How will you keep your ‘09 resolutions?
Apparently, the best way is to share them with as many people as you can.
Then you’ll have an army of individuals prodding, cajoling and helping you to make them happen.
I invite you to share yours in the comments section. Then we can help each other out and, as a group, check back in the Spring to see how we’re getting on…
Just to kick things off, I call on Giles, Amelia, Emily, Phil, Whirlo, Faris, Will, Matt, Charles, jMac and of course Windo, to share theirs with the world!
Here are mine:
1. Make more meaningful things.
I have a lot of ideas. 99.99% of them are poor. But whatever, this year I want to be better at doing something with the .01%.
Specifically those ideas that might make some sort of positive difference to the world.
2. Speak up for young people
Despite the rich complexity of today’s youth, they’re all too often tarred with the same negative brush. This year, I want to understand the lives of young people better so that I can make a modest contribution to dispelling the detrimental stereotypes.
3. Learn enough Gujarati to be able to hold a reasonable conversation
Last year, I said I’d learn Spanish. That didn’t happen. I’m hoping that this blog post will force me to do better with everyone’s favourite Indian language (!)
Over to you…
4. Be good on school nights
No explanation needed.
5. Become friends with Stephen Fry
Or other such interesting people who can teach you loads of things and introduce you to other interesting people who can teach you more interesting things.
Brilliant ones, Emily.
6. File things properly so that I know where they are! (whether in the real world or the virtual world)
7. Make sure my family know how much I love them (despite them annoying me from time to time)
8. Start the day with porridge
9. Solving for the right problems
Jon Steel’s advice from the “planning @ 40″ preso is solid and I want to continue to heed this advice and demonstrate true partnership w/my clients and not just “check the box.”
10. Don’t be afraid to push back, be contrarian
As I become more confident in my new skin as a young planner, I need to remind myself that I need to look at each problem from different viewpoints, have my own POV and not get intimidated by the big brains in the room
11. Connect offline
It’s easy for us to comment quickly on our friend’s blog, twitter profile or facebook status, however, it’s another thing to build your relationship offline. Nothing puts a smile on my face quicker than getting a call from out of the blue to just say “hi, how are you?” And better yet, if you’re ever in sunny southern california, look me up and we’ll share a pint or 3.
Thanks Amelia! Like how this list is shaping up…
Great ones, windo…Being contrarian is a personal favourite of mine
Also, will definitely be in touch when I eventually get to Cali. Make sure you do the same if you make it to rainy London!
Apply a “make things better” filter to everything I do and everything I advise my colleagues and clients to do. I think this philosophy…making a commitment to only doing things that in some way enhance the world/society/popular culture…will be one of the major differentiators between strong and weak brands in the years ahead.
Hey Matt,
Thanks for your contribution.
Totally agree. I also think that you could combine yours with windo’s ‘be contrarian’ thought, i.e. whatever the client brief, we at least suggest solutions that make the world a better place, however ‘off brief’ they seem…
12. Read more non-marketing books
13. Cancel my gym membership
14. Be nicer to my little sisters (they’re not that annoying anymore)
15. Leave London more at weekends
16. Write a comedy programme pilot
17. Learn some CSS to make my blog prettier
18. Be more organised
19. Promote a piece of Derbyshire dialect in London
i’m going to stay optimistic by betting on the future
http://farisyakob.typepad.com/blog/2008/12/bet-on-the-future.html
FX
@ Whirlo. Number 16 is my favourite…You’ve got the skills, mate.
@ Faris. Lovely post. I share your optimism!
Blimey I’m like way behind on this. Apologies.
I have a confession. I don’t have new year resolutions. I will however find something that is about giving some of my time to charity in 2009. It was you that sparked the thinking.
Better get my skates on for New Year I guess. I’ll update pronto when I’ve found the right people.
Let’s try and catch up on Skype Nick? BKKCHARLES if you use it. Thanks.
Hey Charles. No worries. Haven’t posted for a while so great that there’s still some life in this one…
Pls do let me know who you end up donating time to…
I’m back on Skype after a four year break. Have added you.
add me on your blogroll and comment generously. there’s a resolution you’re sure to keep. ta daaaaa xxx
hey nick, this is fun! here’s my bunch, slightly rewritten:
1. think more on my invisible writing (sort of) manifesto.
2. do more extra-curricular stuff – art projects, personal writing, indulge in more of the joyful pointlessness of the best of the interwebs.
3. continue to feel the love for what i do – which means questioning everything.
more of mine at http://tinyurl.com/7ep4s2
(and on a purely personal tip: 4. learn how to be the best dad i can be. 5. start swimming again, having read this book: http://tinyurl.com/3f6zzt)
Instead of starting with tactical resolutions, I tried to imagine myself a year ahead from now, looking at the tail end of 2009, and what I would have liked to accomplish by then. So I drafted 10 broad goals and then broke down the resolutions needed to help me get there.
http://thenutgallery.blogspot.com/
@james – thanks for contributing, mate. “questioning everything” – big time.
@jemrocks – nice way of doing it – thanks for sharing!
Are we on 20?
20. Get better at everything I do. Realize my potential for once.
How did you do mate?