After reading my social media mentors’ three words for the upcoming year (such as Beth Kanter and Chris Brogan) I wanted to share mine.
In case you hadn’t heard, thinking and choosing three words for the year helps focus on key themes, guiding you through the next 12 months with a little more … direction? As with Brogan, I don’t do resolutions but found this a good way to start off the year.
Chris Brogan says of his concept, “Think of how you want to be successful in the coming year. Then, try to think in even broader terms. Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on.”
The terms that I am keeping in mind for this year are simplify, streamline and share. Here’s why.
Simplify
This is an overarching principle, touching on my home life, friendships, business relationships and business. Time is my commodity, so I want to take the simplicity of the past summer holiday break into the year, and stretch it out as long as possible. It’s also about finding the right balance between my time spent online and offline – recognising I can’t be everywhere at once.
Streamline
Who doesn’t want to streamline their life now and then? We are about to move, so I’m making it an obsession. I need to prioritise, sort, de-clutter and try not to accumulate any more. I’m having a charity:water birthday in June – having talked about and become enamoured with this fine social organisation last year. So if people are inclined, instead of buying a gift they can donate $20, and it will provide clean drinking water for one person for 20 years. What a simple message and an impactful gift!
Share
With all the simplifying and streamlining, it’s important to acknowledge that I want to continue spreading my knowledge and ideas for brands to socialise online. And with His Royal Cuteness @captain_morgs about to turn one, I’m teaching him to share things – his book, his teddy, his cheesestick – if only as part of a game. I believe that everything’s better when shared with a friend.
So here’s to my simplified, streamlined, sharing year. What are your three words for 2011?
