No resolutions for the new year may seem paradoxical. But I've found that intentions allow for more opportunities for growth. It's about listening to what you desire instead of forcefully declaring a resolution or goal based on external or superficial expectations.
Intentions + Imagination = Insight
Intentions offer more room to breathe, and space to let things unfold. And it allows for more imagination with how your vision can come alive.
Imagination? You're probably thinking that imagination has no place in business. And it may not. That's the good thing with imagination – it's up to you.
One of the most respected writers in business, Napolean Hill, describes imagination as “the workshop of the human mind wherein old ideas and established facts may be reassembled into new combinations and put to new uses. It's been called the creative power of the soul…it's both interpretative and creative in nature.”
Setting intentions and using your imagination is about freedom of choice. It allows you to listen with your heart, explore with your mind, and evolve your soul.
My three words of years past:
2011: Creativity, Connection, Mindfulness.
2012:Â Mindfulness, Spontaneity, Simplicity.
2013: Build. Track. Focus.
Here's how I did with “Build. Track. Focus.” in 2013:
Build.
The online noise can easily drown out opportunities for insights and wisdom if you let it. More so than ever, you need to curate, inspect, think, and choose the type of media that you consume on a regular basis if you want to be productive. You'll need to listen to what drives you and share it with people who care about your art. It's not easy. But then again, nothing worthwhile ever happens overnight.
The internet is inherently subversive. We need to be mindful of how we're building off of that energy. We need to rise above the trivial wastes of time so that we can question what is being shared and why, so that we can inspire more meaningful media.
It's this vision for a world with more meaningful media that drives me. It's the media and quality content that provides useful exchanges, inspiring ideas, and intelligent insights that cause you to want to be a better human. Not simply because you want to be a better human. But because you crave it, for yourself and for the world. It's a desire that comes from deep within. It's a force not driven by ego, or external forces. It's just a part of how you operate. Do you feel it?
I do. And I can imagine it. Can you?
If you're reading this, you've more than likely helped feed this vision for a better, more mindful, meaningful world. Thank you.
Track.
Technology is a powerful tool. And when you use it to track insights and data, you get clarity. Some of my favorite tools that I use to track this year were: Sprout Social, Buffer, Google Analytics, appfigures, and SumAll. What tools do you use to track?
Focus.
Resistance is real. And distractions are death. But when you focus, truly focus – you can more easily connect the dots between the things that matter.
Focus is not easy. I'm tempted constantly. And I don't always win. Some days I find myself completely absorbed in creating, pursuing, and connecting that it's easy to focus. Other days, not so much.
I use my second word “track” to help me focus. I need as much help as I can get, so here are three apps that can help you to track and guide your focus along the (often bumpy) path:
1. Pocket: this app saves articles to read later. It's similar to InstaPaper, but much more efficient. It helps to focus on your task at hand, instead of going down the rabbit hole of consuming online content (and forgetting where you read something).
2. Insight Timer: a meditation app that I highly recommend. It's so easy to slip into the “busyness” of work. But starting the day by meditating has enormous benefits.
3. Scrivener: Scrivener is a serious productivity tool. And it's a must-have if you're a serious writer. It has a steep learning curve, but it's worth it.
My three words for 2014 are: Free. Alive. Expand.Â
What will drive your decisions in 2014?
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