I've been using MindManager for probably 10 years. Here's how I use it:

1) Pre-writing anything (agendas, letters, speeches, reports) - prior to putting pen to paper or finger to keyboard, I open MindManager, type the topic I'm writing about in the middle of the page and just let the ideas fly. I normally start out linear... I'll just write words like "introduction," "main," "conclusion." Concepts roll out from there, and I love that MM allows me to rearrange everything on the fly. Every once in a while I try writing without it... I inevitably stop and start mapping.

2) Research maps - I used to be the Director of Strategic Research for a venture capital firm. Everyone on my team used MM as a way to capture and present our research. Best for online research, you can drag URLs onto the map to create a clickable record of your thoughts. We always started our research with crazy huge maps with hundreds of branches. Eventually, we'd sort it down into 3 or 4 main concepts with our conclusions typed up in the map. We'd then present the map to our clients using 'net conferencing. If they wanted to see the report or source of the conclusion, we could just click through. We'd eventually export the map, and it formed the outline of the research section of our reports. We'd also publish an html version of the map on an extranet for the clients to explore at their leisure. A quick note: I introduced this software to the firm. Two weeks after I showed it around, everyone in the office had a license.

3) To-Do lists - Managing our start-up arts development authority (www.calgaryartsdevelopment.com), family life, hockey coaching and the stuff I do for fun tends to fill my brain. Once a month (I wish it was more often), I fire up a "TR To Do" mindmap. First, I dump everything thats on my mind into the map. Second, I arrange it into higher order branches (People, Projects, Board of Directors, etc.). Finally, I go through each branch and write notes on where the project is, what else I need to know, follow ups, etc. I usually then print the map, fold it up, and put it in my notebook for future reference. If I was really on the ball, I'd publish it for my whole team to see, and perhaps make it "drill downable" by also publishing links to maps for projects, etc.

That's how I use it... (oh, I've also got my 3 kids using it to do and keep track of their homework...). MM is clearly an essential tool for what I do.