My 3 Words for 2011

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 01:30 AM PST

Every year, I come up with three words that will be my guiding pillars for what I will focus on in the coming year. Instead of resolutions, which don’t usually help me very much, I work hard on using these words as a lighthouse for my actions and efforts. Here are my 3 words for 2011:

Reinvest. Package. Flow.

Reinvest – I will reinvest in my efforts in all areas of life that matter to me. I won’t phone it in. I have some fitness goals. I can’t keep playing at it. I have some financial goals that will be met. I have community goals that require me to reinvest in my projects and not take on new things.

Package – I just wrote about packaging the other day. Essentially, I’m going to get my own marketing house in order. I’m going to make sure things make sense, make sure they are easy to understand, and make sure that the right people know about them. Packaging will have other meanings, too, but this one is important to me in 2011.

Flow – In the last few months of 2010, I came to realize that I’m still doing too much. I went into redrawing mode yet again. One thing I have to do much better in 2011 is manage flow: that state of working on the most important stuff and eliminating distractions. I’ve cut a lot out of my original plans for 2011. I’ll surely cut a little more. The end result? Things will come out much better. I’ll have less stress. Things will flow nicely.

3 Words Aren’t Goals

The three words idea is built so that you can have something to reflect upon. As you know, goals should be SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely). The way you use the two together is that you think up goals that will match up to your words. For instance, one goal of mine in 2011 that ties to “reinvest” is to lose 50 pounds over 10 months. 5 pounds a month is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

There you go.

Your 3 Words

I asked the people who read my free newsletter about personal development and business growth what their three words are for 2011. Here’s what they answered:

Alexandra – Creativity, Growth, Simplicity
Martha – Focus, Connect, Momentum
Debbie – Touch, Storytelling, Create
Rebekkah – Reclaim, Rewrite, Renew
Vicki – Passion, Confidence, Balance
Debra – Clients, Reputation, Smarts
Nick – Smile, Fight, Create
Ginny – : Basics, Balance and Gratitude.
Marge – Perseverance, wellbeing, manifest.
Justin – Kitchen, owners, stories.
Laurie – Launch, Interconnect, Allow
Sue – Bold, Tribe-Mesh, Be.
Paula – Action, Collaboration, Freedom
Joanna – Love, Passion, Action
Sonya – Publish, Productive, Value
Gail – Write, Speak, Read.
Robin – Ask, Do, Share.
Jill – Blog, Persevere, and Brand.
Patti – Grow, Contribute, Action.
Meghan – Mind, Body, Spirit
Margot – Integrate, Connect, Finish
Dana – Creativity, Independence, Outreach.
Jonathan – Quality, Help, and Perseverance.
Sam – Ship. Learn. Collaborate.
West – Servitude, Submission, Integrity.
David – Renew, Rethink, and Remove.
Chrystie – Focus, Follow-Through, Grow.
Jennifer – Relationships, Flow, Growth
Shayna- Secure, Execute, Close
Christian – Ideas, Love, Consistency.
JoAnn – Relationship, Health, Productive.
Jeffrey – Integrity, Wisdom, Patience
Anne – JUICY. SO WHAT? and WORTHY
Shel – Columns. Book. Leverage.
Mike – Ask, Do, Share.
Louise – Pleasure, People, Publish, Practice.
Andrew and Donna – Process, Content, Leadership.
Roland – Story, Partners, Sales.
Bryony – Write, Listen, Action.
Michael – Produce, Plan, Ask.
Debbie – Honor, Stretch, Organize.
Robin – Let Them Talk, Or, Listen Listen Listen.
Jason – Execute, Learn, Share.
Conga – Discernment, Enjoy, Educate.
Kathy – Integrity, Accountability, Tenacity.
David – Development, Solutions, Digital.
Leon – Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin (needs to learn all three).
Julie – Create, Execute, Deliver
Melissa – Create, Care, Promote.
Sara – Study. Pursue. Persevere.
Benji – Prospect, Follow-through, Integrity.
Adam – Project, Resolute, Legacy.
Christopher – Commitment, Connecting, Caring.
Kathy – Focus, Produce, Balance.
Mike – See, Imagine, Show.
Zane – Keep. Moving. Forward.
Jill – Ask, Grow, Matter.
Sharon – Dream, Do, Gratitude.
Kimberly – Health, Truth, Thrive.
Dimitri – Move, Grow, Share.
Susan – Focus, Grow, Connect.
Amruta – Ask, Do, Share.
Eric – Adapt, Support, Teach.
David – Remarkable, Share, Understand.
C.C. – Create, Inspire, Teach.
Beth – Challenge, Empower, Collaborate.
Lisa – Passion, Balance, Giving Back.
Barry – Focus, Consistency, Write.
Heather – Wealth, Freedom, Fun.
Siobhan – Learn, Stretch, Give.
Eileen- Enlighten, Do, Grow.
Laurie – Wholeness, Notice, Release.
Michelle – Own, Reflect, Try.
Christian – Select, Execute, Review
Pam – Prioritize, Empathize, Collaborate.
Adam – Create, Connect, Move
Jack – Freedom, Authority, Conversation.
Phyllis – Connect, Undaunted, Execution.
Alex – Responsibility, Integrity, Civility.
Thomas – Love, Live, Laugh.
Bella – Embrace, Act, Care.
Jamie – Give, Go, Be.
Deb – Innovation, Recognition, Sustainability.
Diana – Courage, Relationships, Focus.
Josh – Epic, Sustainable, Togetherness.
Daniel – Exponential, Residual, Communal.
Eric – Ecosystem, Momentum, Hero Frame.
Kristelle – Breathe, Stretch, Irresistible Influence.
Serita – Exceed, Grow, Gratitude.
Lori – Intuition, Motivation,Organization.
Bill – Remarkable, Memorable, Valuable.
Mat – Listen, Learn, Develop.
Margie – Teach, Learn, Live.
Sue – Get OUT There!
Rebecca – Grow, Connections, Balance.
Julia – Freedom, Fascination, Fun.
Caren – Innovate, Engage, and Generate.
Rex – Discipline, Delivery and Sharing.
Glenda – Transformation, Freedom, and Instincts.
Jeff – Finish.
Jacqueline – Centralize, Bulldoze, Infect.
Mark – Create. Connect. Give-Back.
Chad – Learn, Reflect, Act.
Marcy – Live, Love, Lead.
Barbara – Stop. Talk. Live.
LaTara – Life, Love, and Liberty.
Joel – Focus. Expect. Exercise.
Jim – Customers, Content, and Strategy.
Christine – Expand, Focus, Nurture.
Gin – Iterate, Beauty, Home.
Colleen – Process, Detail, Faith.
Stephanie – Faith, Family, Collaboration.
Matt – Trajectory, Triples, Diamond Filters.
Ardath – Story, Grow, Teach.
Allan – Learn, Implement, Blossom.
Jessica – Integrate, Focus, Expand.
Gail – Ask, Receive, Free Spirit.
John – Start, Stop, Continue.
Daniel – Concentrate, Collaborate, Deliver.
Lynn – Connecting, Articulating, Performing.
Gilda – Speaker, Author/Book, Information Products.
Diane – Focus, Educate, Produce.
Hadass – Move, Learn, Seek.
Jody – Relationships, Grow, Build.
Julianne – Responsibility, Exercise, Passion.
Tom – Conscious, Present, Mirth.
Jennifer – Save, Invest, Choose.
Angela – Connect, Lead, Mentor.
Chrissy – Energy, Passion, Knowing.
Eugen – Grow, Build, Ecosystems.
Ray – Proactive, Punctual, Relationships.
Jessica – Bones, Breath, Reach.
Hubertus – Storytelling, Grow, Stuff.
Nick – Grow, Create, Community.
Jim – Believe, Do, Own, Family.
Tomasz – Learn, Love, Lead.
Glen – Do, Increase, Expert.
Darren – Engage, Create, Learn.

