The first word I would like to say is "Wow" about our training in San Francisco, it was great. The training was led by Michael Scherotter who is synonymous with Mindjet Labs.
Tuesday- Time for Skool
We kicked the class off on Tuesday. The course was structured more like a conversation and less like a class. The other people in the class came from varied backgrounds. Everyone had a pretty different idea about how to use MindManager. It was great to see a person trying to better linguistically analyze terrorism data sitting right next to a guy working on a completely different problem.
The facilities were very nice, you had a desk like cube for the seminar so that you had room to spread out. Also having the high speed internet connection made working in live time that much easier.
We spent most of the day going through some methods you can get data into and out of MindManager. This was broken down into Addins, Macro Language, and the use of XML. These techniques were often used both separately and together.
Wednesday- Results Day
The first day we had burned through most the compulsory examples and explanations. In the morning we worked through an XML example, but then in the afternoon we began to dive into our respective projects. Michael helping us individually to get the high level idea of how to tackle our problem together, this would give us a concrete roadmap.
The Good
I will only focus on a few good points.
1) Mindjet had great facilities to visit. This place felt like a true .dot com, everything was top notch and the people were sincerely interested in how we were using the product.
2) Michael provided the “definitive” mentor on MindManager integration. If he doesn’t know it, it cant be done. He got in early worked late and really has a passion around the product.
3) While at the class, we had a chance to talk to many of the key players in the development of the next generation of Mindjet. This including the Chief Marketing Officer and spending sometime in the lab seeing what the next generation of features and menus are going to look like.
The Bad (in California talk this means areas for growth and improvement)
1) The first day of the class I want a wall poster and bound copy of the Macro language documentation. I want something like the Bible that I can hold in my hands and know is real. Having things online isn’t the same as having paper.
2) I gained three pounds will all the free goodies and great food.
Summary
The class was worth the time and effort. For a first attempt at a class this was a smash success. Anyone who wants to meet up with other people interested in MindManager Development and have face time with the guy who knows everything about it, should take the course.
I can’t begin to descibe all the nice things that happened on this training class, but it was worth the time and effort it took to attend.
-Eric