Ten years ago, when I “took the plunge” and decided to go into business for myself in the field of public relations, perhaps my greatest challenge was finding a way to let potential clients know my strengths, and avoid the temptation of being “all things to all people.” Whenever possible, I try to help my clients do the same thing — concisely and vividly express the value they offer the world and the essence of their wisdom and expertise.
Many of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in this regard – especially when it comes to engaging the interest of others and building a community that recognizes and appreciates my value – have come to me thanks to author Chris Brogan. Through his online courses and books like “The Freaks Shall Inherit The Earth: Entrepreneurship for Weirdos, Misfits, and World Dominators,” Chris has helped me channel my desire to make a difference in the world and inspired me to further develop my skills.
As the great spiritual author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer once commented, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” In that same sense, one of the most valuable ideas that I’ve learned from my friend Chris is that of beginning each new year with three carefully chosen words that crystalize my intentions for the year ahead and the new perspective from which I view my business and my personal life as a result of all that has gone before.
As I share my three words for 2016 with you, and explain why I’ve chosen each one, I encourage you to take some time to think about three words that are most meaningful to you as the year gets underway. By focusing on these three words each day, it will influence the way I write on each one of the 365 “blank pages” that will make our “book” this year.
Here are the three words that I’ll be focusing on each day this year:
Connect — I truly believe that magic can result when two people come together with the desire to creatively inspire one another and bring out the best in each other, and I love having the opportunity to connect with inspiring new friends, and to bring great people together. My work in the field of public relations ask involves “connecting” each client’s message with their desired audience, and I love finding creative and strategic ways to do that.
Communicate – This is at the heart of effective public relations work, of course, and I consider it an honor to be trusted with my clients’ message.
Change — I also love helping clients and friends who have ideas and information that can change the lives of others, and I’m always excited about doing anything possible to bring those ideas to the widest possible audience. In addition, some of the projects I’ve found most fulfilling in recent years are those through which we seek to “change” the world — my media training work with the leaders of Feeding America, my support for the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation in honor of a courageous young victim of the Newtown tragedy, and The Prospector Theater which seeks to provide those with disabilities with career opportunities and a bright future.
I invite you to consider choosing three words of your own this year, each as a point of focus and as a “filter” for the countless experiences and adventures that await you during the year ahead.
The search for inspiring ideas and various empowering rituals and habits are subjects I frequently discuss in my weekly newsletter. Here’s a link, if you’d like to add your name to the community that receives my newsletter each week.
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Thanks – and if you do choose three words for 2016, I hope you’ll let me know what they are!