As a communicator, I understand and appreciate the power words have. Have you ever thought about the power a single word can have on your life?
Typically, in December, I choose one word to help focus and guide me over the next twelve months. Jon Gordon, author of One Word that will Change Your Life, inspired me to embrace this annual practice. While the practice hasn’t changed my life, I can attest to how it’s improved it.
“Stronger,” My Anchor to Recovery
While the pandemic raged around the world in 2020, doctors diagnosed me with stage 3 oropharyngeal cancer. Treatment took its toll on my mind and body. But just before Thanksgiving, we celebrated the news that I was free of disease.
After our successful battle with cancer, I chose STRONGER as my word for 2021.
“Stronger” served as the anchor for my recovery. While I ended treatment stronger mentally and spiritually, I lost about fifty pounds… some of that being muscle, and my body was wrecked.
Throughout 2021 with my word of the year to help me focus, I took small steps to become “stronger.” At the end of the year, I looked and felt stronger.
Focus Goes Where Energy Flows
The world around us is constantly demanding our attention. Pings, dings, infinite reels and advertisements vie for our time and attention. We’re lured in with the free offer of something that’s enticing. If the product is free, however, you can bet that you or your information is the product the company is ultimately selling. The important thing to remember is that you have a choice.
We are the product of choices we make, not the circumstances we face.
Hall of Fame athlete and best-selling author
Recognizing that focus goes where energy flows, I worked to be more intentional about who and what got my attention. Building on my progress the previous year, I chose TRACTION as my word for 2022. If you’re interested in learning why, check out DISTRACTION… the Solution is Hidden in Plain Sight.
Enter 2023… INSPIRE
My word for 2023 is “INSPIRE.” And that’s what inspired alviller.com.
This blog is a passion project. Creating it is something I’ve always wanted to do but never made the time. As a life-long learner, I’ve discovered many things about the world around me and myself. I discovered that one of my superpowers is helping others communicate ideas and information in compelling ways that cut through the clutter so they can achieve their aspirations, goals and objectives. That’s my WHY.
Be grateful. Be strong. Be kind. You never know who you may be inspiring.
– Author Unknown
This year, I’m taking my one word to a new level. I’ve combined it with the methodology introduced by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington – the 12-Week Year. Their approach shatters the shackles of yearly goal setting by breaking your large, hairy, audacious goals into smaller, more manageable projects that you can more easily achieve in three months.
For me in 2023, I grouped “INSPIRE” into four categories, one per quarter: Q1. Inspire… Good Habits. Q2. Inspire… health, wellness and fitness, Q3. Inspire… Growth and Development. Q4. Inspire… Reflection and Renewal. Then I developed specific projects designed to take systematic action that propels me toward the outcomes I desire.
The three-month planning cycle forces me to break down my goals into achievable objectives, then I determine the actions I need to take to achieve the objectives and schedule the time on my calendar to work on them.
There’s no real secret to my approach. However, I’m finding that blending One Word with the 12-Week Year and James Clear’s approach to building Atomic Habits has dramatically leveled up my personal development and productivity.
Here’s to taking it to the next level… whatever that is for you! Compare yourself with others, and you’ll become discouraged. Compete with yourself, and you’ll be surprised how far you can go. But be patient. You may only see your progress when looking in the rearview mirror.
Al Viller
Inspirational! While we share so many of the same beliefs – it was so refreshing to be reminded of them…. Congratulations on being cancer-free!
Thanks for stopping by Amanda. So wonderful to hear from you! Your courage and outlook on life has inspired more than you know. Wishing you and your family the very best life has to offer.