I Love You – My Three Words 2012 #mythreewords
So here’s my three words for 2012. I LOVE YOU.
2011 was year wrapped in change, changes that have left scars, caused a few tears while those same changes moved me to grow and evolve to be ready for the New Year
I
I learned a lot about myself in 2011 – friends and life took me to some dark places. Entering 2012 in a new role/ company / sector and a new relationship, I’ve retaken control of my destiny. A year of bruises, pain and ultimately reinvention.
I own the intimacy and connections I forge. I make me approachable. I let love into my life. Love in a very broad sense. I believe love applies as much to friends and business as to your life-partner. Working with people you don’t love feels wasteful. I own the possibility of the relationships I create. I own the possibility that you and I can become friends.
Beginning a “Three Words” post with “I” seems to fly against Social Media beliefs, right? Wrong… Putting “I” first, lets me be more available to others. If I’m good for me, I can be great for you. “I” will be my watch word of 2012.
LOVE
Loving life, the things I do, the people I engage with, means everything to me. I’ve loved 99% of my working days. Work brings me flow, immersion. I wear my heart on my sleeve. That’s me.
My creativity lets me see possibility everywhere, but it takes courage to share those ideas. I bruise easy. By design, I don’t filter, but that can get me in trouble. I love giving. I love helping. Sometimes I’m too honest, but I love that too. Ask me and I’ll tell the truth, because that’s what I value from others. I love to be asked my opinion. I value friends who can be honest. No sandbaggers. Sugar coatings don’t last! For me, my love is like a logic gate. A gate through which only the truthful pass. That’s the rules I live by. It’s a test.
Truth takes courage. If I’m going wrong, tell me. If you don’t like my input or direction, don’t let me suffer in silence. Say “Nick that sucks and here’s why.. ” and I will love you. That’s what I value. Feedback is Oxgen for creatives. I thrive on honest constructive feedback.
Telling me I suck with no “why” is not helpful. I rarely critique alone. I’ll add “How about …”. I love helping you find your adjacent possibilities. That’s what friends are for – feedback and finding the possible. Those are the friends I want. People I can love and who will love me for being me.
YOU
Why the focus on you? Each one of you could be a new best friend. You’ll need to pass my LOVE test. Do that and I’m here to help you. So ask me. I’m going to stay true to me. I’m going be honest and I expect that in return, because that’s what I love. That’s the magical exchange that is Social Business. The Age of Transparency inverts old paradigms. You come first. My “I” is a matter of wellness. Love is simply a test. The real focus here is you.
If I can help you, love will follow. In social business love opens doors – possibilities become realities. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about being real. Being seen to be helpful, responsive. You can be seen to be listening. It’s a conversation everyone can see. Yes, people “see” conversations in social media. If you feel I’m there for you, connections and introductions follow. “I” begins to scale through “You”. Done right, scale is limitless. With lots of “you”, and one “I”, it makes sense. And it works both ways, as “I” am your “You”.
I and LOVE take me to YOU. So bring on 2012 with my three words. I-LOVE-YOU – I’m going to wear them like a badge. No Checkins Required!
Image Credit : Abhi Ryan
Inspiration Credit : Chris Brogan
I’ve curated this list. Feel feel to add you post to it and ReBlog it (ie simply add this list to your post)
http://bit.ly/mythreewords2012
Nick is co-founder the social curation platform Listly, that combines crowdsourcing, content curation and embedable lists to drive high-level community engagement, live inside your blog posts. Connect with Nick on Twitter · Linkedin, Facebook and G+ and follow his writing via his other guest posts and on his blogs at NickKellet.com and blog.list.ly
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