🎯 Word of the Year 2024

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” – Albus Dumbledore

I love words. Perhaps this doesn't come as a big surprise considering I've written three books in the same number of years (only 12 days until The Truth About Pricing comes out -- yay! 🤩 ), but it's more than just volume. In reality, a single word can be much more influential than an entire book. The right word can change your life -- and the wrong one can too.

But what is a word really? 🧐

Words are just a jumble of letters or sounds that would be meaningless if we didn't process them in our minds. And how does our mind make meaning of things like words or phrases? Cognitive semiotics (which I spoke about with Sarah Thompson on The Brainy Business earlier this year -- check it out) is the study of how the mind makes meaning. One important thing to know is:

We Think In Metaphor

Let that sink in (metaphor) for a minute. Your brain is influenced by metaphors and that is how it processes (metaphor) information. It is how you think. This is why imagery surrounding you (priming) can impact your behavior. It may color (metaphor) your thoughts and actions.

Metaphors are everywhere, and you can use that to your advantage. That's why I recommend choosing a Word of the Year. Taking the time to be thoughtful about what you want to focus on for the year -- and then intentionally surround yourself with it -- is a great way to increase your chances of successfully living that word.

My 2023 (and 2022!) word was CONTENT.

Check out this edition of Brainy Bites to learn more about why. Essentially, it was in both senses of the word and a focus on creating content that made me (and others) content.

I think I succeeded in doing this over the last two years -- we had massive growth in listens on The Brainy Business podcast, and zoomed past 1.1 million downloads of the show. We also launched a Patreon membership, and as mentioned, I wrote TWO books in that time, the second of which comes out in just under two weeks).

While content that spurs contentment (contentful content? content content? 🤷♀️ ) still matters to me, it's time for a new word. After a lot of thought, I've settled on CORE for my 2024 Word of the Year.

Aaaaaand...I found a super awesome way to focus in on that word of the year...with a bow and arrow! 🎯 I did archery for the first time in March of this year, and went a second time this month -- not too shabby for my second time ever!

[Shout out to .Priscilla McKinney. who did this class with me and can attest that I really was the one slinging these arrows 😂 )

Why C🎯RE?

It will not surprise many who know me to learn that I love to do all the things. I am one of those people who is inclined to say "Yes" to everything. I see all the ways I can help -- every possible project, client, opportunity..."Yes. Yes! YES!"

We've done a lot of amazing things over the years, and now is the time to focus in on the core of what we do best. To really hone in on that which will bring the most value to the most people. Yes, we could help everyone...but that isn't he best strategy.

And, to show the power of word choice...I had also considered "Focus" as the word of the year, but that didn't feel quite right. I also didn't want it to be limiting, since we also want to GROW the business during this time (so "Narrow" was out), and "Growth" or "Grow" wasn't right because that doesn't have the focused aspect and need to say "no" more, and it had to light me up (so "Center" and "Alignment" weren't right for me either).

CORE was a good fit also because I want to focus on health more this year, so it has a good dual meaning in working on my "core" and can also be about the core of our family and what matters (Why am I doing any of this?)

When it comes to choosing your word of the year, it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else. If it matters to YOU and you get it...it's perfect.

Ready To Find Your Word?

Step 1: Choose Your Word

Alright, the first step is to choose your word. I know this sounds simple, but be sure to take some time to exist with the options. Think about what the word could mean to you. Does it have multiple meanings? Do you like them all? What images come to mind? How does it make you feel when you think of the word?

The thesaurus is your friend as you consider and choose your word. When you like a word, look it up to see related words. Do any of those sit with you better?

Imagine it is this time next year. If you are celebrating a year of awesome success...what does that look and feel like? What word will best help you to get there?

I encourage you to take a few days to ruminate and choose your top word. Here are some words readers of this newsletter have chosen and shared with me in previous years to get your mind moving:

• Flow
• Awakening
• Curiosity
• Blossoming
• Open
• Gift
• Clarity
• Fearless
• Growth
• Expand
• Hope
• Visibility
• Monetize

Whatever your word, know that it doesn't need to make sense or "work" for anyone else. This is YOUR word. Choose whatever resonates with you and embrace it. You can share it with others (that's Step 3!) but be careful to only share it with people who will support you and not try to influence or change your word once you've gotten excited about, and settled on, it.

Step 2: Surround Yourself With Your Word

Having a visual representation of the word is important to constantly remind yourself (priming) that it is central to your life. In the past, I've written my word of the year on a rock that I keep on my desk (thanks Natalie Eckdahl, MBA !). I know people who have made beautiful paintings of their word. And, you can BET that I brought home my "target" of CORE and will find it a place of prominence in my office.

The goal is to make your word part of your daily life. You want to see and experience it constantly. Some other ideas to make this happen:

• Change your phone background
• Make art for the wall
• Post it notes
• Computer background
• A daily alarm/alert on your phone
• An image that reminds you of the word
• Incorporating it into your passwords

Whatever works for you, will make it work. And, the more the merrier! You want to surround yourself with it, which means you really can't overdo it. Whatever your word or theme, you want it to be something that lights you up and motivates you when you hear, see or experience it.

Step 3: Share It

As you saw in Step 1, sharing this word with the RIGHT people (who will support you) is a great step in helping to make it real (and realized).

Who is a guaranteed supporter of your word? Me! :) So, take a minute now and share your word of the year in the comments. 👏👏 👏 (If you do, I might just check in with you at some point in 2024 to see how it is going!)

Thanks for a content-filled 2023, and I wish you the happiest 2024 possible. 🥳