Chris Brogan does this thing where he chooses three words that will be his focus for the upcoming year. I’ve known/followed him since early 2007 and seen him trace along a decidedly non-linear path that seems to work quite well for him. I’m sure those three words each year have something to do with it.
I’m giving it a shot this year.
Drop: There’s good reason for the name of this site. I’m easily, and readily, distracted. Rather than fight, I’m learning to embrace it. To not feel like a failure if I don’t complete a project. To not delay the leap into something new until after some imaginary end point of something else. I consider this a privilege of age; as my future shrinks the list of things I’ll get done does as well. So whether it be a project, a book, a movie, a philosophy, even a relationship, if it’s not working for me, if it’s boring me, if it’s not moving me towards a goal (even if that goal simply to be engaged, or happy), it’s dropped.
Deepen: When I’m done dropping, I’m left with what really matters. If it matters, then I need to put the effort in to add substance, to build something I can be proud of, something I want to share with the world. Deepening = strengthening.
Frame: The photographer Chase Jarvis came up this simple idea to build a creative life: Create. Share. Sustain. A friend of mine posted a link to this simple health-focused project this morning: 100 Days of Movement Challenge. I’m learning to appreciate the value of a framework in helping move things forward, getting to done, and finding creative freedom.
What are your three words? Drop them in the comments :)!
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