Work hard, party harder

It’s easier said (and written) than done. But at least Tony Buzan has taken the pains to collect loads of information, real life examples and lessons from everyday life for his book Mind Maps at Work: How to Be the Best at Your Job and Still Have Time to Play.

Throughout the book, with the help of illustrations (rather amateurishly drawn, to be honest), Buzan explains how to solve tough problems at work and at home, how to reinvent a career when you are bored, deliver snappy presentations and bring out the best in both you and your colleagues.

This is by no means the first book written on the subject and since DIY books keep flooding the market, this is also certainly not the last. But it is strikingly different in its approach. Most importantly it focusses on an area less trodden by his predecessors—how to work hard and still have a lot of time to chill out and enjoy that luxurious, laid back lifestyle you dream of beyond work. And he doesn’t just talk about time management.

A politic pop psychology author, Buzan built his reputation on the concept of Mind Maps—focussing on the function and improvement of different parts of the brain. He introduced the idea in books like Master Your Memory and, most famously, Use Your Head in 2000. Now, he even has a software programme. In the chapter on problem solving, for instance, not only does he talk about the art of negotiations and compromise through innovative means—(he suggests walking out of a problem for a short time, to take stock and find a solution, instead of raking it up in your mind every minute while sitting and trying to crack it)—but he also gives examples of people like Alexander the Great and his father, King Philip and talks about how seeking advice from people, from role icons often help plan the path ahead, instead of taking the onus only on oneself to solve every issue at hand.

A must-read for BT More readers is the last chapter on ‘Work-life balance solutions where he talks on how to improve team work, get more out of family life, better manage bringing up your children while still being in a fulltime job. Once again with the help of illustrations, Buzan tells readers to create maps on ways and means of giving the child a better upbringing while you continue to work.

It’s a fun read but the underlying messages and lessons are serious enough. While some of the messages are to reiterate, easier said than done, there is enough in the book to get you thinking and working to improve your life at work and play.

Mind Maps At Work: How to Be the Best at Your Job and Still Have Time to Play by Tony Buzan (Harper Collins India)
Price: Rs 295
Pages: 241