Each year, Chris Brogan, Publisher of Owner Magazine and CEO/President of Human Business Works, blogs about his 3 Words for the new year. He describes the words as “shorthand representation of your bigger story. It’s kind of like how an icon isn’t the software program. It’s just a way for you to mentally access all the work you’re doing.”
Brogan dives further to describe how to use the three words concept. He suggests you, “think of three words that sum up what you want to work actionably on changing/improving in the coming year. It works best when the words are positive in spirit and not negative. For instance, ‘Fat’ isn’t exactly a great word, but ‘Fit’ would be better.”
His idea is to dive deeper than a single goal, a word that gives you the HUGE picture, not the small picture.
Last year, I blogged about my 3 Words. Those words were beacons as I navigated the year, striving for bigger, better and more authentic business and personal results. Not only did I blog about it, but I etched the words on my office white board, in plain site, further reinforcing the vision and creating traction. Here were my 2013 words and a link to the post.
Deliberate. Revive. Relationships. [Be sure to read the comments, as many friends and colleagues shared their 3 words, as well!]
For 2014, I am once again tackling this enriching exercise. Here goes:
MY THREE WORDS FOR 2014
Build – as in new business in new ways. Rob and I are embarking on a new entrepreneurial venture that we will launch in early 2014. I must say, the exhilaration I have felt working on this new project over the past couple of months surprised me a little. I didn’t realize that, after 16+ years owning, shaping and blazing a new trail with CareerTrend that I had an appetite for something brand new.
Unwind – as in let the sun shine in. While my current lifestyle encourages time to unravel worry via lakeside chats and luxurious sail and power boat rides that punctuate the warmer months, I could do better. By nature, I am a worrier and over-thinker, and as such, have found investing energies and focus full-on into work and other projects helps to manage and funnel that energy into deadline-oriented productivity.
With that, I must also strive harder to unfurl unfettered time to truly unwind and imbibe nature and peace without words or thoughts (or deadlines) complicating that space. The importance of this activity is multifold, as unwinding feeds the soul, and also recycles itself into positive energy throughout the work week, in feeding relationships and in handling stresses and struggles inherent in our every day lives.
Focus – as in continue to mute and weed out the noise (digital, social, auditory, visual) that distracts, delays and derails meaningful goals and aspirations, both personally and professionally. This weeding out will be enhanced through actionable list-making and organizing of communications as well as purging of emails and other digital clutter creating overflowing in-boxes and virtual file cabinets.
These are some of the tactical steps, but the overarching vision of ‘focus’ is much larger and will require daily awareness and responding to signals that better my focus. The end goal is to be more intentional and free to be the best wife, business owner, family member and friend I can in the coming year.
~~~
So, there you have it – my 3 words for 2014.
What are yours? I invite you to share them in the comments section, below. And, if you are inspired to blog about your words, then tweet me your link to @ValueIntoWords. I’ll be happy to promote your post through Twitter, Google+, Facebook and LinkedIn!
Happy New Year, Jacqui!!
Your three words are perfect for your new endeavor. Looking forward to the launch!
My three words for 2014 are:
Flowers – Encouragement to do what’s important with grace and beauty because life is fleetingly short.
Heart – Reminder to live from the heart because the heart can be an equal partner with the head, even in seemingly mind-dominated situations.
Enrich – A daily ask: Am I enriching others by my actions? Am I enriching myself?
By the way, I love how you “etched” your three words on your whiteboard. I’m thinking this year, I may add a photo to each of my three words and keep it with me on my phone for inspiration.
Much love to you and Rob,
Jackie
Happy New Year to you, too, Jackie!
I am so delighted that you took time to share your 3 Words here!
And, goodness, your words not only are enriching to imbibe, but they continue to bloom, the more I absorb them.
How creative of you to use the word, ‘flowers’ to describe our ‘important’ actions and how we should perform them with ‘grace/beauty’ because of the brevity of our lives. [Poignant!]
The ‘heart’ as an equal partner <– what a neat way to articulate the companionship of these two aspects of our being. Sometimes, I think we believe we have to rely on one or the other, but instead, you are expressing how they can work in tandem to shepherd us in our lives. LOVE that. I think this is my favorite of the 3 words you chose; although, it's a close race, because I am SO fond of all 3, and really, all 3 words are interdependent.
How we 'enrich' others, as well as ourselves is so critical, and in a way, seems to blend the other 2 words into yet another actionable aspiration. Hmmm, I am going to continue drinking in your meaningfully described words.
Jackie, you already do such a good job of living your words, and I am sure that your success in this area is part and parcel to exercises like your well-thought-out 3 words.
Always, I am impressed with your wisdom and the inspirited way you share it with your readers, your friends, your colleagues and all others whom you touch.
PS – I forgot to address your idea of adding a photo for each of your 3 words to access from your phone. That is a terrific idea. I will give that some thought, too!
Warm regards,
Jacqui
Hi Jacqui,
I love your three words: Build, Unwind and Focus. They sound most fitting for your professional business expansion plans and personal plans of leading a healthier overall life.
My three words for 2014 are: Daring, Connection and Self-Care. Why these particular words? Please check out the post you and one other good friend inspired me to write to find out 🙂 http://www.dorleem.com/2014/01/my-three-words-for-2014-daring.html
Wishing you and Rob a healthy and happy new year,
Warmly,
Dorlee
Thanks for your feedback on my post, Dorlee. I tried not to over-think my words and instead let the words ‘find me.’ I’m excited as I have already begun ‘acting’ on them 🙂
As you know from my comment and sharing of ‘your’ three-words post, I was drawn into your powerful words as well as the explanations surrounding them! Your butterfly image illustrating ‘daring’ was compelling! … as well as the rest of the words and images!
