My 3 words for 2012

Ahh 2012 is *finally* upon us. I don’t know what it is about this year that makes it sound really important..maybe it’s all the ‘world-is coming to an end’ hype but I have a feeling this year is going to be huge. And the feeling that I’m getting from around the web is the same. Everyone is ready to make 2012 their year.

I decided to get in on the three words, inspired by reading Chris Brogan’s post. Normally, I think about these and kind of do it in my head but never really fully commit to it and put it out there but in the spirit of this year being epic/different/huge I’m getting in on it.

Create

let go and let creativity flow

I want to focus this year on creating more and consuming less. Reading blogs, tweets is great but I find it also stops me from creating. I’m too busy watching what others are doing and start second guessing what I’m going to do and then never actually end up doing. Sound familiar?

I spent a large part of the holidays with my sister and her family this year and my 5 year old niece is big on arts and crafts. So every day we had ‘Arts and Crafts’ time where we glitter-glued and made snowflakes, snowmen and just immersed ourselves in creating. I loved it.

baking time with my niece

It reconnected me with that part of me that could just look at a blank piece of paper and do something with it-perfect or not. It reminded me of my childhood where my sister, my cousins and I would play in my parents basement for hours on end and make up games like restaurant,  library (with library cards!), store (it even had a name ‘Unique Boutique’), shark (I’m sworn to secrecy on that one) with nothing but our imagination and a few random household items to use. We created.

This year I want to create more: whether it is more videos or products or even chocolatey-goodness.

Do

the way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
-Walt Disney

I always have a lot of ideas in my head and things that I want to try. This goes back to the point above about watching and over-consuming. This year I want to actually do and follow-through on these ideas. And worry less about how perfect they turn out. I probably could add: Do, Follow-Through and Ship. This year will be about taking action and doing.

Focus

ask yourself, is this getting you closer to your goals? If yes, do it. If not, it’s a distraction.

I get distracted easily and sometimes I have a hard time saying “No” to things. I like helping people, participating and getting involved in various projects. This year I have to be more strict with myself and get better at saying “No” so that I can get further along in reaching my goals. No doesn’t mean no forever, it can just mean not right now.

Create, Focus, Do

This tweet by David Garland, sums up real well what I hope to achieve this year:

Your turn, what will you do differently this year? What are your guiding words?