This post is different than the stuff I usually release. Starting in 2017, there will be some more “behind the scenes” content on Devdactic to not only help you along your coding journey but also to share lessons learned in topics related to entrepreneurship, productivity and more personal topics.
To start the year with some goals, I copied the idea of having 3 guidance words for the year from Mike Vardy of the Productivityist. I’m having some more detailed goals as well, but those 3 words can be so simple yet giving your decisions a clear path along the year (The original idea comes from Chris Brogan, but I learned about it through Mike).
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3 Words for all areas
Although the last year was pretty successful in many areas, there is a lot to improve. You might be happy about some achievements but sad you did not take action on some parts of your life. The start of the year marks a good point to let go of the old regrets of the previous year and to start into a fresh future.
Like Mike I picked 3 words that all start with the same letter (helps to remember them), and my 3 selected words for 2017 will be:
Connect, Cut, Create
These words are not only meant as specific actions, but also as broader topics and areas to work in. Let’s dive into each of them to show you what’s behind the single word.
Connect
Life get’s better with every connection you have. The people around you, your friends and family, but also all the great people you can meet online through discussions or interactions on social media.
In 2017, my focus is to connect with more people. You, as a reader of Devdactic are so important to me and the growth of this platform. Therefore, I want to have more, deeper interactions with all of you.
Connecting with influencers can help you to become more visible to a broader audience, if you are the creator of a blog, product or any kind of service. Therefore, connections should not only be created between people who are on the same knowledge level like you but also to those who you admire.
Reaching out to others for help or guidance is sometimes not easy, but the long term relations that can derive from these occasional conversations can be unbelievable valuable in your future.
By connecting with more people you can at the same forge new relations and become inspired by the work of others. Everyone of us has a story to tell, everyone has different problems, rituals goals so getting to know them helps you to grow as well.
Finally, one of my favourite quotes from Steve Jobs is about connecting:
You can’t connect the dots looking forward you can only connect them looking backwards. – Steve Jobs
It’s true that you can’t predict the outcome of your actions now. Whatever you do, learn or share now might be one dot on a clear path in retrospective. I believe that connections to others are a huge cornerstone along your own journey.
Of course this won’t be easy sometimes, especially time consuming now and then but connecting with people and helping others is something you can’t invest too much into.
Cut
We all have too much of something. In a Podcast episode of Lewis Howes I first heard about the art of becoming a minimalist, which inspired me for this goal.
Let’s be honest, becoming a real minimalist is hard. But I do like the idea of decluttering your life from all the stuff that doesn’t really bring joy. Clothes, the stuff at the lowest shelf of your cupboard or the things you are hoarding in your storage room or cellar.
We buy things and loose the interest in it within a few days or weeks, but we still keep the stuff near.
Why?
It’s hard to let go. But by having less we can actually enjoy things a lot more and value them higher than before.
But this goal is not only about physical things, it’s also about cutting off bad habits like eating too much (and the wrong things) or sticking to old and sometimes bad behaviours that are actually not good for us.
It’s about finally unsubscribing on the 100. newsfeed or spammy email list that you have actually never read (I hope it’s not mine). Negative relations can suck up your energy, so try to reduce or remove these if you can feel they are not good for you.
We all have something we own or do that we could let go of and therefore in 2017 try to cut down what is not essential to you. A great additional book on this is Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
If you have something that’s not fuelling your dreams, why you still do it? Try to cut and reduce in your life wherever possible to make more space for the really important tasks.
Create
Creating stuff (especially as a software developer) brings joy while doing it and afterwards if you can help others with the outcome of your work.
In 2017 I will create more tutorials, products and videos for Devdactic, even on new ares (like the post you are just reading). Besides I hope to create more presentations for public speaking gigs, freelance work and innovative solutions in my day job.
Using your skills to create whatever it is gets you into the flow and leaves a feeling of deep fulfillment. If you have never shared your work or your skills with someone, now is the best time to create your own footsteps.
Besides creating material in a written form as help for others you can also create apps, websites, services and tools that could perhaps become your new startup project sometime. And don’t forget about the learning aspect of every new project or endeavour!
Finally, create moments in your life, every day. Create adventures and share experiences with your loved ones. These moments are priceless and should be created more often than anything else.
Whatever it is that you can create, start it this year.
There will never be a better moment to begin something new than now!
What are your Words?
Hopefully these 3 words inspire you to find your own guidance words for 2017! Think about the areas of your life you want to improve and come up with 3 words.
I would love to hear yours (as part of my first goal connect)!
You can leave them with a short explanation below in the comments or Tweet @schlimmson using the hashtag #3words2017.
My 3 words for 2017: Connect, Cut, Create! #3words2017
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Happy New Year,
Simon
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