All the best to you as you act upon your intentions for ‘daring, connection and self-care’ in 2014!
Warmly,
Jacqui
Thank you so much for bringing this 3-word exercise to the forefront again. I love it. It is a great challenge to focus on the big picture and reflect upon the higher motives in life.
And I was curiously fascinated to go back to last year’s.
This year my words are 1) Self Renewal 2) Art 3) Non Judgment.
Hi Terry,
I like how you articulated the ‘challenge to focus on the big picture and reflect upon higher motives in life.’ This is a good reminder as it seems we often get bogged down in the day to day tactical ‘stuff’; taking time to really reflect will actually help steer our focus on the ‘right’ tactical efforts, going forward.
I eagerly anticipate witnessing as you unfurl your three words into 2014! Your #2 word, ‘art’ resonates as I have enjoyed your passion for, and talent, in this area through your Facebook and website sharings.
Best to you in the new year!
Jacqui
Happy New Year to both of you!
I love your choice of words for this year.
My curiosity is piqued; I can’t wait to see what you’ve constructed.
Your two words – unwind and focus go together well. When you focus, you get more things done, which allows you to feel satisfied, thereby fully enjoying your “unwind time”.
I agree with your comments to Jackie – she truly lives by her words.
I love the rationale for Dorlee’s 3 words on her blog. So many good words, so hard to choose!
As for my three words, they’re not entirely new, as I have used them before. However, I am dusting them off for this year.
My 3 words are learn, change and grow.
Information/learning allows me to deepen my understanding and make appropriate adjustments to my behaviour/actions. Thus, I am changed, allowing me to grow.
On the surface this may sound selfish, however, I subscribe to T.O.T.O.M. (http://rheumfuloftips.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/invoking-t-o-t-o-m/). In other words, when I look after myself, I feel better. When I feel better. I do better, and that’s good for everyone!
May 2014 be good to and for you!
Warmly,
Marianna
Hello Marianna,
Happy New Year to you, too! (and your hubby and puppy :))
I appreciate your kind comments regarding my word choices and will look forward to unveiling Rob’s and my new website (I will certainly be emailing you, as a #SummitFriend, a sneak preview, hopefully soon).
I admire how you have dusted off words from the past to invigorate 2014! In fact, I can see doing that myself at some point as there are core ‘underpinnings’ as to what drives me/my life/biz. In fact, a side conversation that Rob and I had on New Year’s eve is that one of the things we want for 2014 is simply to ‘do better’ at what we already are working on!
So, all this to say, I LOVE that you are revisiting and continuing employing ‘learn, change and grow.’ And, the successive way your ‘learn, change, grow’ words impact one another creates momentum!
I absolutely believe in the theory of ‘putting on your own oxygen mask first’ in order to feel better, do better and ‘be better’ for everyone else. So, your subscribing to T.O.T.O.M. absolutely makes sense!
Onward and upward as we turn the page to 2014!
Jacqui
Love this post! I’ve always done one word yet three makes perfect sense. Mine are Focus, Favor and Transformation. I need to focus on putting better systems in place in several areas of my life. Favor is preference – knowing what to prioritize. And, transformation will follow the focus and favor!
Hello Pat,
So glad you stopped by to comment here!
Your three words sound incredible and well thought out! … the way the first word links to the second word and then the third word follows the first two words … nice!
Thank you so much for sharing, and please feel free to stop by any time in the coming months to communicate the progress of ‘implementing’ your words.
Best to you,
Jacqui
When you first published this, Jacqui, I was thinking hard on what my Three Words for 2014 would be. I actually was thinking about it all of December because my 3 words are the direction I want to work on going forward. You can read my full post here, http://designresumes.com/2014/01/my-3-words-for-2014/
But my words are: Consistency, Follow-up, and (like you) Focus.
Thanks for continually being an inspiration in all things, Jacqui!
I live this exercise. Been pondering since you shared this a few weeks ago believe it or not! So here are my words…
Progress: if I had to choose only one word this would be it.
Rhythm: I am looking to establish some patterns that help me to integrate family, work and fitness in a way that all three areas support one another. I will never be very structured – not my nature, but rhythm I can embrace!
Passion: Returning to things I love to do like playing the guitar, singing, writing music, playing sports, skiing, etc. there are parts of me that I put on a shelf. Time to reignite!
Tried to find a third P word but nothing fit
Susan,
I have egg on my face for tardily responding. I was in Key West when you posted your words and upon return I failed to follow through.
I love your three words and your authenticity of choosing what fit versus forcing all three to begin with “P.” Progress is a terrific word, with motion and momentum – I love it. I feel it.
Rhythm resonates with me, heartily. And, as you describe, it integrates a plethora of critical areas of our lives: family, work and fitness. Thank you for the idea of “establishing patterns” to integrate ways for all three to support one another. “Rhythm” versus “structure” is something I can relate to.
Regarding passion, I value this word and feel it should always be a top word in our vocabulary, in our intention to live well. I am curious as to how things are progressing in this area for you? Have you strummed your guitar, sung or written music lately? Reigniting these areas is a great idea!
Thanks so much for stopping by here and adding your meaningful words to the conversation!
Jacqui