A Productive Conversation

John Diggs Talks About Unlocking Potential with Mind Mapping


Listen Later

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.


Welcome to this episode where we dive deep into the world of mind mapping with John Diggs, a former NFL player turned coach – but not a coach of the football variety.

John brings a unique perspective on how mind mapping has not only transformed his personal life but also how he coaches others to achieve their fullest potential. We explore the broad applications of this powerful tool, from personal development to academic and professional success.

John shares his journey from the football field to becoming a mind mapping mentor, emphasizing how this technique has helped him and many others visualize goals and navigate life's complexities. We discuss the versatility of mind maps in enhancing creativity, memory, and productivity, and how they serve as a foundational tool for successful life planning.

Key Discussion Points

  • Transition from NFL to Mind Mapping: John ecounts his transition from professional sports to becoming a life coach, using mind mapping to guide his and others' life choices.
  • Mind Mapping for College Students: We discuss the significant benefits for students, such as improved decision-making, enhanced memory, and better organization of thoughts.
  • Practical Applications of Mind Maps: From helping athletes prepare for games to aiding students and professionals in project management, mind maps prove to be invaluable.
  • Integration with Task Management Tools: Both John and I highlight the integration of mind maps with tools like MindMeister and Meistertask to streamline task execution and project management.
  • Vision Boards vs. Mind Maps: We compare the dynamic nature of mind maps with static vision boards, emphasizing how mind maps offer a more profound, evolving approach to goal setting.
  • Mind Mapping for Personal Growth: John shares his personal story of how mind mapping helped him rediscover himself and rebuild his life after significant setbacks.
  • Promoting Mind Mapping as a Life Skill: We advocate for the adoption of mind mapping as a routine practice for personal development and clarity in life goals.

  • This conversation with John Diggs has been incredibly enlightening, showcasing the transformative power of mind mapping in various aspects of life. Whether you're an athlete, student, or professional, mind mapping can be a game-changer in how you organize your thoughts, set your goals, and achieve success. Be sure to check out John's resources and start incorporating mind mapping into your daily routine for a more organized and purposeful life.

    Links Worth Exploring

    • Connect with John: Website | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
    • Check out John's TEDx talk: Watch it here
    • What is "Big Play Power" anyway?: Find out
    • John's Books: Get them here
    • Check out the "Meister" suite of tools: MindMeister | MeisterTask
    • Want to go to "Mappineerville?: Visit (and join) now
    • Related Conversation: Episode 335: Mind Map Your Writing with Daphne Gray-Grant
    • Related Blog Post: How to Map Out One Year in One Hour

    • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

      Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on Spotify and also on Apple Podcasts. Not using either of those to get your podcasts? Just click on this link and then paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

      Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


      If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      A Productive ConversationBy Mike Vardy

      • 4.2
      • 4.2
      • 4.2
      • 4.2
      • 4.2

      4.2

      102 ratings


      More shows like A Productive Conversation

      View all
      Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

      Freakonomics Radio

      32,246 Listeners

      The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

      The Tim Ferriss Show

      16,174 Listeners

      The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness

      The Art of Manliness

      14,296 Listeners

      Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

      Good Life Project

      3,375 Listeners

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

      How to Be Awesome at Your Job

      1,036 Listeners

      The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

      The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

      8,876 Listeners

      Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

      Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

      3,903 Listeners

      Everyday Better with Leah Smart by LinkedIn

      Everyday Better with Leah Smart

      355 Listeners

      anything goes with emma chamberlain by emma chamberlain

      anything goes with emma chamberlain

      62,601 Listeners

      The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

      The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

      14,324 Listeners

      Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

      Best Laid Plans

      821 Listeners

      Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

      Huberman Lab

      29,272 Listeners

      Jillian on Love by Jillian Turecki | Daylight Media

      Jillian on Love

      1,401 Listeners

      The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

      The Mel Robbins Podcast

      20,222 Listeners

      HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

      HBR On Leadership

      170 Listeners