If you're the introspective type, you'll find your thoughts drifting at least once this weekend to the topic of resolutions. So, as you take stock of 2010 and ask yourself how you can improve yourself in the New Year, consider Chris Brogan (one of my favorite bloggers). He has a simple, effective technique for self-improvement. He calls it "My 3 Words."
Instead of changing a behavior ("I'll try to exercise more") or instituting a policy ("I'll visit with my referral sources at least once a quarter"), Brogan identifies three words that have meaning for him and that represent the themes he intends to live by in the New Year. One of his favorites is "Ask, Do, Share." He claims that by focusing on those three concepts in 2006, he had his most productive year to date.
I like this technique because it's simple and easy to remember. I can conjure my three words before an important meeting, as I prepare for a public speaking engagement, or during a Wednesday afternoon when my email Inbox is hopelessly decorated with red exclamation marks.
My three words for 2011 are Trust, Follow, and Alliance. This means I will be working on my capacity to…
I'm taking this exercise seriously, so I hope that you - my reader - will point out if you catch me in a moment of doubt, arrogance, or exclusivity. Your support is most welcome.
Please share a word or two of your own in the comments section below. And let me know what the words mean to you. Especially if, like Brogan, one of your resolutions in 2011 is to Share more.
By David Ackert
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