My 3 keywords for 2014

If you’re like me, it’s hard to sum up all of the little things you’re striving for in the new year.

It’s all the same rhetoric to us:

  • Lose weight
  • Save money
  • Have “me” time
  • Be more organized

I’ve always tried to approach every challenge, task, or situation from a 30-thousand foot view to find the big hot spots to go after first.

Where can I start to make a big impact before tweaking every little nut and bolt under the hood? New Year resolutions are no different and thanks to my pal Chris Brogan, I’ve got a little 3 keyword strategy to use.

3 Keywords for the new  year

I’ll look at using these keywords as reminders or kickstarting verbs when I’m in a particular situation.

For example, we all know being a solopreneur is tough. If you don’t think so, you haven’t been in it long enough and I advise you to read this post by John Saddington: 27 Pounds. Whenever I’m feeling a bit down or struggling with my work, I recall a basic phrase I have on my whiteboard, “I love what I do every day.”

Simple and effective. I’ve trained myself to remove stress, at least for the short term, when I visualize that statement. Something out of Jason Bourne I know, but over time it works, try it.

Community

Not the WordPress community — my community.

I’ve had the privilege of building up a stronger following over the course of 2013 and it’s time to start giving back and building stuff for you.

I encourage you to do the same.

Start with your supporters in real life, all the way to the twittersphere, and then start branching out to other like minded folks as best you can. Do good by them and soon enough you’re sprouting up your own little community.

My advice to you: build your blog as your home base and extend it’s reach with other media channels.

Here’s the many community channels you can find us at:

  • Matt Report Nation Newsletter, subscribe here.
  • Matt Report on Twitter.
  • WordPress Entrepreneur Google Community, join here.
  • Matt Report on iTunes.
  • Slocum Studio WordPress webshows, on YouTube.
  • Our latest, WP Mentor, a place to find WordPress Mentors.

You might see these as boring links, but each has it’s own little community you can engage with.

What community will you build for yourself?

Courage

This is a big one.

Do you have the courage to change your day to day norm? For those of you trying to lose weight, look at it from the bigger picture. What little tweak can you make to lose 5 pounds in a month?

Is it drink more water or run a mile every day? We get too caught up in this hyper focused reality of having to lose weight NOW or making big changes TODAY, that we forget this is a marathon not a sprint.

Years ago I was really heavy and managed to lose 40 pounds by practicing the 4-hour body routine. I’ve managed to keep 90% of it off, but like other normal human beings, I fall off track.

But let’s get back to business, do you have the courage to totally pivot and flip your current business model on it’s head? I’ll be trying that in 2014 and hope you will be there for the ride.

Tell me about your courage.

Me Me Me

It’s actually, us us us!

What can we do to give back to our own mental, physical or financial well being? Are we spending enough time with our friends and family? Are we doing the things that really make us happy?

If it’s what you’re struggling with, perhaps you need the courage to start a supporting community?

I want to make my impact by helping people do all of this “stuff.” Ah yes, the old cliche. Everyone doing this, says that. For a while I was trying to figure out how I could say that differently. How can I stand out?

I’ve come to realize that this world is pretty big. The internet is big. My local community is big. You don’t come across a lot of people that say, “Oh God, you do that too?” At least I haven’t yet and when I do, I’d say the odds are still in my favor. 🙂

So what will you do this year that is all about you?

Got your 3 keywords? Let me know in the comments. Love what I do here? Hate what I do? Join the newsletter and let’s talk about it! 

[photo credit]


Comments

4 responses to “My 3 keywords for 2014”

  1. Great words Matt! I’m excited to follow you as you flip your business model. It’s not easy nor for the faint of heart. ‘Courage’ is a great word because fear and risk keep people from doing big things.

    I’ll be blogging my wife and my 2014 word soon!

    1. Appreciate it Dan!

  2. Good luck in 2014 Matt, and keep up the great with The Matt Report! I just posted my 3 words for 2014 too (Flourish, Traction, Metrics)

    1. That’s great Mike, love the keywords!

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