A dear friend of mine introduced me to a book he loves. It's called "ONE WORD". Actually it's called "One Word that will change your life" by Jon Gordon and Jimmy Page.
The gist of the book is simple. Pick ONE word that drives you, defines you, gives you ultimate focus for RIGHT NOW... and STICK TO IT. Check in with it. Use it to help you make faster decisions. Use it to ground yourself and to propel yourself.
I know this stuff sometimes sounds so hoakey... but to me it is awesome.
Our biggest challenge right now is competing priorities... too many things to consider, interpret, understand, embrace at once.
We want for so much in our lives, and despite our best efforts, it becomes overwhelming, and if not overwhelming, at least confusing. And, if not confusing, at least easier to "just not think about it too much and go about my day."
I am convinced that the key to success is GRIT... and GRIT toward something specific.
Using ONE WORD to keep you focused, if you conceive it in the right way.
His word has been FAITH and LOVE in the past two years, and it is working for him. He seems more relaxed, more confident, more decisive, more settled...
So, naturally, I was thinking... what would my word be?
PROFITABLE ;-) I was thinking about this for my company, and while it fails to inspire at the right level, it is something we need to think more seriously about... The trick on this is to be profitable in the right way, for the long term... that's harder.
HARMONY... of course this "should" be my word... I think about it often... write about it... speak to it... but it didn't feel right.
I need to pick ONE.... and I need to do it soon... and the word that comes to mind is COURAGE.
COURAGE to do what I believe to be right...
When I am getting up in the morning... COURAGE feels like the right word to get me out of bed.
When I am working too hard in a conversation to get to the right place... COURAGE seems like the right word to go to - to jump into the hard part of the conversation that I am trying to avoid.
When I worry about life passing me by... COURAGE seems like the right word to embrace to take more initiative... take appropriate risk...
I feel like I know the right path forward right now... better than I probably ever have... the question now is "Do I have the COURAGE to act on what I know... to pursue what I am passionate about pursuing..."
COURAGE...
That is going to be my go to word for awhile...
My goal is to be bolder, honest, transparent... and caring...
but COURAGEOUS...
to make the right kind of difference...
to live the right kind of life...
to unleash the very best version of myself...
to make the most impactful difference...
COURAGE...
What is your word?
I'm finishing the book this week. But, I've got my word picked.
In harmony,
Nestor