It’s amazing that we have the same conversations every year at about this time. We talk about how the year has flown by and in many cases, we think about the things that we DIDN’T get to do. We start off so well, so gung-ho, but somewhere along the way, the fire dies and we just slip in the routine that life brings us. We’re no longer in control. We’re just sailing along on moonlight bay. (Yes, that was an old song reference from cartoons I watched when I was a kid. Look it up if you choose!)
But, somewhere around mid November, we begin to recognize the holidays are coming up, it’s time to buy gifts and then we begin to think about 2015 somewhere around December 28th…at least that’s the way it goes for most people.
A few years ago, I began the practice of choosing a word that I word CLAIM for the entire year. For 2014, my word was EXPLOSIVE! The idea was simply to create transformation in my life and business by focusing on something to uplift, inspire, motivate and keep me focused. I’ve already chosen my word for 2015. It’s IMPACT! Why? Well, for me, IMPACT requires other people in order for it to really count or make a difference. IMPACT doesn’t really work if I’m the only one that sees it. My goal is to create real IMPACT in the lives of others and to find every way that I can to make a difference. I’m choosing my word now and hoping that you will join me in this little practice.
There are 5 elements that will help this work for me.
Confidence – I’m usually a fairly confident person. But, the confidence that I’m referring to is not just about showing up and looking sure of myself. I’m talking about the willingness to get out of my comfort zone, attempting to fail, in some cases, breaking the rules a little bit (I got “reprimanded” recently for breaking a little corporate “rule”. I’ll tell you about it in an upcoming post.) It’s time to stop playing scared.
Consistency – Here’s where many people fall down. They try it once, it doesn’t work and so they give up. Or, they do it today, skip 3 weeks and then maybe they’ll try again. I read a book by Darren Hardy called, The Compound Effect. The premise in this book was that consistent action, repeated over time yields tremendous results. Whatever you choose to do to create IMPACT doesn’t have to be HUGE. But, consistency will yield greater results than stopping and starting. Try working out for 10 minutes 5 times a week instead of working out for 60 minutes 1 time every other week.
Community – Have you ever seen groups of people biking together, running together, or working together to achieve any common goal? There is power in peer pressure. Use it to your advantage. Leverage it. Community is a powerful force that many people use by accident for evil when they are teenagers. Now that you’re grown and you know better, use the “force” for good. Get connected with a community. If you had an idea that could change the world, wouldn’t it create even GREAT IMPACT if a community was behind it?
Connecting – This is about going DEEPER. Many people talk to each other and they have drive-by conversations. IMPACT is about going deeper. When you simply see the outline on the surface, it’s just a mark. Many people create a mark. But, you want to go DEEPER. You want to CREATE IMPACT! You create IMPACT when you look people in the eye and recognize their eye color. You create IMPACT when you remember the name of a stranger and what is happening in his/her world. You create IMPACT when you ask a caring question and then simply LISTEN! Go deeper than simply transferring information. CONNECT
Coaching – I’ve tried doing it by myself many times. I’ve tried doing it with a community. But, there is something about having someone who will hold you accountable, push you to dig deeper inside of yourself in order to bring out the answers that you already have inside and help you create strategies for success! That might be a mentor. It might be a 1-on-1 coach. It might be a mastermind group facilitated by an experienced mind. I recommend coaching not simply because I am one myself, but because the greatest leaps I have EVER taken in my life have come under the guidance of specific coaching and mentorship.
I know that IMPACT is my word. But it’s time for you to make some as well.
What’s your WORD for 2015? I’d love to read it in the comments.