Every year, I come up with three words that will be my guiding pillars for what I will focus on in the coming year. Instead of resolutions, which don’t usually help me very much, I work hard on using these words as a lighthouse for my actions and efforts. Here are my 3 words for 2011:

Reinvest. Package. Flow.

Reinvest – I will reinvest in my efforts in all areas of life that matter to me. I won’t phone it in. I have some fitness goals. I can’t keep playing at it. I have some financial goals that will be met. I have community goals that require me to reinvest in my projects and not take on new things.

Package – I just wrote about packaging the other day. Essentially, I’m going to get my own marketing house in order. I’m going to make sure things make sense, make sure they are easy to understand, and make sure that the right people know about them. Packaging will have other meanings, too, but this one is important to me in 2011.

Flow – In the last few months of 2010, I came to realize that I’m still doing too much. I went into redrawing mode yet again. One thing I have to do much better in 2011 is manage flow: that state of working on the most important stuff and eliminating distractions. I’ve cut a lot out of my original plans for 2011. I’ll surely cut a little more. The end result? Things will come out much better. I’ll have less stress. Things will flow nicely.

3 Words Aren’t Goals

The three words idea is built so that you can have something to reflect upon. As you know, goals should be SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely). The way you use the two together is that you think up goals that will match up to your words. For instance, one goal of mine in 2011 that ties to “reinvest” is to lose 50 pounds over 10 months. 5 pounds a month is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

There you go.

Your 3 Words

I asked the people who read my free newsletter about personal development and business growth what their three words are for 2011. Here’s what they answered:

• Alexandra – Creativity, Growth, Simplicity
• Martha – Focus, Connect, Momentum
• Debbie – Touch, Storytelling, Create
• Rebekkah – Reclaim, Rewrite, Renew
• Vicki – Passion, Confidence, Balance
• Debra – Clients, Reputation, Smarts
• Nick – Smile, Fight, Create
• Ginny – : Basics, Balance and Gratitude.
• Marge – Perseverance, wellbeing, manifest.
• Justin – Kitchen, owners, stories.
• Laurie – Launch, Interconnect, Allow
• Sue – Bold, Tribe-Mesh, Be.
• Paula – Action, Collaboration, Freedom
• Joanna – Love, Passion, Action
• Sonya – Publish, Productive, Value
• Gail – Write, Speak, Read.
• Robin – Ask, Do, Share.
• Jill – Blog, Persevere, and Brand.
• Patti – Grow, Contribute, Action.
• Meghan – Mind, Body, Spirit
• Margot – Integrate, Connect, Finish
• Dana – Creativity, Independence, Outreach.
• Jonathan – Quality, Help, and Perseverance.
• Sam – Ship. Learn. Collaborate.
• West – Servitude, Submission, Integrity.
• David – Renew, Rethink, and Remove.
• Chrystie – Focus, Follow-Through, Grow.
• Jennifer – Relationships, Flow, Growth
• Shayna- Secure, Execute, Close
• Christian – Ideas, Love, Consistency.
• JoAnn – Relationship, Health, Productive.
• Jeffrey – Integrity, Wisdom, Patience
• Anne – JUICY. SO WHAT? and WORTHY
• Shel – Columns. Book.  Leverage.
• Mike – Ask, Do, Share.
• Louise – Pleasure, People, Publish, Practice.
• Andrew and Donna – Process, Content, Leadership.
• Roland – Story, Partners, Sales.
• Bryony – Write, Listen, Action.
• Michael – Produce, Plan, Ask.
• Debbie – Honor, Stretch, Organize.
• Robin – Let Them Talk, Or, Listen Listen Listen.
• Jason – Execute, Learn, Share.
• Conga – Discernment, Enjoy, Educate.
• Kathy – Integrity, Accountability, Tenacity.
• David – Development, Solutions, Digital.
• Leon – Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin (needs to learn all three).
• Julie – Create, Execute, Deliver
• Melissa – Create, Care, Promote.
• Sara – Study. Pursue. Persevere.
• Benji – Prospect, Follow-through, Integrity.
• Adam – Project, Resolute, Legacy.
• Christopher – Commitment, Connecting, Caring.
• Kathy – Focus, Produce, Balance.
• Mike – See, Imagine, Show.
• Zane – Keep. Moving. Forward.
• Jill – Ask, Grow, Matter.
• Sharon – Dream, Do, Gratitude.
• Kimberly – Health, Truth, Thrive.
• Dimitri – Move, Grow, Share.
• Susan – Focus, Grow, Connect.
• Amruta – Ask, Do, Share.
• Eric – Adapt, Support, Teach.
• David – Remarkable, Share, Understand.
• C.C. – Create, Inspire, Teach.
• Beth – Challenge, Empower, Collaborate.
• Lisa – Passion, Balance, Giving Back.
• Barry – Focus, Consistency, Write.
• Heather – Wealth, Freedom, Fun.
• Siobhan – Learn, Stretch, Give.
• Eileen- Enlighten, Do, Grow.
• Laurie – Wholeness, Notice, Release.
• Michelle – Own, Reflect, Try.
• Christian – Select, Execute, Review
• Pam – Prioritize, Empathize, Collaborate.
• Adam – Create, Connect, Move
• Jack – Freedom, Authority, Conversation.
• Phyllis – Connect, Undaunted, Execution.
• Alex – Responsibility, Integrity, Civility.
• Thomas – Love, Live, Laugh.
• Bella – Embrace, Act, Care.
• Jamie – Give, Go, Be.
• Deb – Innovation, Recognition, Sustainability.
• Diana – Courage, Relationships, Focus.
• Josh – Epic, Sustainable, Togetherness.
• Daniel – Exponential, Residual, Communal.
• Eric – Ecosystem, Momentum, Hero Frame.
• Kristelle – Breathe, Stretch, Irresistible Influence.
• Serita – Exceed, Grow, Gratitude.
• Lori – Intuition, Motivation,Organization.
• Bill – Remarkable, Memorable, Valuable.
• Mat – Listen, Learn, Develop.
• Margie – Teach, Learn, Live.
• Sue – Get OUT There!
• Rebecca – Grow, Connections, Balance.
• Julia – Freedom, Fascination, Fun.
• Caren – Innovate, Engage, and Generate.
• Rex – Discipline, Delivery and Sharing.
• Glenda – Transformation, Freedom, and Instincts.
• Jeff – Finish.
• Jacqueline – Centralize, Bulldoze, Infect.
• Mark – Create. Connect. Give-Back.
• Chad – Learn, Reflect, Act.
• Marcy – Live, Love, Lead.
• Barbara – Stop. Talk. Live.
• LaTara – Life, Love, and Liberty.
• Joel – Focus. Expect. Exercise.
• Jim – Customers, Content, and Strategy.
• Christine – Expand, Focus, Nurture.
• Gin – Iterate, Beauty, Home.
• Colleen – Process, Detail, Faith.
• Stephanie – Faith, Family, Collaboration.
• Matt – Trajectory, Triples, Diamond Filters.
• Ardath – Story, Grow, Teach.
• Allan – Learn, Implement, Blossom.
• Jessica – Integrate, Focus, Expand.
• Gail – Ask, Receive, Free Spirit.
• John – Start, Stop, Continue.
• Daniel – Concentrate, Collaborate, Deliver.
• Lynn – Connecting, Articulating, Performing.
• Gilda – Speaker, Author/Book, Information Products.
• Diane – Focus, Educate, Produce.
• Hadass – Move, Learn, Seek.
• Jody – Relationships, Grow, Build.
• Julianne – Responsibility, Exercise, Passion.
• Tom – Conscious, Present, Mirth.
• Jennifer – Save, Invest, Choose.
• Angela – Connect, Lead, Mentor.
• Chrissy – Energy, Passion, Knowing.
• Eugen – Grow, Build, Ecosystems.
• Ray – Proactive, Punctual, Relationships.
• Jessica – Bones, Breath, Reach.
• Hubertus – Storytelling, Grow, Stuff.
• Nick – Grow, Create, Community.
• Jim – Believe, Do, Own, Family.
• Tomasz – Learn, Love, Lead.
• Glen – Do, Increase, Expert.
• Darren – Engage, Create, Learn.

And You?

What are your three words for 2011? How will you guide your actions?

Related posts:

1. My 3 Words for 2010
2. Plan for a Better 2011
3. My Speaking Plans for 2011
4. Blogs as Attraction Engines
5. My Three Words for 2008

–>