To put your goalsetting and entrepreneurial efforts on\u2014track and keep them there\u2014begin by giving your year a theme. It could be a single word or a phrase that becomes your motto. Either way, it will help you gain clarity and focus. When planning your time or making a decision, a quick check will reveal if your choice adds or detracts from the theme you\u2019ve declared.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say you\u2019re starting a new project, one that you know little about. If you think of it as My Project Where I Am Clueless About What I\u2019m Doing, you\u2019ll produce very different results than if you name it My Exciting Apprenticeship in New Territory. Instead of focusing on everything you don\u2019t know, your attention will be drawn to seek out teachers and sources of help and learning. This is a powerful shorthand technique for bringing your focus back to what your true goals are.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve seen this in action plenty of times. You want to throw a party, but can\u2019t quite figure out how to make it special. A party is just a party, after all, until you give it a theme. Then ideas start rolling. Suddenly it engages the imagination of the guests and the host. Or you decide to go to Paris and \u00a0bump into an old friend who just got back from Paris; then articles on your destination seem to appear out of nowhere.\u00a0\u00a0Coincidence or selective awareness caused by focus?<\/p>\n
\u00a0Here are a few theme possibilities to consider:<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>Stretch<\/p>\n Travel Light<\/p>\n <\/span>Simplify<\/p>\n <\/span>Explore More<\/p>\n <\/span>Make Connections<\/p>\n <\/span>Build Strength<\/p>\n <\/span>Ease & Joy<\/p>\n <\/span>Visible Abundance<\/p>\n <\/span>No Limits<\/p>\n <\/span>Daily Laughter<\/p>\n <\/span>More Magic<\/p>\n <\/span>Wildly Creative<\/p>\n <\/span>Amaze Myself<\/p>\n <\/span>Welcome Opportunity<\/p>\n <\/span>Keep Moving<\/p>\n <\/span>Back to Basics<\/p>\n <\/span>Fully Engaged<\/p>\n <\/span>Renaissance<\/p>\n <\/span>Collaboration<\/p>\n <\/span>Dream Bold<\/p>\n <\/span>Catch the Spirit<\/p>\n <\/span>New Adventures<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got your overall theme, give individual themes to your projects. Post reminders around your home and office. I also do Treasure Maps that remind me of my themes. One of my current ones is Inspiring People in Beautiful Places. Next to my desk is a poster I\u2019ve done with scenes from Venice, Sedona, Tuscany and the Lake District plus a photo of Valerie Young and me along with participants in Making Dreams Happen<\/a><\/em>, an event we held in Boulder several years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n Give 2009 a theme and ideas will follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n $100 Hour:<\/strong> Throw a party. If you love social events and tending to details, why not get paid for all that fun? Once a month you could organize a dinner for your busy friends for the price they\u2019d pay in a restaurant. You could specialize in class reunions or wedding receptions. Alice Barry loves entertaining and loves inspired entrepreneurs so she turns those passions into occasional events like the Holiday Office Party for Inspired Entrepreneurs.<\/a><\/p>\n Explore More:<\/strong> Alice Barry calls herself an Idea Artisan. Anyone who\u2019s spent time with her, knows how good she is at helping people gain clarity and plan action.You can book a session with Alice by visiting EntertainingtheIdea.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Got your theme? Share it in the comment box, if you’d like.<\/p>\n Money follows ideas. Money doesn\u2019t create anything at all, much less ideas. Money goes where ideas are. ~ Paul Hawken<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To put your goalsetting and entrepreneurial efforts on\u2014track and keep them there\u2014begin by giving your year a theme. It could be a single word or a phrase that becomes your motto. Either way, it will help you gain clarity and focus. When planning your time or making a decision, a quick check will reveal if…<\/p>\n