REACHING UP
LIVING WITH FOCUS
My One Word for 2018
I’ve never been any good at making (or keeping) New Year’s resolutions. For me, resolutions were always recipes for failure (and discouragement). I learned that if I didn’t make a resolution, I couldn’t break it. But, at the same time, I lost the inherent challenge to improve and achieve that resolutions provided.
Several years ago, a couple of friends of mine, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page, launched a new take of the New Years resolution trend when they released their book entitled Get One Word. The book suggested that instead of choosing a resolution (or goal) to attain for the year, I should pick a word that would become a theme for me in the upcoming year.
I was tired of declaring new resolutions that ended in failure. So I gave Dan and Jimmy’s new idea a try. The results were amazing!
One Word For The Next 12 Months
So, last year, (in 2017) the word I chose was INTENTIONAL. 2017 became an amazing, transformative year for me. As I considered my word over the 12 months, I started to think consciously about being intentional in different areas in my life.
First, I was more intentional with my work, then I started thinking more intentionally about my wife and kids. Not long after, I started to think intentionally about my faith, my community and where I served in my church and community. Looking back over the past year, I’m amazed at how much more intentional I was with my time in so many different areas of my life. The benefits are still overflowing today.
“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” ~ Winston Churchill
Now, one year later, I’ve contemplated a new word for 2018. Actually, I started thinking about my word several weeks ago. I wanted it to be a good word; one that would help keep me moving forward.
After tossing around several options, my new word for 2018: FOCUS.
News Flash: I have ADD.
I rubber-neck every time I hear the word ‘squirrel’. It’s exhausting and contributes to wasting tons of valuable time.
I’m excited to see how this word “FOCUS” will help me to eliminate time-wasting distractions and find new levels of productivity in my:
- faith – focus on my dedication to God and my relationship with Him
- family – focus on giving dedicated time and thought to my wife, kids and extended family
- health – focus on making healthy choices and building a healthy lifestyle
- work – focus on tasks and priorities that help move my work life forward
- service to my community – focus on investing myself in ways to benefit or bless others
- recreation – focus on defining specific ways where I can recharge and renew
Thanks to my friends Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon for inspiring us all to Get One Word.
If you’d like more information, check out their website, http://getoneword.com/
[et_social_follow icon_style=”slide” icon_shape=”circle” icons_location=”top” col_number=”auto” counts=”true” counts_num=”0″ total=”true” outer_color=”dark” network_names=”true”]
How Freelance Graphic Designers Should Create a Communication Strategy That Will Help Build Your Business
It’s hard to stay in contact with hundreds of clients and prospects through email. Are you frustrated with having to send out communication with your graphic design message? The problem is that you don’t have a business-building communication strategy for your...
How to Start a Freelance Side Hustle If Your Current Employer Has a Non-compete
Is it becoming difficult for you to manage your side hustle with your daily job? Are you afraid that your company would find out about it, and the repercussions would be too difficult for you to handle? Maybe the stress of working on two jobs is taking a toll on you?...
How To Raise My Freelance Rates and Why My Customers Pay Me Premium Prices
Are you frustrated with working tirelessly day in and day out, just to make ends meet? You’re probably swamped with projects but the problem is that they’re not worth it because your bank account is just not showing it. Say no to clients who take up all of your time...