Thanks to Amber Naslund’s link to Chris Brogan in my feed reader tonight, I “originated” a brand new idea to try for this New Year’s Day: a resolution acronym. Chris gives three words and explains their relevance to his resolutions. Since I am really into using acronyms, I’m adding that element. Acronyms have served me well this year. I have surpassed my blog goals by focusing on the acronym CAN: circulation, analytics, and net. I have helped make my teaching team among the highest ranking in my school district through MAP: monitor, analyze, prepare. I get help in writing these acronyms through a 3 letter word site. You might try an acronym for your own goals. Now, in the spirit of resolutions, my resolution acronym for 2009 is:
COG – collect, originate, guide
collect – This has to do with being paid for what I do. Many times I give away services both at work and on the web for free and I always enjoy doing it. Unfortunately, there is only so much time in a day and I have learned that I need to expect compensation more than I have in the past. I am coming up empty when I should be profiting. This may sound like a self-absorbed resolution but it is something I have found necessary to a balanced life. I am choosing to “collect” more in 2009 for the hours I put in. If there is no compensation then that time should be mine, not someone else’s.
originate – Walt Disney was a true innovator. He thought of ideas no one had ever dreamed before him. I want to “originate” ideas like Walt Disney in the micrcosm of my life. I want my mind to stay open. When others say things are impossible, I want the solutions to originate with me. My handle at Twitter is cre8nnov8 (create and innovate) and that is what this resolution is all about.
guide – Maybe to balance “collect” out, I have a resolution to guide my children and my students and my friends. I want to point the way like a lighthouse toward dreams and visions. In order to be an effective guide I need to be healthy. That is the most important thing. After that, I need to recereate and keep my mind open. I want to guide people when the opportunity arises and be ready. I will remember the word guide when I see someone who can do something more efficiently. A big part of this also is being the best dad I can possibly be. Spending at least an hour with my kids every night is part of what “guide” means. Guides give and they point the way.
To summarize: The word COG is my New Year’s resolution. I want to be part of humankind like a cog: collecting, originating, and guiding. Happy New Year everybody.
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3 Comments
I can totally agree with those three letters, lets hope to guide ourselves and be more innovative on how to collect.
You went the route of making everything short and sweet. I on the other hand bought a white board for right by my computer, and I will be posting my weekly goals so I know what I need to accomplish.
Twitter: rileycentral
@Niche Titans: Thanks for that comment! I too have weekly goals. For anything less than a monthly goal I use www.rememberthemilk.com
Whiteboards are amazing as well. I of course live with them as an elementary school teacher.
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[...] my personal blog when I am setting blog goals: Circulation, Analytics, Net. Another example is my new year’s post about COG: Collect, Originate, and Guide. It’s been proven the human mind can only process [...]
[...] Riley presents My Acronym for 2009 posted at Damien at the Speed of Life, saying “These are my new year’s resolutions.