Four Words for 2024

In reflecting on what went well (and what didn’t) in 2023, and on what I’d like to do better in 2024, I didn’t want to come up with a series of “resolutions:” too easy to make them, try like crazy to adhere to them in January, and then abandon them in frustration in February. Nope — been there, done that.

What I thought I’d do instead is come up with a few words I could print out on a small piece of paper and tape to the top of my desk, so I’d see them every day and remind myself, mindfully and intentionally, of how I’d like to live my life in 2024 for more joy, greater peace, and bigger accomplishments. I came up with the following “4 for ‘24.”

- Less. Yep, I tried to do too much in 2023. Too many goals, too much busy-ness, too many meetings. So for 2024 I want to remind myself to do less, focus on fewer goals, jettison what’s not important, and give myself more space to think and create.

- Leverage. If I’m going to do less, I want what I do to have greater impact and to use the resources available to me to maximum effect. In other words, I want greater leverage in all areas of my life. Much of this comes down to Dan Sullivan’s “who, not how” (you can’t do it all yourself, so surround yourself with people whose skills and passions complement your own and who can help you achieve something much bigger than you could by yourself), finding the right people and delegating to them so I can focus on my own core strengths for the greatest impact. And leverage is not just about working with other people more effectively, it’s also…