I’ve spent most of this week reviewing the year that was 2010 and preparing for a dominant 2011. In fact, I’ll probably have another post with my goals and keywords for the 2011 year. For today, I wanted to share a bit of what I’m thinking about for success in 2011 in three categories: READ, WRITE, and WATCH.
READ:
If you read anything this week before the new year arrives I highly recommend Chris Guillebeau’s blog post “2010 Annual Review: Looking Forward.” I’d love for you to finish this post, but I’d even encourage his article more and then his book after that if you need more. Guillebeau is the master behind “The Art of Non-Conformity” brand and offers a unique look at examining his 2010 year and preparing for his dominant 2011. I was pleasantly surprised to learn this week that we accomplished seven of 10 of our 2010 goals at 9 Clouds and two of the three we didn’t accomplish didn’t apply anymore. I felt great about 7 for 8 but it was time to take the next step in 2011.I’m still finalizing my 2011 goals (and will post them here because the best way to be accountable for something is to announce it publicly) but I’ll let you in on one of the goals now. I need to read more. I enjoy reading, it gets my idea wheels turning, and it makes me really hungry to work hard and get products to release date. However, I struggle at making reading a priority. Sure, I get around to my favorite blogs, but I’m talking about high quality, book reading. My goal is to simply read 12 books in 2011, one per month. For you reading All-Stars this seems like a feeble goal but I know I can accomplish it and I’m hoping at the end of 2011 I’ll end up somewhere around 18-20 books.
I’ll make sure to share what I’m reading and my reviews here but I’d love to hear what you’re reading and what you recommend. Let’s be bookworms in 2011!
WRITE:
I’m going to encourage you all to spend these final days of 2010 to WRITE DOWN your goals. Whether it be in a Moleskine by the side of your bed or on a note in your iPad, but make sure they’re documented and if you have someone you trust or are willing, share it with them too. Make a commitment to the things you want to accomplish in 2011 and tell other people that you’re going to do it. I believe we sell ourselves short as human beings and become too distracted and busy in this high-paced society we live in and begin to drift off course. Your 2011 goals will not only serve as a roadmap to keep you focused over the next 12 months, but will also be a declaration of intent that will allow you to say NO or turn down opportunities or offers that don’t fit within your personal mission. Saying NO is one of the hardest things to do (right Scott?) but it’s good to have the reason to say no behind you!
In the writing category my goal is to write 104 blog posts in 2011 (that’s two a week). This is my commitment to my blog, to my ideas, and to my audience. Consistency and quality is important to blogging and I know I can deliver both.
In the writing category my goal is to write 104 blog posts in 2011 (that’s two a week). This is my commitment to my blog, to my ideas, and to my audience. Consistency and quality is important to blogging and I know I can deliver both.
What and where do you enjoy writing? Whether on a public blog or a personal journal find a place for your thoughts and write them down. If anything, this document will serve as a great self-preservation piece and you can look back and laugh at your silly young self.
WATCH:
Have you ever heard of TED talks? TED is an organization that hosts events around the world with incredible thought leaders sharing their ideas in 10-20 minute talks. My favorite iPad app I downloaded is the TED app. I try to make a point to watch a TED talk every morning that serves as both enlightenment but even more so as inspiration. Sometimes the topics are quite random and I learn about organic farming, sometime they are highly technical and fit to my field of social marketing, but either way I love them all.
I’d recommend finding YOUR resources of enlightenment and inspiration for the new year and use it as your well to drink from. Whenever you need that boost go back and drink. Two talks that I’d recommend watching at the end of the year are Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” and Jason Fried’s “Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work.”
With watching video in 2011 I hope to learn about every day in history for the entire 2011 calendar year. I recently announced a new project called That Was Today which will officially begin this Saturday on New Year’s Day. The concept is a daily video blog which asks YOU (the crowd) to share the his/herstory of that day in history. People will be sharing their viewpoint’s on that day in both a historical and personal context. The goal is to have different people each day of the year, so check out the website (http://thatwastoday.com) and claim your day in 2011.
So there’s a bit of what’s been on my mind this week as I prepare for 2011. I realized that this week may be my favorite work week of the year. After the Christmas madness and before the New Year’s holiday people shut down and things go quiet. The phone and email inbox have been relatively silent and it offers a calm before the storm to prepare for what’s next.
A good mentor of mine sent out an email this week that stated, “The new year begins 10 minutes after Christmas morning.” That may be a bit extreme, but the point is to use this week to propel you for an even more successful and enjoyable year. You have an idea of what I’m preparing for and hopefully you’re ready as well. I’m excited to follow along with everyone’s great accomplishments in 2011.
This piece is part of the content received from John’s Letter.ly VIP Ideas Newsletter. If you want to subscribe for $2.99 a month click here.
I’d recommend finding YOUR resources of enlightenment and inspiration for the new year and use it as your well to drink from. Whenever you need that boost go back and drink. Two talks that I’d recommend watching at the end of the year are Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” and Jason Fried’s “Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work.”
With watching video in 2011 I hope to learn about every day in history for the entire 2011 calendar year. I recently announced a new project called That Was Today which will officially begin this Saturday on New Year’s Day. The concept is a daily video blog which asks YOU (the crowd) to share the his/herstory of that day in history. People will be sharing their viewpoint’s on that day in both a historical and personal context. The goal is to have different people each day of the year, so check out the website (http://thatwastoday.com) and claim your day in 2011.
So there’s a bit of what’s been on my mind this week as I prepare for 2011. I realized that this week may be my favorite work week of the year. After the Christmas madness and before the New Year’s holiday people shut down and things go quiet. The phone and email inbox have been relatively silent and it offers a calm before the storm to prepare for what’s next.
A good mentor of mine sent out an email this week that stated, “The new year begins 10 minutes after Christmas morning.” That may be a bit extreme, but the point is to use this week to propel you for an even more successful and enjoyable year. You have an idea of what I’m preparing for and hopefully you’re ready as well. I’m excited to follow along with everyone’s great accomplishments in 2011.
This piece is part of the content received from John’s Letter.ly VIP Ideas Newsletter. If you want to subscribe for $2.99 a month click here.
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