And You?

What are your three words for 2011? How will you guide your actions?

Ending 2010

Posted: 31 Dec 2010 11:30 AM PST

There are about three ways you can go with a post like this:

Talk about your accomplishments, and wait for “good job” comments.
Talk about trends and wait for “here’s where you’re wrong” comments.
Talk about gratitude and wait for “you, too” comments.

I’ll do all three, only I don’t want comments. I’ve shut them off. Instead, I want you to end 2010 in your own way, and I will read yours when I see them. (I watch trackbacks very closely.)

Accomplishments

I met more of you. Thousands more. And that matters most.
I visited Colombia and loved it.
Julien and I won a “book of the year” award for Trust Agents.
I hung out with Hanes at Disney World and met the Social Media Moms, too, and fell in love with Maxine Clark.
I had lunch with Tom Peters, a hero of mine, and keynoted the same event with him.
I spent time with Bodger and Scott Gould in the moors of Devon.
I spoke at over 70 conferences and events (honoring my promise to cut back from 2009).
I had one of the best vacations of my life with friends out at the lake. (Whatever.)
I fell in love with Birmingham, Alabama, as well as Memphis, Detroit, Doncaster, and several other places.
I spoke in Vegas way more than previous years (CES, Magic, etc, etc).
I launched HBW with Rob Hatch.
Etc.

Trends for 2011

Social business begins for real.
More mobile – more tablets.
Cloud computing gets real.
Social media’s fire cools a bit.
eBooks and digital goods flourish. Get in now.

Gratitude

You’re why I do this. There are lots of other ways to earn a few bucks and keep the family fed. But the way I’ve chosen to do my thing is by connecting as much as I can, by sharing as much of what I learn and understand as I can. 2010 taught me that I had to get even more serious about understanding scale. I’ve partnered with many great people. With Estrella Rosenberg running 501 Mission Place, and Joe Sorge running Kitchen Table Companies, with my partners at CrossTech Ventures running operations there, I’m able to help more people in varied ways than ever before, and that gives me even more to be thankful for.

To finish, be sure to remember those who need us. Give to Skip1 and feed hungry kids. Watch Invisible People and realize that homelessness isn’t going down any time soon. And hug the ones you’re with.

I’ll see you tomorrow.