Five Words and Resolutions for 2012 and Beyond

by Nikki Jeske • December 27, 2011 • Affiniscape, Innovation, Social Media • 3 Comments

I’m jumping on the bandwagon and showcasing my five words and resolutions for 2012 as well. This was originally started by Shelly Alcorn and continued by Lowell Aplebaum and Jay Daughtry – thank you for the inspiration! These are words that I feel a personal connection with and want to carry their meaning into the new year with actionable intent. In no particular order, here they are.

01. Community

This word has always been an important word to me – even before my association days. Back then I was an Outdoor Educator and spent my days working with kids and teaching them about the importance of spiders and green spaces. Community meant neighbors and friends coming together to create a green future for children. While that meaning is still greatly important to me, the term community has digitalized a little. Now when I refer to communities, it’s often in the context of online communities since that’s the core of my position.

Community is more than just a word, it’s a feeling, and that’s because community isn’t just online or off – it’s a building of relationships and connecting with others and creating a bond that doesn’t stay in the virtual world. Feeling accepted and a part of something bigger than yourself is important and gives meaning to the work we do. In the association world, community is integral for developing a strong membership base. So one of my resolutions will be to continue my work in building a strong community of resources and tools and helpful folks who love what they do and love doing it.

02. Enchantment

This word, and it’s partner “delight,” have become common words around the Affiniscape office. Started because of the book Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki, the urge to enchant has become, not just a customer goal, but a mission for all of us. We work to enchant each other in small things and we are increasingly pushing ourselves to enchant even strangers we meet. From buying breakfast for the person behind us in the drive-thru line to purchasing a duplicate ornament of one lost at conference, there are opportunities abound for enchanting and delighting people.

Remembering the small things, really listening and engaging to someone speaking, following up with an email just a few minutes after receiving theirs – enchanting doesn’t have to be a gargantuan effort. It’s the little things that really stick with people. I will continue to enchant and delight those around me moving forward (or, at the very least, try my very hardest).

03. Enable

I seem to be using this word a lot lately so I felt it was appropriate to include. My title here at Affiniscape is Social Media and Design Strategist and part of my job is to manage our online communities. I’m not a big fan of the word manage – instead, I see myself more as an enabler. My job is to enable folks to engage, discuss, connect, and build relationships. I create the means for folks to find each other. I build bridges. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love connecting with people, but I love even more when I’m able to connect people with each other. There’s something special about putting people together and seeing the sparks fly as they connect.

I also enable folks to learn. My background as an educator comes in handy in this regard. When I see an opportunity for someone to learn from someone else, I jump on it. I love sharing knowledge and by sharing what I see as valuable to personal and professional development, I am enable others to grow. That’s why I love teaching too. So one of my goals for 2012 will be to continue enabling the people around me to connect and grow.

04. Poke

POKE! And by poke, I mean poke the box! Step outside the boundaries and do something daring. Be different. As Seth Godin says in his book Poke the Box, “We’re waiting for the one who explores, creates and makes a ruckus. We need you to poke the system and see what happens, to learn from it, to adjust and to repeat.” Things won’t change and things don’t progress unless someone steps up and makes a change. Test your limits, push back, act on your instincts, in Seth’s words, “Make something happen.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not afraid to poke the box. This leads me to my last word…

05. Persist

I debated on this word or “evolve” but the two are deeply connected. The association world (and the online social world) are constantly evolving and the only way to keep up with them is to persist. Persist in learning, persist in keeping your voice, persist in being who you are even as you grow and adapt to the changes around you. Persist in developing a sense of self, persist in seeking knowledge, persist in moving forward even when others are holding you back. You have a mission and a purpose. Don’t give up. Some may call this stubbornness, but I call it persistence. And I will persist in my journey of evolution throughout the year. I will evolve and I will change and I will continue to be the best I can be. It’s cheesy, but it’s true. I will persist.

Those are my words! What words and resolutions are you going to work on for 2012? Comment and let us know!