Every year for the last few years, I’ve followed this “One Word to define the year” plan. Through some contemplation, I try to arrive at one word to use as a guide for the year. I also set my phone wallpaper with an image that will remind me of the word. The idea is, since it’s usually in my face that will keep the word in my face. 😜
This year’s word is “Thoughtful”.
For the last year and a half, my focus was on building my business. While I tried to have some plan around what I was doing, most of the time I was more impulsive than intentional. Out of a necessity to grow, I would jump at a lot of attractive “opportunities” that turned out to be unsustainable. Where I found the most success, was where I tried to be a little more prescriptive. One of the customers where I took a more deliberate approach ended up offering me an awesome opportunity that wasn’t even something I knew should be on my radar. 😉
While being proactive is good, being impulsive and jumping right in without a plan can lead to a lot of initiatives that either never get completed or blow up into something I can’t sustain. I’m kind of like Dug from Up.
My focus this year will be on giving some thought to what I’m doing. Even though I have a PM background, overly complex plans stifle my soul. It’s going to be about putting the right level of thought and detail around something before jumping right in. It’s also going to be about having some guardrails around how I use my time. This thoughtful approach will apply to work, home, family, and self-care.
So this year’s word is Thoughtful. Here’s the picture I chose:
Since the ocean inspires me, choosing a picture with the sea was an easy choice. But in this case, it represents possibility. The path is the “thoughtful” way to get there. Sure I could go run around in the dunes. It might be fun, but the sharp grass can cut your feet. Also there could be a lot junk that people threw in there to trip me up. The path is the surest way to get where I need to go. 🌊
What’s your “One Word” for 2022?
