Setting theme words has become a habit of mine in the last few years. I first read about it on Chris Brogan’s blog and decided to adopt the process as my own.



As you begin to think about what you hope to accomplish in 2019, what do you want your year to look like? What intentions are you setting?



In this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast, I look back on my theme words from 2018 and share my theme words for 2019.



Podcast Highlights:




00:34 – Theme words are like intentions
01:05 – Where the idea of theme words originates
01:21 – First theme word for 2018: War
02:36 – Second theme word for 2018: Initiative
04:12 – Third theme word for 2018: Connection
05:41 – First theme word for 2019: Confidence
06:35 – Second theme word for 2019: Breakthrough
07:13 – Third theme word for 2019: Fulfillment
07:57 – In 2019, my theme words represent a commitment I’m making




Transcription:



Each year, my theme words have a passive impact on the outcomes I experience.



I think of my theme words as intentions. They set the tone for the year, and I believe they even influence the people, events and circumstances that enter into my life.



So, setting theme words isn't something I take lightly. But I also follow my intuition when coming up with them.



Because I have seen incredible things happen in my life as result of keeping my theme words in front of me, especially in 2017, I'm also quite intentional about the process now. It has become habit.



I always mention this, but I want to let you know that the idea of theme words originates with Chris Brogan. In the last few years, I've made it my practice and have adapted it to suit my needs.



So, it's time to reflect on last year's theme words and clear the way for the new.



1. War



The idea here was to wage war on the mediocre and things that weren't serving me.



I feel like there was a bit of a prophetic element to this theme word. Maybe I knew that I would have to make tough decisions in 2018.



In the end, I won a few battles. But I'm not sure I won the war.



There were a few people and projects I said “no” to in 2018. And, it wasn't necessarily easy to say “no”. But I also had to realize some things about my personal value. My time is worth something. And, it's crucial that the people around me respect that.



Because I'm self-employed, I don't get paid when people don't respect that. If you help me, I can help you. But it doesn't work any other way.



I recall one project that I got knee deep into that in the end I had to let go of. I tend to be a stubborn and giving person, so in the past I probably would have stuck with that project until the bitter end – and been miserable doing it too.



The fact that I stepped away is a victory of sorts.



So, there were a few battles I won. But that doesn't mean there aren't some unwanted things that persist in my life.



If I won the war at all - and I'm not saying I did - it's only because of the personal growth work I did. And, I think that set me up for a better year in 2019.



2. Initiative



Initiative was all about taking more initiative in life, especially in the area of personal relationships.



And, again, though I feel like I won some battles here, I wouldn't necessarily say I won the war.



I now realize the reason for that. I came to see that I had a lot going on in my head around connecting with others. What I now understand is that I didn't have my actions separate from my reasons for acting.



But the two are not mutually inclusive. An action lives in the real world. Your reasons for doing something only live in your head, meaning they are imaginary.



When I began to understand that, my reasons for doing or not doing began to fade. The only thing left was my actions. And, I either did something or didn't. Either way, I had to learn to be complete with happened.

Ver todos los episodios