Getting Started

Welcome!

This ning.com community is a work-in-progress, and we're all discovering its capabilities as we go. There is no right way to use it: merely an invitation to try it out and learn ways to interact with like-minded people, talk about productive thinking and applied creativity, and engage in related discussions.

Need Help?

Find a member who seems to have done what you want to do, and send them a message by clicking on their name, then clicking on "Send a message" under their picture. One of the great things about networks such as this is that most people are glad to help others, so you'll probably receive a positive response. Failing that, look for Franca Leeson; she set this up and thus may be able to help you.

Tips

Sign up. If you haven't already signed up as a member, consider doing so. This gives you access to much more on this site, and allows interaction with other members via forum discussions, blogging, and posting comments. You do not have to reveal your real-world identity or email address to the Productive Thinking community (unless you want to); your email address is used as a sign-in but is kept completely private by ning.com.

Post a picture. It doesn't have to be of you, it can simply be a visual that allows people to easily distinguish you from others. (If you don't have a picture yet, the default graphic is a light bulb.)

Invite people to be your "friend". All social networks depend on connecting with people who know people who know people, etc.. If you personally know someone on the network, make them a "friend" by clicking on their name or picture, and then click the "Add as friend" link under their picture.

Use the RSS links. This is "geek speak" for automatic notification of new items and changes. If you see a little orange rectangle that says "RSS", it means you can create a toolbar or menu link on your browser that will show changes to that page. Hard to explain: try clicking the "RSS" on the main page and see what happens. Then you'll understand.

If a discussion interests you, follow it. Forum discussions include a link on the bottom that says "Follow this discussion". If you're signed in and you click it, you'll be alerted by email whenever something is added to the discussion.

Have a question? Start a discussion. If you have a question that might be nourished by the collective experience of the network, start a Forum discussion by clicking on "Start Discussion" under "Forum" on the main page.

Blog. Once you've signed up you will get your own blog (sign in and click on "My Page" and then "My Blog" to get there). If you have an insight or a link that would be useful or interesting to other people, the fastest way to share it is to post it in your blog. It will automatically appear in headline form on the main page for a period of time. Be sure to make your blog entry headline very specific so that people will know right away if it's something they're interested in reading.

Participate in Forums. Forums are like blogs, but not directly associated with your name. Although your postings will be identified with you, the forum discussions appear in their own section, whereas blog entries and associated discussion appear in the "My Blog" section of a person's "My Page". Both will appear on the front page for a period of time when they are created.

Groups. People with a common interests can set up groups to focus on those interests. One such group is the "Mindcamp" group. Other possibilities are people interested in a particular conference, people interested in a particular creativity tool or technique, etc. You can set up an RSS feed for the group and group members can, if they choose, send messages to everyone in their group. Groups can be open or closed, etc. You'll see what you can do when start a group.

Last updated by Franca Leeson Sep. 22, 2008.

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