It is that time.
Measure success of the year ending and plan for goals for 2022. Of course you may have started this much earlier. I’m in more of a “holy $&*@ how is the year already over?” kind of space.
The Three Words
Part of my annual process includes setting The Three Words for 2022. They’re different than specific measurable goals (which I will set as well.) They’re more like aspirational guideposts for character and growth, or to help push you in a direction when you get stuck. (Chris Brogan, who originated it, explains how to do it here-it’s a great exercise. I highly recommend it.)
Sharing as an Example. Hoping It’s Helpful to You.
I’ve done the three words since 2016. A lot of my words have had to do with quelling my inner voice. I’m excited to share I think it’s worked. Naming her MAC in 2019 helped me master her—interestingly, once I started talking to her more, it turned out she was only interested in herself and didn’t care about me at all! The Three Words helped reveal that.
2020 Deep, Power, Leap
2017 Love, Naked, Dance
Some words continue to stick. Love was about “what would LOVE do,” to help frame decisions in a particular way. Power, Lead, Light were all designed to trust myself and to step up and contribute to the world; Leap and Manifest were about taking risks and visioning the future. Naked was about being 100% exposed and authentic; Deep was realizing solutions are not always easy. You must dig in and do the deep work for meaningful change.
My 3 Words for 2022
Money. Apparently 60% of women are more willing to discuss death than finances. This is a year to set goals for growth, both for revenue, staffing and new products/services. Here’s to not obsessing every time I create a proposal about if it’s priced right, am I worthy! Money is about planning for the long-term, understanding new monies (e.g. Crypto, etc.), asking for money, and being smart about it. This word actually makes me anxious, which makes me know it’s the right word!
Mentor. Both seeking opportunities to be one and to have one. Delighted to have already hired an intern (she started last week!) for this year. Mentor is about mentoring, but also being a better mentee and seeking out guidance from other’s successes. This is about learning from others and asking for advice, not being afraid to admit what I don’t know.
Aspire. I’m ready to embrace moving from being a late-adopter/follower to anticipating what’s to come and then sharing that boldly—even if I end up being wrong. Manifest was about seeing something and making it happen. Aspire is going for things I can’t even see.
How did you do on your 2021 goals? What’s coming for 2022?
Again I’m sharing, in the hopes that you will share as well. And, for me, there’s that little competitive trigger inside. When a friend does well. I’m SO happy for them. Often followed by a drive to do more myself.
So, just in case that’s you too, I’ll share progress on my goals for 2021. Again sticking with threes, goal one was to publish a book. Where Two Worlds Meet: A Guide to Connecting with Your Teenage Grandchildren, co-authored with Jerry Witkovsky, comes out June 2022—you can pre-order it here. For Goal 2, I set a goal for growth based on annual billing for Intercultural Talk…and am within $3K of achieving it (anyone have any last-minute projects?). Goal 3 was personal—to weigh what my driver’s license has said for years. Not quite there but did join WW and am at least 10 pounds closer to it.
Big Goals Drive Creativity
I used to think not achieving a goal to a tee was a failure. It was Howard Sitron, former CEO of Jewish Child & Family Services who encouraged making aspirational, crazy big goals…even if you don’t achieve them fully, it would push you further in that direction. That’s a win in life.
How are you preparing for 2022? What do you hope to achieve? Hit reply and let me know. And, of course, I’m here if you need marketing strategy and tactics to get there.
