2013 – New Routines

I want to be a planner. You know, those who have lists, ideas and processes all set for 2013. You may be one of these. You have probably finished your planning for 2013. I’ll bet you even reviewed your 2012 goals before you set the new ones.

Each year I am moving closer to being a planner, because I think there is a lot to be said for setting goals and plans. Routine, a post by my friend Jon Swanson, captured my attention. Jon describes the process of planning through a different filter. Sure, he talks about some traditional approaches, like 3 words.

I am in the process of working on my 3 words for this year. Chris Brogan has used the concept for a number of years for his 3 words, it seems to be growing in popularity. I plan to select three words and write about them.

But I like the idea of working on new routines this year, I want to be able to look back on this year and point to some changes. I started to say significant changes, then I remembered reading a recent post by Dan Perez; he makes some great observations about realistic planning, about seizing the moment and preparation. These observations are helping me prepare and plan for change.

When you start a blog, it’s important to consider your target audience. I am deliberately breaking that rule because my main goal for this post is to hone my writing skills, to have a place where I can practice and write and grow.

Last year I enrolled in Chris Brogan’s Blog Topics Master Class. It’s been a very helpful experience. Now I need a place to put some of these great concepts into practice so I can finish the course.

Just after I signed up for the topics class I read Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. I admire her work and candor. The timing was interesting because Chris and Brene are both speaking to me in different ways, but they are both saying, dare to be personal. Be willing to reveal who you are and what you are thinking.

My goal is to post here regularly. I suppose you could consider it a diary of my 2013 new routine journey. Over time, I hope to have more clarity about some specific goals. For now, it’s most important just to begin, because if I don’t start today it could be several weeks because I procrastinate. I want to change.

A few years ago I worked with Susan Young and she really helped me formulate action plans and set goals. I am reviewing that material, it’s just as valuable today as it was then.

The journey ahead feels a bit daunting. The first thing I have to do is learn to adopt a growth mindset (described in Switch by the Heath brothers), it’s one of the best change resources around.

This feels better already.

Here we go.