It is that time?
Measure success of the year ending and plan for goals for 2022. Of course if you may have started this much earlier. I’m in more of a “holy $&*@ how is the year over in two weeks?” kind of space.
The Three Words
Part of my annual process includes setting The Three Words for 2022. They’re different from 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.
I’m still finalizing the words for 2022. Money is definitely in—setting goals, being smart, planning for the long-term, asking for it (apparently 60% of women are more willing to discuss death than finances). And Mentor—both seeking opportunities to be one and to have one (unless there’s a better word that captures the essence but without the implied hierarchy—ideas?). And the third word may have something to do with trends—embracing 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).
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 farther in that direction. That’s a win in life.
How are you preparing for 2022? What do you hope to achieve?