My Three Words for 2014
Last year, I started following in Chris Brogan’s footsteps by doing a blog post called “3 words.” (Here’s this year’s post by Chris.)
Now that you get the concept, here are my 3 words for 2014, but first…
My 3 words from 2013
My 3 words last year were: Hungry, Focused, Breakout. I think I managed to live each of these three themes successfully in 2013.
I played 2013 with a ferocious hunger to win and extreme focus (enabled by technology, medication, and intense commitment).
Breakout wound up taking on a slightly different form than I anticipated. The biggest reason is that even though I worked at it all year, I think the actual breaking out, happened in the last 2 months of the year.
My 3 words for 2014
My 3 words for 2014, much like last year, could be words for life, not just a single year. But to be words for life, the words first need to be the theme for a year (because there’s no way I’m going to stop being hungry, focused and aspiring to break out).
Balance
Last year, I took my first vacation in 4 years. It was significant.
- I remembered why I work so hard in the first place.
- I was reminded that life is about more than work.
- I was haunted by the impact that my workaholism may have had on my marriage.
- I was shaken by how little quality time I’d actually spent with my mom, my dad and step-mom, and my dog.
This year I want to be more balanced. Work must be one component, not the only component.
I also spent a lot of this past year building systems so that I could do more of the work I enjoy, and less of the work that I don’t. Delegating more effectively should allow me to feel more balanced.
Growth
This year, we grow.
- We grow revenue
- We grow our team
- We grow our client list
- We grow our impact on the world
This year, everything grows.
Love
Sure, this is a universal one, right? Here’s why I’m choosing love as a theme for this year.
Last year was both an amazing year for me and a tough one.
My marriage fell apart and I got divorced (both good and bad). Divorce (obviously) can have a profound impact on your emotional state. As a result, I don’t think I put nearly enough love out into the world.
My other 2 words are destined to fail if I do not put more love into the world.
I cannot feel balanced if I am not loving to those around me. My friends deserve more, my family deserves more, my dog deserves more, and equally important, I deserve more.
I cannot grow if I am not injecting more love into my work. I already put my heart and soul into what I do, but I know there is more. I left some in the tank last year and I’m not doing that again. This year, I play til I’m on empty; that great and delightful emptiness.
So, this is what I’m focusing on this year.
If you’re reading this, I hope that you hold me accountable.
What are YOUR three words?
If you’ve never done this before, there’s no better time to start.
Pick your three words and write up something to post on your blog or on Medium.
Share it on social media and add the hashtag #my3words so other people can find it.
Feeling shy? Don’t want to publish your own post to share with the world? Just post your three words in the comments of this post.
Thanks, as always, to Chris Brogan for the inspiration to do this every year.