by Tony Buzan

How can we develop leadership in times of crisis? Here are some thoughts by Tony Buzan in the lead up to his Australian Tour in May 2009 (more information)

"2009 is being proclaimed as the year of crisis, and if you read the business pages of any newspaper or magazine, and indeed some of the rushed-out books, two of the most common words in the headlines and the text are 'Panic' and 'Fear'.  If you look at all the different forms of capitals and currencies, you will find that they are all declining... The Currency of land - declining; Property - declining;  Oil - declining;  Stocks and Shares - declining.  

"There is one Capital which has never declined, and one currency that always increases if you invest in it: Intellectual Capital and the Currency of Intelligence.  2009 is going to see a paradigm shift in the way the world thinks about business. 

The shift will be from the old industrial models to the realisation that it is Intelligence - and by this I mean the Multiple Intelligences - that are going to be the focus and indeed the creators of future wealth. Among those Intelligences, Creative Intelligence is likely to be the prime survival mechanism.

"Many great fortunes have been made - not, surprisingly, in times of boom; they have been made in times of bust.  How can this be so?  In the following way:  during a time of crisis, many new opportunities arise.  While the Bulls and Bears are stampeding in panic and fear across the financial plains, those who can THINK can overview the situation and see where those opportunities are being exposed.

"Once again we return to Intellectual Capital and the use and application of the Multiple Intelligences to take advantage of what is on offer. Again, only those who can THINK will be able to work out the strategy by which they can actually grasp those opportunities.

"Another relevant metaphor is that of an ancient forest destroyed by a major hurricane.  While it is disturbing to see the destruction, that very destruction allows the ground beneath the uprooted trees, for the first time in 200 or 300 years, to receive the energy of the sun.  This energy almost instantaneously gives rise to an entirely new growth from the seeds that have been in darkness for so long, now exposed to the energy which allows them to grow.

"In times of crisis, opportunity is there for everyone.  It is only those who can lead, and who are thought-leaders, who will be able to grasp the many opportunities that crises offer."

For more information on Tony Buzan touring in Australia, contact bill@mindwerx.com