My 3 Words for 2023
What is My 3 Words About?
The My Three Words idea is simple. Choose 3 words (not 1, not 4) that will help guide your choices and actions day to day. Think of them as lighthouses. "Should I say yes to this project?" "Well, does this align with my three words?"
The idea came from realizing that resolutions almost always end by January 19th of a new year. One reason is that we often choose them from a negative mindset: "I need to lose weight. I'm not making enough money." Instead, the idea of the 3 words is more like: what can I use to guide me towards results I want to support for the entire year and beyond? Not the result itself. The path. The process.
How to Choose Three Words
I started this process back in 2006. Back then, my 3 words were "Ask. Do. Share." I picked these very simple words and they served me very well. One of my best years ever. When I asked questions, I learned. When I took action based on what I learned from asking, I made more ground and took over more of the universe. When I shared what I learned with everyone, I made connections and some friends.
Choose any three words you feel will guide you forward. Think of words that inspire an action, especially when faced with a choice. If you want to travel more, maybe the word is "Stamp," because it encourages you to get more country stamps in your passport. (However: evidently this is largely a non-existent thing any more. Boo.)
I can tell you a few things about choosing your 3 words from experience:
Don't make it a phrase. "Publish the book" is a terrible choice. "The" is wasted.
Try to make the words action-oriented (a verb, if you can). "Expand" is better than "bigger."
The more utilitarian the word can be, the better. These words have to be your compass.
Stick with the 3 words all year. Every time I've changed one a month or two later, the year mucks up. I can't explain it. But I can report it.
Years where I've tried "fancy" words with layers of meaning, I lost the thread. Use plain words, maybe.
BUT the words don't have to mean anything to anyone but you. Don't worry about explaining them.
Words like "focus" never seem to pan out (Mike Vizdos notwithstanding). Instead, focus on what? Pick a lane. Hint, if you have too many things to focus on, THAT is the lack of focus.
Review Them Daily
The more you review your 3 words, the better. I have the act of writing mine built into my daily planning guides and action stacks. I try using them for a mantra when I can. Sometimes on walks, I just repeat them over and over. I like to reflect on them and meditate a little with those words in mind. I even put up a sticky note. I write them by hand into my journals, too, because kinesthetic learning is powerful.
Past Iterations of My 3 Words
2006 - Ask. Do. Share
2007 - Seek. Frame. Build. Bridge (yes, that was 4. It also was a less successful year.)
2008 - Believe. Loops.Farm
2009 - Equip. Armies. Needles
2010 - Ecosystems. Owners. Kings
2011 - Reinvest. Package. Flow
2012 - Temple. Untangle. Practice
2013 - Walt. Ender. Monchu
2014 - Lifestyle. Monchu. Black.
2015 - Plan. Leverage. Fabric.
2016 - Home. Shine. Win.
2017 - Move.Voice.Game
2018 - Ritual. Execute. Value
2019 - Station. Stacks. Movement.
2020 - Push. Structurequence. Package
2021 - Showrunner, Monk Options
2022 - Scout, Co-Create, Pluses
How'd I Do With 2022?
Looking at my work in 2022, I didn't nearly do Scout as much as I thought I would. I did, but just not at the level I thought. Co-Create? Daily. Pluses? I got so much better at the end of the year. I really learned this process. I really nailed two out of three, and I'm okay with the third one. What about YOU? How'd you do? Email me: chris@chrisbrogan.com
Okay. Are we ready? (And a note: I changed ALL three words of mine at the last minute on December 30th, 2022. Give the process time. It reveals itself.)
My 3 Words for 2023
Master - Hidden in this word is "preparation" and "practice," and also the reminder that to master something, I must make choices that highlight my efforts and let everything else fall away. Precious few people master multiple gifts. One or two are often quite enough.
Pleasure - I bought a ten dollar string of purple and orange lights that hang behind me in my videos lately. They make me so happy. I drink this amazing coffee. It's a subscription service thing that *sounds* expensive, until you realize it's just $2 a cup. Sure, there's cheaper coffee at the store. This is premium gourmet coffee from several top quality roasters, and it's less expensive than a Dunkin coffee every day. I choose pleasure in 2023. I WILL visit the beach more often. I WILL take an extra day during business travel.
Gather - I love collaboration and interactions. I love finding like minds and big thinkers. One quick talk with Clay Hebert keeps my head spinning. Saying hi to everyone at the company holiday party feels great. I'm an introvert, so I need breaks. But I want to gather smart people, like-minded people. I want to bunch up the people I want to love for a while. I'm gathering.
How will the year go? I don't know. That's the fun of it. But those are my three words.
What are YOURS? Post on Twitter and use the hashtag #my3words (the number not the word) to see each other. Not on Twitter? Whatever. Post anywhere. Tag your blog post. Put it on Myspace. Whatever. :) Be part of it. GATHER with us! And email me - chris@chrisbrogan.com
