Yearly round this time, I provide you with a phrase or a phrase to encourage my new yr, one which I’ll maintain with me as a reminder because the yr passes on.
This isn’t something novel. I first heard about this from a good friend who I reconnected with after school. He informed me he really tattooed the brand new phrase yearly on himself, to which my response was:
“Is the phrase of the yr this yr, CRAZY?”
I wouldn’t take it that far (plus, wouldn’t he ultimately run out of room?) however the concept of a phrase of the yr has been with me for 5 years since, and it’s a neat little mechanism for retaining myself in verify.
My phrase final yr was “rejoice” as a result of my poisonous trait is to perform one thing after which instantly begin the subsequent factor earlier than I also have a likelihood to benefit from the second.
Having the phrase written in my thoughts (and tattooed on a Put up-it Notice by my desk) grew to become a delicate reminder to assist me decelerate and change into extra grateful for the issues that occurred this yr.
I’ll share my 2023 phrase with a narrative. Maybe this can encourage you to pick out a phrase that can assist you get unstuck subsequent yr. 😊
One of many hardest challenges…
I ever needed to overcome as an entrepreneur was writing my guide, Will It Fly? Though it was self-published, which meant I might transfer it a lot quicker than conventional publishing strategies, the guide nonetheless took me over 2 years to finish.
Why did it take so lengthy?
As a result of I wasn’t being me.
You see, proper earlier than beginning to write this guide in 2013, I learn a ton of books from one in every of my favourite authors, Malcolm Gladwell. As I used to be absorbing his books, I used to be additionally absorbing his writing model.
His books are so well-written, I believed that to ensure that my guide to be simply nearly as good, I needed to write identical to him.
From fascinating scientific research to the informative connections he creates between them, I got down to just do the identical, and sadly, it stopped me in my tracks.
After 3 months of absolute frustration, I stop writing.
“I assume I simply wasn’t meant to write down this guide,” I informed myself.
Quick ahead to six months later. A good friend requested me how my guide was coming alongside, and I informed him the story. Then he stated the next:
“You’re not Malcolm Gladwell. You’re you. Why are you making an attempt to write down like him? Write such as you.”
Gamechanger.
It appears so apparent years later, however as , it’s straightforward to fall into these traps.
Quickly after that dialogue, and likewise with the assistance of a writing coach I employed, Azul Terronez, I used to be writing like me, and the phrases began to stream.
This coming yr, 2023, I’m writing a brand new guide. This time, it’s with a standard writer, and as a substitute of placing the “it have to be like all the opposite nice historically printed books on the market” spin on it, I NEED to proceed to be my genuine self throughout all of my work, particularly right here with this new guide.
I’ll share extra in regards to the guide later. For now, that is my phrase of the yr to information me all through 2023:
Genuine.
Your Name to Motion
Now your flip. What’s a phrase to softly nudge you all through subsequent yr, to maintain you on monitor and remind you about the place you’re going?
Write it down and place it someplace you’ll see it. Right here’s to you and an incredible 2023!
