12 Things to Stop Doing in 2009

No, you're not full of it. But can you explain #2 (from the six list) a bit more. I'm new.

Very informative indeed.

I like your focus on the positive (do this, do that) rather than the negative (stop this, don’t do that).

While I’m not a believer in the new age mantra of “what you think about you become”, it’s certainly evident that what you focus upon tends to occur.

An unconfirmed story follows. I once heard that in racing car training they used to have the saying, “Don’t hit the barrier, don’t hit the barrier, don’t hit the barrier”. Of course, they had accidents with car drivers hitting the barrier. (the negative approach)

They then started saying “Focus on the white line, focus on the white line, focus on the white line”. Accidents into the barrier were virtually eliminated, faster times were recorded, less stress on the drivers etc. (the positive approach)

I suppose it's like training kids. "Don't do that" and "Stop" are never as effective training techniques as "Well done for having such a clean room/using the toilet by yourself/saying excuse me" etc.

Funny about that!

Stop stopping!

Great tips, Chris.
Just that #1, about Twitter, that was not meant serious, right? Right? :P

Great post, Chris! I'm especially attracted to "Find a new way to improve someone's day." I think that if we all make small, positive changes in our lives - especially changes that add value to someone else's life -- we'll create world peace. Okay, so not really, but we'll be better, happier people. That's definitely worth something!

I went to my blog to share what I learned from brilliant people and then came back to comment. To borrow evanherik's term, thank you for encouraging "we-centered-ness" for better life.

Great tips Chris. I especially like #6. That's probably my biggest weakness. I do all that I can, without delegating too much to others. Too many years of that will leave anyone burnt out. Of course, I enjoy what I do, but I probably should spend the better part of a week doing it. :-)

Not doing is darn near impossible unless you are actively doing something else. What a great reminder.

Of your things to quit doing...
Stop writing about Twitter - yes, and no. I think what'd I'd say for myself is stop writing about Twitter the tool, and start writing about using social networking to accomplish something besides talking about social networking.
Stop doing it all yourself - let me know when I can hire on. :)

Things I'll work on to quit doing -
-Leaving 'great post' comments.
-Spam my networks with empty posts.
-Focus on only one tool to share and listen on.
-Being passive about exploring my network.
-Waiting for others to work on great ideas.

Things I will work on doing -
-Giving great feedback on posts - be they blog, microblog, video, etc.
-Creating value.
-Getting to know the real people in my network.
-Turning my experiences into profit - for myself, my family, my friends, my network

Things I'd like to be part of in 2009 -
-Support local nonprofits
-Sponsoring a new voice
-Teaching what I know

Cheers to a great year ahead in 2009. May you and I find opportunities to work together.
Todd

Hi Chris,
Great post (like always)! I also particularly enjoy the value added comment made by @LizzHarmon, more listen, less talk. It's always an interesting balance of talking/listening when you use social media tools.

Looking forward to more great stuff from you and your newly assembled team in 2009!

Great Idea stopping doing all this :)
hope you will success! :)

These are good points for both the beginning blogger and veteran to keep in the back of their mind. Depending on where you are in the process, it's natural to make mistakes, and really, it's necessary. I won't say which points struck a chord with me, but in order for me to grow as a blogger, I'll take your ideas for what they are -- hard lessons. Thanks for taking the time to share your insights with the rest of us schmoes (sp?) who are trying to succeed.

Not really a follower, just a simple blogger interested in improving my message. :)

I really enjoyed this post. I identify with many of your 'Stop doing' items. It is a good time for people to take stock in what they have been doing over the past year and make some changes. Great reminder and timely post, consider it bookmarked.

Chris,

Excellent pieces of advice across the board.

Besides my work in radio and as a freelance writer, I teach voice and acting to young artists (12-17) at a children's theatre company here in Minneapolis. One thing I always tell them in their respective artistic journeys: Strive for excellence, not perfection. One allows limitless room for growth, the other is the end of a journey before you head downward.

In the kids' next session, I'm going to share your "12 things to stop doing in 2009" - giving you full credit, of course - because those, more than anything else, seem to hit young people as much, or more, than (allegedly) seasoned professionals/adults.

Happy New Year!
CGabriel (and @CGprogram)

1. Stop writing about Twitter. -- I don't (yet 8=)
2. Stop writing “inside baseball” posts. -- I don't even know what that is!
3. Stop putting yourself down. -- Where would comedy be without this?
4. Stop waiting for something to come that will make everything better (if only). -- Rather, make that something!
5. Stop thinking you can read minds. -- I knew you were thinking that!
6. Stop trying to do it all yourself. -- That's a hard one for me.
7. Stop trying old things in new places, unless they’re really old. -- I can only think of 2 things that are old enough -- golf and ...
8. Stop making excuses for not doing things to move your career ahead. -- Done!
9. Stop presuming everything will get better because someone else will fix it. -- Fix it yourself (see #6) 8=)
10. Stop writing “me too” posts, or doing “me too” work. Build on the body of work. -- Done!
11. Stop beating yourself up when you don’t create something on a given day. -- Where's the fun in that?
12. Stop striving for perfection, and strive for execution instead. -- Good advice for me. Ties in with #8 in my life.

Even though this initial list is a more negative list, you could probably just remove the "Stop ... and" from some of them and leave the rest.

1. Find a new way to improve someone’s day (and determine if there’s value in it). -- Leave out the stuff in parentheses -- it is a rhetorical question at best
2. Synthesize new ideas from outside your audience’s circle (and help us make meaning from them). -- a BIG challenge but a valuable one
3. Promote the great people out there ( and and keep doing it). -- and let them know it too
4. Learn from brilliant people (and share what you learn). -- the 2nd part is the hardest of this
5. Work on interesting projects that matter to you (and empower others to participate). -- I always struggle with that 2nd part but I'm learning from brilliant people 8=)
6. Discover your passions (and share them openly). -- and don't worry about the nay sayers that will appear.

You are full of it, Chris - full of whatever gift it is that brings people in and invites them to return. Happy New Year!

Chris,

Sage advice from someone so young. (!)

You are truly an idea factory. I'm hunkered down trying to learn web marketing, and you keep stressing how important the conversation is to the process.

Thanks for this list, it's posted next to my monitor, so that I remember why I am doing all of this.

Respectfully,

Nicholas Chase
www.twitter.com/nachase
http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com

How about just one thing?

"Use Social Media to make the world better, to make people happier."

I really like the 6 "to-do's" instead of the 12 things to "stop" doing. I think we can all achieve more if we think of things that we can do, instead of things that we need to stop doing. It puts us in a positive frame of mind and make us have a much more "can do" attitude.

Great ideas Chris! You also just saved me some time of thinking of some good New Year's Resolutions!

The post is good, but I disagree with your first "Dont" of 2009. You said stop writing about Twitter. Alas, I think you spend too much time around people who have jumped into the deep end of the social media pool.

the truth is that most folk I encounter off of the internet look at me like I am from Mars when I talk about Twitter. ("I just dont get it"). Alas, I think in 2009 people need to keep writing/talking about Twitter. Maybe not on a blog that is read by social media gurus.... but many many people still have not heard the real story yet.

Just my two cents.

thom

@The Philster -

That was a great read, thank you.

@chrisbrogan

I can't wait to get started on #6 of your To-Do's.

Know what you can achieve and tackle that list. But don't limit yourself to the point of not growing.

good advice for the procrastinator/self deprecating (me). Am working on changing my spots, will keep my focus in 09!
Thanks to you and the like.

Great post, again! Michael Gerber, E-Myth fame, said this very thing on stopping... Actually, he comes from the side of Concentration: The Skill of Concentration, which means focusing and having to stop doing things .

Hippy New Year,
John

Very zen indeed.

Things to add:
Stop spending recklessly, including spending on mass media if it's not getting you anywhere.

DO learn the art of "friendship first"...build relationships before you shout out to the world "look at meeeeeeee"

This list actually got me psyched about 2009. Sometimes I need a little kick in the pants to realize that I do need to change the way that I work, write and live. This is a great reminder as well as a fantastic place to start. I'm adding "Stop wasting time." to my personal list. I spend entirely too much time poking around thinking and not doing. Why put it off? Make it happen! Happy New Year!

Great thoughts for the new year. I only hope that given the current econ we have the opportunity to work on things of interest rather than keeping our heads down till the sun comes out again -- I get a bit antsy when the projects are mundane. Maybe even work Twitter into some social marketing initiates :)

What a great post. But for me instead of trying to focus on what not to do I'll rather focus on the 'what to do' list. I think this will guide me in what to do in 2009!

Thanks.

12 Things to Do (Besides Break Your New Year's Resolutions) in 2009

The Devil made me do it, Chris. ;)

Nice post chris. I think I am gonna try it out. I loved the 6 things to do especially the learning from experts

Fantastic post, Chris. What about adding in a little Yoda philosophy and stop "trying" altogether in 2009? "Do or do not, there is no try."

Let's live in the moment, focus on one thing at a time, listen and smile. Creative ideas and positive outcomes are sure to follow.

@rangelie

Thanks for the post, was hoping you should share some resolutions with us. I really like the idea of making resolutions about DOING rather than STOPPING. Much more pro-active, confidence building and probably much more effective. I'm not going to STOP being lazy, I'm going to START going to the gym. I'm not going to STOP eating a lot of crap, I'm going to START eating healthy.

The six things do make for GREAT resolutions. Steven Covey has a recent book, THE EIGHTH HABIT. The eight habit is to "Find your voice and help others find theirs." Sounds like you and Covey are on the same page.

These are a few on my list.

Don't spend so much time online. Spend more time with nature. (all my best ideas come from time outside)

Don't think so much about what you want. Think about what your customers need.

Don't be afraid to take a risk or two. Be fearless.

you are full of it and the "it" is lots of great ideas, shared learning, insights, thoughts of possibilities, challenges to the status quo and great leadership and inspiring creativity for all of us to experience...a real pleasure getting to meet you in the web universe Chris...and hopefully, face to face in the New Year...cheers @MolsonFerg

Chris, your "to do" list is the best. I will not wait until 2009 and start today! And thank you for sharing what you know with us. Happy New Year.

Please add to your list: Look locally for one non-profit that needs your expertise. Give one day of yourself generously to helping that needy group in any way you can (communications support? volunteering time? teaching?) at beginning of year and remember to follow up if they need you.

I agree with people who think you should not stop writing about Twitter. After all, it is just in its infancy. More interesting case studies on different ways to use it certainly helps people get the value of Twitter.

Great post, I would say on the to do list for me.

Go out and meet more people in person (when possible), build stronger relationships with people, especially around things you are passionate about

@sforzley

Most New Year's lists are me-centered. ("Lose 10 pounds.") But this one is we-centered, a collaborative list that makes life better for all of us.

Cheer for #1 Stop writing about Twitter aka Bead a Dead Horse already. Thanks for the great list Chris.

Edit to big ass comment 71:

#103 above: Trust Agents is the title, not Trust Economies. Although, we could use a trust economy right now. Sorry for typing at 2am ;)

Thanks. Awesome words, especially the six things!

I am afraid to hit the notify button on this blog, but I have to. Chris, can you put a link to RSS comments for this post, right underneath the notify button? I would much rather read the comments in Google Reader, than have 150 emails from chrisbrogan.com.

I do value reading the comments, that is why I ask. I am not even sure you could possibly read all these comments yourself, especially since I saw those 2 "Panda Anti Virus" comments from "Jack" come through on one of your older posts.

So finally my response;

"Stop trying to do it all yourself." -- This one hits me in the face like a brick. Until I learned that I could trust others to help me, I was never successful. now I have many trusted employees and a more happy and successful life.

"Learn from brilliant people" -- Now what else is the 'net for? With blogs and twitter, I can now listen to the people who make changes in the world. With time I can learn from them, maybe connect with them. Whenever I read something that I think is intelligent, or that I could learn from this person, I add them to my RSS list. Which is huge now.

With these people, I have learned so much that I could not write it down. I have had the opportunity to help others as well.

Well, time to turn on the "Chris Brogan" filter in my email....

Chris,

Like Sarah far, far above me, your #2 "Synthesize new ideas from outside your audience’s circle" is my favorite suggestion. Both because I believe in trying to do so, and because I can always use a good reminder. There's no easier way to gain fresh perspective.

Regards,

Kelly

I like the last one (about trying to be perfect) the best.
There is so much to be done / so much multi-tasking to perform, that trying-to-be-perfect just gets in the way of things, and pulls one back from the overall goal (i find, at least, in marketing).

Another great post...really enjoying your blog, Chris.

I am guilty of a few things on the "don't do" list like thinking I can read minds (just ask my boyfriend) and beating myself up for things I think I screwed up. I resolve not to let that happen in 2009.

As for the 2009 "let's do" list. Love it and i would add a #7. Stay focused on what we do want NOT what we don't. Energy flows where attention goes.

I look forward to playing a bigger game this year, and I want to help others do the same.

Number 1 on your list is my priority.
Number 4 is why I stalk you and love Twitter.
Number 6 .. no problem.

Enjoy happiness; search for joy!

With much gratitude Chris.

Perfect timing for these gentle reminders. To the first list I add: Stop being a cave dweller and step out of my comfort zone; and to the second: Talk less and listen more.

I appreciate you, as always. Nice work.

@LizzHarmon

Ya Chris. That stuff is spot on. I recently moved to Seattle where I don't know a soul. So as I work on launching Fooducopia I go to a Barnes and Noble because I cannot possible sit at the house one more hour for fear of losing my mind. So there I am at the Barnes and Noble where I am half reading how to use You Tube to market a business half waiting for someone interesting to come along to talk with as the only people I speak with are the every now and again recruiter who I think needs to do something other than procrastinate with other peoples' livlihoods. So there I am sitting when this guy comes along, sits in the chair opposite me and opens a book on window's servers or something like that. Now these last two years of being a small business owner have been like fishing for lake trout in the way that they have not come easily and with the smallest amount of patience the line has snapped a few times for a few fish. The long and short of the story is that while I did want someone to speak with I was fascinated by what this guy to had to say. He too was a small business owner from Alaska who had gotten ahead of himself and then squashed by one of Ted Steven's scandalous plans that swiped the business out from underneath him. It was a story about a young man who saw an opportunity who wanted things and people and while he went for them so the vices went for him and today he is starting a new life in seattle with nothing but the experiences he accumulated during the rollar coaster ride of aspiration and lack of personal discipline. So Chris I'm with you on a couple of fronts. I'm there on the let's think about other people for a change and how we can truly help them in the way that we can conduct an exchang of abundance. As well I'm with you on the taking time out to not be in a hurray to become. Let's respect that time we set aside to be. Nice Job on the writing Chris. I look forward to reading your words.

Very helpful. I agree in all that's in the list except not writing about twitter. I think I would always say something good or bad about the site. :)

I agree mostly but it's a list for the "seasoned" ones. There are still a great many newbies out there still finding their way. But I embrace your number 4 of the to do list - Learn from brilliant people.

Thank you for this excellent inspiring post. While keeping our heads above water re: SM (A new tool! Another must have!), it is so easy to forget that afterall the technology is there to ENABLE HUMAN COMMUNICATIONS. Being in the industry, there is a tendency to see it as a business tool....and I did take a pause lately and think, hey, what can I do with all this knowledge for my personal life/belief? I am actually planning a new network that hopefully will achieve this. That's one of my 2000 goals!

Oh this is good ... I will do this ...

I like the discover your passion one - I am passionate about it. No, really .... :)

For your first list:

13 Let's stop writing blog posts about what others should be doing. (sure!)

14 Stop making fun of peeps who "don't get it" - we were all there (I'm guilty of this too)

15 Stop using inane words/phrases like "passion", "embrace", "engage", "listen".

16 Consume less sugar. That crap will kill you.


For your second list:

7 Let's get more healthcare professionals on board with the right kind of social media.
8 Raise awareness of Twitter among the population who should be the leaders:
Epidemiologists
Disaster response teams
Organ transplant services
Accountants and other agents of fiduciary trust
9 Promote a health-conscious attention to the consumption of technology.
10 Learn how the Federal System works (and how it doesn't).
11 Discover wonders of nature that you never knew existed.
12 File your Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware.
13 Discuss how the next holocausts will be waged via social media and what we can do now to respond.
14 Walk into a hospital and thank the staff for what they do. Bring them boxes of donuts and buckets of gratitude.
15 Read Galway Kinnell (Daybreak).
16 A Ritual To Reach To Each Other by William Stafford is a social media *MUST*
17 Read Alan Watts (Become What You Are).
18 Read Philip K. Dick if only for the psychedelic Gnosis (VALIS).
19 Learn how to meditate
20 Start using action verbs like "hunger", "welcome", "captivate", "mind" (see #15 in the first list).
21 Learn how to conduct a Japanese Tea Ceremony. (Invite me to it & teach me.)
22 Practice loving-kindess, especially at your most anger-inftrated moments.
23 Study resurrection. You'll need that skill more than ever.
24 Grieve for all those moments of your life that are gone forever.
25 Listen to the sound of rain falling on leaf-mush.
26 Teach our youth how to forgive wrongs, especially ours.
27 Acquire the fearlessness to love the people who will inevitably betray you.
28 Make yourself Bananas Foster. AND: Make some for the homeless in your town. (They're not dogs and not worthy of dog food.)
29 Learn something you never heard of every weekend (if you have those).
30 Know that what you make is proof of what you think.
31 Ask these two questions of yourself: when someone says listen hard, why do you squint? Could that be a metaphor for what's wrong with how we interact with each other and the world?
32 Know the difference between being nice and being good: nice people seek comfort and often disappoint; good people seek results and often disturb.
33 Decide which is more useful in the dangerous wild: hope or presence of mind.
34 Learn the distinction between spirituality and religion, between faith and belief.
35 Think like a scientist; act like an artist.
36 Think about how Search.Twitter could be a game-changer. (This isn't as obvious as you might think.)
37 Live with less.
38 Let's help each other to pull the beams out of our eyes.
39 Learn how to survive in the wild. Literally.
40 Eat less red meat.
41 Learn the difference between accrual basis accounting and cash basis accounting.
42 Know that Venture Capitalists come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds. (That is, don't piss people off - at least until you know what they gotts.)
43 Listen to music you've never heard. The music from the Great Depression was pretty remarkable.
44 Think about your mortality and ask yourself what you're doing wrong and right.
45 Keep fighting racism.
46 Keep fighting for gay rights.
47 Keep fighting Crypto Fascism.
48 Find out what you can do to improve our healthcare system (other than screaming "Free Markets" or "Universal Healthcare").
49 Learn about the Eight-fold path and see if it makes sense. If it does, follow it.
50 Read the Book of Job and Daniel Dennett's Darwin's Dangerous Idea.
51 Practice foregiveness (especially when you're in a good mood).
52 Plan your work; work your plan.
53 Learn how to deal with terrorists and the people who don't.
54 Strike up a conversation with the Thunder-Gods of Failure and thank them.
55 Know the difference between bitching and kvetching.
56 Be mindful of banality. Banality is the poker-face of evil.
59 Set small, simple goals for more exercise.
60 Wage relentless war on superstition.
61 Disregard 99.9% of what you read on blogs (especially those by social media 'experts').
62 Follow @scottmonty if you're not already.
63 Make better use of the 100,000,000,000,000 to 500,000,000,000,000 inter-neuronal connections in your brain.
64 Send hand-written letters to long-lost friends and tell them how important they were in your life.
65 Tell her you can't stop thinking about her (unless your Stalker Dude)
66 Don't apologize unless you plan to set things aright.
67 Know that you cast a shadow and what it might be covering up.
68 Write down your story.
69 Acknowledge, embrace and say goodbye to your inner Douchebag.
70 You're no longer invisible. Deal with it.
71 Buy a rose, tie your business card to it and offer it to that prospect who will never buy from you.
72 Read Adam Smith.
73 Read the Federalist Papers and Wendell Berry.
74 Memorize the Bill of Rights.
75 Know the Declaration of Independence by heart and by mind.
76 Know: you are part of a universe that grows marvelous things: quarks, electrons, stars, galaxies, you.
77 Know: every time you breathe and think and dream, you grow the universe that grows you.
78 Knowing the last two facts, ask yourself: "How could I ever stop falling in love?"
79 Read Nassim Taleb
80 Be reasonable or shut up.
81 Think about how you want to represented in The Cloud. Does the truth work for you?
82 Read Hymn to Intellectual Beauty by Shelley, The Second Coming by Yeats and Walking Around by Neruda.
83 Seek treatment for clinical depression. Screw stigma.
84 Learn more about Domestic Violence and donate resources to women's shelters.
85 Hitting a child is NEVER acceptable. Child abuse affects you more than you know. Help to bring an end to violence against children.
86 Understand why someone with an opposing view holds such a view and how you might be wrong or right.
87 Be more of a fun-loving Jackass on Twitter once in a while. It's not 1837 anymore, Victoria.
88 Run a charity campaign on Twitter or wherever you have a presence on the web. Or just devote hours to a local need in your backyard.
89 Read Propaganda by Edward Bernays and learn about the origins of Public Relations.
90 Keep on reading Godin. Maybe in 2009 you'll finally understand what he's been saying about Twitter. Or maybe he'll go berserk and follow the s**t out of everybody.
91 Realize that most of the choices in your life were probably wrong. You're still here. Go figure.
92 Put spice in your chocolate.
93 Lie down once in a while and whisper to yourself "The world won't stop. I'm safe and in love with this moment."
94 Quit your job before it quits you.
95 Befriend your mind.
96 Invest where nobody else invests.
97 Plant a tree in memory of a lost soul-mate.
98 Question authority: especially on Twitter.
99 Make peace a verb
100 Mind your mind.
101 Lead on Twitter more than you follow.
102 Trust that if you follow your bliss then the Force will get your back, always. Be a bliss leader.
103 Pre-order Trust Economies when it's available. For fuk's sake: how much did you earn from Chris' sharing, kindness, insomnia and commitment to getting social media right?

You're not full of it at all. Great, succinct post. I'd say in addition (stealing from Dirty Jobs): don't worry about finding your purpose - follow your opportunities.

That post, along with a lot of the comments, has given me a warm feeling by reminding me that there are still people who are positive and motivated out there, despite the doom and gloom that the sources of negativity are trying to hoist upon us all.

Another first-rate post, as always, Chris.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Good idea. So good, in fact, I blogged about the same concept the other day: www.communicationsconversations.blogspot.com. I especially like #s 3, 6, 11 and 12 on your list. We all need to stop being so hard on ourselves in the new year.

Loved the post Chris. Funny that I'm sitting here trying to do it all myself on a web project and realizing how much I need to let go of if I'm going to get to do all I want in 2009. There are just too many interesting projects to work on right now but so easy to get bogged down in busy work and forget the bigger picture.

A mentor years ago told me to always work to make myself obsolete so I could move up the ladder. If you are "necessary" you are trapped. My resolution: stop being necessary and focus on being useful instead!

Good list. I think #10 is particularly important for a content producer, and is a lesson that predates the Web. Why repeat content that someone else has already done, if you can't do it better or put a significant new spin on it? This will sometimes confound the expectations of those who consume your content and wonder why you are not running with the pack ("hey! you missed X!"). You have to hope they will come to appreciate your fresh take, your difference. Put your effort into leading, not following.

Thanks Chris. I agree and think we need to collaborate and share more. It's not all about ME.

You're not full of it Chris.

I think 2008 was all about setting the bar of ethics of how all the social media toys should be used.

2009 will be the year we ante up and see if we all can practice what we preach.

I never write abou twitter or baseball so that's cool. What hit me in the stomach on the "stopping list" were 4,5,6, and 11. Those I will focus on. I read an article about women who were stymied both in their lives and careers. 2009 is a year to stop focusing on the barriers. There's nothing to break through. They don't exist. Thanks Chris. I appreciate your insight! --Annette

I'm one of the people Mark mentioned, what does "inside baseball" mean?

If you want it to catch on (which it should) then how do we talk about it if we can't do "me too" posts? ;)

The list reminds me a bit of Merlin's new direction :
http://www.43folders.com/2008/09/10/time-attent...

The second list of six is much better! A positive as opposed to negative approach. Funny thing, a Law of Attraction ad came up when I clicked on the this post.

Hey Chris - GREAT list!! And thank you for the link to TrainforHumanity.org. :)

One thing I would add for your readers is to NEVER give up on your dream in 2009!! Over the course of a year and a half, my wife and I were turned down for a business mortgage over ten times. We were so close to giving up. But on the eleventh time we got a YES and are now pursuing our business dream and living in the Caribbean.

I wish you and your readers nothing but tremendous success in 2009.

You have shared a great truth.

Being for something is much more powerful than being against.

Rosh

Anything... as long as we don't end up on Oprah.

Good post Chris; I like both lists.

I would add:
start "it" now & stop procrastinating,
start sharing & stop being selfish,
start encouraging & stop tearing down,
and don't quit, if you get off track, get back on and keep going.

Let's stop using the term "inside baseball". Believe it or not, I think there's a fair number of people who don't really get what the term means. I don't grok it that well.

Works for me. I like 4 on the to do list. there are so many wonderful people out there that I learn from.

Chris love the Things to do list, especially 4 and 5. Here are some other things I want to tackle in 2009.

6) Admit that I love reality TV
5) Take that Paris vacation...finally
4) Start crossing stuff of my many lists
3) Take networking more seriously
2) Ask more questions
1) Go Big. (Going home is not an option.)

[...] http://brazucadekimono.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-... [...]

Cheers to not beating yourself up. Declare victories, however small. Build towards your goals and base your goals on your passions. Do so with clear principles and values. thanks Chris. I'm grateful for your insights. Have a healthy and prosperous 2009!

Just one more post about Twitter? Please? Please?

Great post, Chris. As is normal for all of us this time of year, whether we write them down or not, we start thinking about "resolutions." After re-reading Jim Collins ("From Good to Great") and listening to a few of his podcasts, I decided to take a different approach — just as you've done with things to "stop doing." Collins's take is that, in addition to focusing on what we have to do to succeed, we need to stop wasting resources misapplying them to things that don't work or don't help us achieve the goals of our "hedgehog concept."

Ah! ...2009 | The Year we Stopped Stopping

A year promoting positiveness through giving and sharing - works for me.

Good ideas and inspiration for the new year...except I'll take an exemption from the Twitter ban, considering my 'second' blog is dedicated to microblogging, and I'd be left talking about Plurk all day!

Value. Value VALUE!

I love this post.

Stop blaming yourself, get up, get confident and take action!

it's the ready FIRE... aim approach.

forget perfection... that came come later... for now let's execute and get it done!

Love the blog Chris!

I'm so glad I finally have an established blog where I can Deliver value and connect and share some great business lessons!

it's people like you that inspire me!

David King,

I'm not a person of lists. Lists, I find, do not communicate at times as well as stories do. But, I like in particular the last item on Kristina Libby's list:

"Stop. Stop reading. Stop doing. Stop wasting time avoiding thinking."

Does this mean we need to stop using Twitter and start thinking?

It amazes me how much energy and time we can waste when we try to Stop Doing Things! It's such a negative, crazy cycle, isn't it? I find my time is much better spent when I start doing things to change my situation rather than just try to stop doing things.

For 2009, I am definitely going to start stopping things and just keep on starting things! In fact, I am starting a couple of great new Joint Ventures!

Thanks, Chris for another great post!

Things to Stop Doing in 2009
1. Stop trying to be everyTHING to everyONE.
2. Stop fighting battles that are not mine.
3. Stop putting yourself down. (I agree Chris, let's do this one together)
4. Stop making assumptions.
5. Stop frowning. Just stop. Its not worth the calories.

Things to Do in 2009

1. Smile. As often as I can, every time I think of it in fact... 'What is my face doing right now? Oh, I should be SMILING.'
2. Tell Connor how amazing he is every single day.
3. Call my mom, my sister, and my friends because FB, Twitter and email are not enough.
4. Learn from brilliant people (and share what you learn). (I JUST DID!)
5. Spend less time on the computer and more time in my husband's arms.

I'm in a totally different field than most of your readers (sexology, sex therapy and coaching, sex education, etc), but I still can apply all 6 of your "Things to Do" in the coming year!

I have been thinking that I needed to hone in on one "mantra" to help me focus next year, but I like your idea of giving myself permission to have 6 mantras!

Great lists - both of them. But I can't promise #1... because I like Twitter and from time to time, there are things I want to write about that concern it.

That said? I think there's a difference between writing about Twitter and writing about Twitter Drama.
;)

Interesting post, Chris.

There are two common themes in the 6 Things to Do in 2009 list: do what you love and share the brilliance of others (allowing them to do what they love to do). Hopefully, that is something we can all aspire to in the coming years.

To Do:
1. Pick projects, clients and work that feel GOOD and INSPIRE.
2. Spend time outside.
3. Complete a doable task first thing in the morning to start the day accomplished.
4. Help, support, collaborate with others.
5. Believe in own self-worth, value, contributions.
6. Practice what's preached.
7. Turn off Blackberry every night and be 100% with family.
8. Take stock at end of day, celebrate all that was done.
9. Get out of own way.
10. Write, write, write, write, write...then write some more.

i like the focus on trying new things in #s 1 and 2 on the "Things to do" list. New approaches, new ways of thinking, and exposure to new people help us steer clear of Einstein's definition of "insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Chris - Number 6 is great. "Learn to delegate" should be a book in the "For Dummies" series. I would buy it.

@Will - I got a half dozen graphic novels and several comics for the holidays, as well as some comic-themed movies. I'm all set to match you on that "to do" for 2009. : )

I'm with Kristina above: I'll be writing a post for sure. It's so refreshing to see people being emotionally transparent. So many people hide behind what they think people want to read, or what is going to make them look a certain way.

My favorite people in life (and online, to boot), are those that will showcase their weaknesses, their shortcomings, their pitfalls, and show you how they climbed out and built themselves anew.

You're the real deal Chris. I'm quite glad. Follow too many people that are all about the wrong things.

To Do: Read more comics.

Great post as always Chris.

Number 12 hit home for me. Its almost fortune cookie worthy, but its also something to keep me grounded while pursing future endeavors.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the really thought provoking list of 12 things that we (all) should stop doing. My personal favourite was the 3rd one i.e. Stop putting yourself down. I never really thought about this, but yes, way too many people put themselves down (and also others).

Best Wishes,

Shinil.
@shinils on Twitter - http://twitter.com/shinils

1. Figure out how to use less resources and encourage others to do the same
2. Continue to learn about and educate others on ways to lessen the world's human population as a way to save the planet from global climate disruptions
3. Smile

This is fab. You are basically asking folks to keep their focus outside themselves while being responsible for their own stuff. Very refreshing, even though this kind of thinking is at the heart of all great philosophies and religions. When our culture lost interest in them we lost sight of this approach.

Happy New Year, Chris!

I'm not making a list. I lose focus on lists. I'm creating 2-3 high-level goals and doing only the things that support those goals. I'm expected to contribute to departmental goals and divisional goals at work, so why not have similar goals for myself and work towards them with a series of actions that I create ahead of time or learn along the way and incorporate over time. I am a work in progress. Knowing that, moves me away from the lists. If I can look at an item and determine whether or not it supports my goals, that gives me more focus. That way I won't dwell on a list and feel as though I am not accomplishing what I was after if I'm not checking it off, and I won't feel as though I've lost direction if I abandon it all together.

#2 on the Six Things To Do in 2009: Synthesize new ideas from outside your audience’s circle (and help us make meaning from them).

Right on, Chris! One of the secrets to innovation is to reach beyond the product category and tap into successful features/benefits/design from outside the category. What's me-too in consumer package goods might be killer in the travel industry. Same goes for idea-mining outside your traditional audience. One of my fave trendwatcher's techniques: (Works online as well as in print) -- Go to a portal or magazine stand and either close your eyes and click/pick . . . or deliberately (no cheating, please) choose sites/mags from topics you've never explored. For example, I might choose a NASCAR site or Diamond Merchants' Monthly. Experiencing another POV or psychographic is awesomely disruptive to my thinking. It yanks me right out of my doldrums and lets some fresh air blow through my cognitive cobwebs. I actually did this with NASCAR and found myself zipping over the mountains from my house to Laguna Seca, where I discovered a whole new world -- which just happened to include (that weekend) Brad Pitt. :)

Thanks for your always sound, provocative ideas. Happy New Year!

It's enough of the what ifs, buts, ands, should'ves, could'ves, would'ves - and just do and make happen.

Here's number 7 for your to-do list: Laugh, love, and play more.

Love it, Brogan. Awesome stuff.

I published a blog in response to your post on our site: biztropolis.ning.com, that will run in a couple of days. But I wanted to thank you, this post was great and my 12 things to stop would be this:
If I had to write 12 Things to Stop Doing in 2009, they would be
1.) Stop watching the news 24/7. Nothing has changed since yesterday.
2.) Stop thinking about risky chances and just start taking them.
3.) Stop wanting to be an entrepreneur/small business owner and do it already.
4.) Stop saying you will travel the world. Flights to Europe just got a lot cheaper--- anyone for the Azores?
5.) Stop thinking your company will succeed without a social media presence.
6.) Stop thinking that you don't have to contribute to the discussion.
7.) Stop thinking that the world is going to come to your feet.
8.) Stop thinking you don't have to work for it because he didn't have to.
9.) Stop thinking economic recession means you are doomed to failure (see Iceland and geothermal warming).
10.) Stop thinking you don't have what it takes....
11.) Stop believing that filling your life with things/meetings/work means you are living a full life.
12.) Stop. Stop reading. Stop doing. Stop wasting time avoiding thinking.

Best,
K

I'm developing a similar TO Do list for 2009 with a goal of making it longer than my DON'T DO list --here's what I have so far:

-Strive to achieve my fullest potential in mind, body, spirit
-Stay focused on the positive and help others do the same
-Explore my passions more fully and be open about them
-Do interesting, meaningful work that has a measurable benefit to others and supports a triple bottom line
-Try to learn something new each day from really smart people and pass along knowledge