I am here to help you tackle life's challenges with paper and pen. 

I broke down the complexity of visual thinking in very accessible, oh-so-learnable pieces. 

In fact, my goal was to make each piece so frickin' straightforward that when I explain it you say, "Well, duh." 

Beyond the "duh," I teach you the nuance of the tools and the choices you have. How different choices make different types of meaning. 

Let's take my favorite idea shaper to start with. My gateway drug into the visual thinking habit. 

The Connector. 

This idea shaper is drawing a line between two ideas to connect them. 

"Well, duh."

Right?! 

Yes, and there's limitless ways to show how two ideas are related through simple lines. 

Let's swap out ideas or text snippets with faces to personify this technique.

In the three examples below, how would you describe the relationships between A and B given the lines between them? 

Example 1

We start out with the style of line; a dotted line instead of a solid one. This type of line can symbolize possibility, potential, something uncertain or unknown.

A may be uncertain if they recognize B. Perhaps A is wondering if B is a potential friend or possible foe. 

Example 2

Here we changed the style of the line making it a zigzag. Those sharp edges could connote tension between the two.

Here A and B equally disdain each other. The red-orange color can amplify the emotion. 

Changing one end of the line into an arrowhead instantly creates a movement. Now using direction, A looks like the aggressor bullying B. 

Example 3

Again, we are also using arrow to show direction. 

Now we added two new choices: Line thickness and a disruption in the line.

A has a much stronger attraction to B.

B doesn't return the interest. There's no personal relationship as far as B is concerned. 

Adding color and a label of an American bill defines the relationship even more:

Now these two lines could illustrate A as a fan of B. The money could be paying for a concert ticket, an anonymous donation to someone in need, or an OnlyFans subscription.

Three examples of simple lines -- ones that anyone can draw -- that are packed with meaning.

Connectors, man.  

They're fricking great and one of my all-time faves to teach. 

Let's talk about how to master Connectors.*

Of course, you can run with this concept and explore line weight, style, color, the ends (like arrows) and labels right now on your own. 

Rock on. 

Practice Connectors to your ❤️'s content and make your own discoveries. 

Hands-on practice is always, always a crucial part of visual thinking. 

I can't insert a cartridge in the back of your head like a Speak N' Spell and instantly impart a robust visual vocabulary of Connectors. 

But I get darn close. 

Do you:

• Think visual thinking is only for the folks tapped with the artistic talent stick?
• Worry that visual thinking is too complicated to learn? 
• Concerned learning visual thinking will be a time suck? 

I hope A, B and me has already shown you how easy visual thinking can be.

*Or any of these 24 idea shapers. Heck, even all 24.

The Connector is one of 24 idea shapers.  

Keep scrolling for the briefest introductions to all of our The Connector's 23 buddies. 

Between sections, I share ways to learn together. 

Step 1 | CHUNK

Identify and isolate discrete, relevant ideas from a big messy pile.

The Idea Shapers for Chunking are:

Step 2 | SORT + GROUP

Arranging related chunks of information into useful groupings

The Idea Shapers for Sorting are:

The Idea Shapers for Grouping are:

Step 3 | CONNECT + CONTAIN

Using lines and shapes to express relationships

The Idea Shapers for Connecting are:

The Idea Shapers for Containing are:

Step 4 | SCALE

Adjusting size to shift thinking and create organization

The Idea Shapers for Scaling the Size of the Canvas are:

The Idea Shaper for Scaling the Size of Ideas are:

Step 5 | Grasp

Strengthening your drawing and making meaning from it

The Idea Shapers for Grasping are: