Three Words to Guide 2025

Here we go again! Farewell to 2024, and Hello to 2025!

I’m back in the New Year groove, and you know what that means!

My Three Words for the year!

If you don’t know what the heck I'm referring to - fair. It's Chris Brogan's concept, and I’ve been doing this exercise for several years. It's fun and way less stressful than a resolution or random goals. I explain the process here, here, and here. Plus, they are all short reads!

The three-word exercise is not about goals or projects - they serve as my guideposts. It’s about what I want to embody for the year - what I want to bring more of into my world. And since CBWS is a significant part of my world - to say the least - it’s also what I want to bring to this space.

So, what are these words for this year?

story | ˈstôrē | noun
(plural stories)

1. An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment, in narrative form, a report in a newspaper, magazine, or news broadcast.
2. An account of past events in someone’s life or the evolution of something.
3. Designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.

I’ve been playing around with stories for a while now, but I’m ready to lean into hearing, reading, writing, and sharing stories this year.

moxie | ˈmäksē | noun
(Slang)
"energy, determination, spunk, daring courage, nerve, spirit, guts."

1. force of character, determination, or nerve
2. courageous spirit and determination; perseverance:
3. vigor; verve; pep
4. skill; know-how

I’ve historically underutilized my moxie, and now I’m ready to step in and up to it.

cultivate | ˈkəltəˌvāt | verb [with object]

1. To nurture and help grow.
2. Prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening; break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting.
3. Raise or grow (plants.)
4. Try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill)
5. Try to win the friendship or favor of (someone)
6. Apply oneself to improve or work to make better.

I adore this word! (Shhh, it's my favorite.) It embodies so much of what I want to do personally and professionally. I love to nurture others, I love plants, and I continually strive to learn and grow myself.

These three words are already serving me this year—three days in! I spent some of my energy (moxie) cultivating my plants, which were missing me badly while I was gone for over two weeks. I also spent time writing the first content for the Carry-On Collective, which has its kick-off event next week! 

Consider this exercise if you still make resolutions or goals that aren’t anchored to your daily reality. Then, drop me a line or head to our Instagram page and share your thoughts!