Every year, instead of new year's resolutions, I choose a single word to follow as a guide. A "Theme Word". I used to write about the choice and reflect back each year but have kept mostly quiet. Now that it's been over a decade of it, I thought I'd reflect briefly on each…
2010: Listen
Still one of my favourite ones. It was the year I started at Twitter, was building many relationships personal and professional, transitioning to product, launched #newtwitter, and got married.
To this day, this theme word pops in my head as a reminder.
Still one of my favourite ones. It was the year I started at Twitter, was building many relationships personal and professional, transitioning to product, launched #newtwitter, and got married.
To this day, this theme word pops in my head as a reminder.
2011: Nurture
The thinking was, with such a successful year behind me, I'd focus on nurturing everything I had going. But the year turned upside down when I left Twitter and started a company. It's also just a difficult word to use as a guide. I think I'd be better at this now.
The thinking was, with such a successful year behind me, I'd focus on nurturing everything I had going. But the year turned upside down when I left Twitter and started a company. It's also just a difficult word to use as a guide. I think I'd be better at this now.
2012: Persist
First full year of building @incrediblelabs and @donna and, after 4 years of dilly dallying, also the year I finally finished my book. Every time I felt challenged," I remember telling myself, "persist." It was also how we closed some tough candidates.
First full year of building @incrediblelabs and @donna and, after 4 years of dilly dallying, also the year I finally finished my book. Every time I felt challenged," I remember telling myself, "persist." It was also how we closed some tough candidates.
2013: Now
You know how someone says, "I'd like to catch up about x sometime"? I found myself over and over responding with, "how about now?" I've lost some of this muscle and could do with a reminder. I've always wanted to turn this one into a wrist watch that just says, "Now."
You know how someone says, "I'd like to catch up about x sometime"? I found myself over and over responding with, "how about now?" I've lost some of this muscle and could do with a reminder. I've always wanted to turn this one into a wrist watch that just says, "Now."
2014: Oneness
This was one of the most difficult for me. I wanted to spend effort connecting mind to body more—as well as take better care of the whole me. I went to somatic therapy and became more aware of how my body communicates my emotions.
Definitely a work in progress.
This was one of the most difficult for me. I wanted to spend effort connecting mind to body more—as well as take better care of the whole me. I went to somatic therapy and became more aware of how my body communicates my emotions.
Definitely a work in progress.
2015: Focus
The year I worked on my book, I really understood how much focus helped get things done. I wanted to work on fewer projects. I wasn't incredibly successful at this word being a guide as it was a year of divorce and burn out, which led to the next theme word…
The year I worked on my book, I really understood how much focus helped get things done. I wanted to work on fewer projects. I wasn't incredibly successful at this word being a guide as it was a year of divorce and burn out, which led to the next theme word…
2016: Release
Some might call it a mid-life crisis. I traveled a little, I took a long break, I helped create and burn an art project at Burning Man. I'd say overall, it was much needed release.
Some might call it a mid-life crisis. I traveled a little, I took a long break, I helped create and burn an art project at Burning Man. I'd say overall, it was much needed release.
2017: Connect
In my time off and rebuilding of life, I realized how much I cherished my community and spent conscious effort to have more time in smaller groups with friends. I paid attention to how I connect and learning to communicate more vulnerably and openly.
In my time off and rebuilding of life, I realized how much I cherished my community and spent conscious effort to have more time in smaller groups with friends. I paid attention to how I connect and learning to communicate more vulnerably and openly.
2018: Measured
Mid-2017, I joined Indeed, which is a very data-driven company. I rarely pick double entendres (takes away from focus of the word) but chose this to both become more analytical and take a measured approach.
Unrelated to the theme word, I got married!
Mid-2017, I joined Indeed, which is a very data-driven company. I rarely pick double entendres (takes away from focus of the word) but chose this to both become more analytical and take a measured approach.
Unrelated to the theme word, I got married!
2019: Curious
I liked this one a lot and feel it's helped me approach many challenging situations differently than I would have. Approaching conversations and conflict with curiosity compounded with prior words of listen and connect, was very rewarding.
I liked this one a lot and feel it's helped me approach many challenging situations differently than I would have. Approaching conversations and conflict with curiosity compounded with prior words of listen and connect, was very rewarding.
2020: Create
I'll be leaving Indeed early next year and am actively exploring new roles where I'll be creating. I'm feeling a creative drive and I'm also jumping back on learning to produce music. So I'd like to remind myself when given a choice to take the opportunity to create.
I'll be leaving Indeed early next year and am actively exploring new roles where I'll be creating. I'm feeling a creative drive and I'm also jumping back on learning to produce music. So I'd like to remind myself when given a choice to take the opportunity to create.
Looking back, I feel a lot of these words continue to be good reminders and have cumulative effect, rather than one and done. Even as I think about Create, I know that almost every word in the last decade will apply to how I approach it.
More about Theme Words:
medium.com/theme-words/ch…
If you're interested in the more detailed write-ups of the early theme words, they're here:
medium.com/theme-words
Thanks to all those I chatted with way back in 2009 about Theme Words (esp @t). It's been such a helpful tool!
medium.com/theme-words/ch…
If you're interested in the more detailed write-ups of the early theme words, they're here:
medium.com/theme-words
Thanks to all those I chatted with way back in 2009 about Theme Words (esp @t). It's been such a helpful tool!
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