As my regular readers know, each year I choose a word to guide me.  The word must be motivational yet provide constraints against unreasonable risk.  My word of the year also must apply to all aspects of my life – professional and personal.  Recently, I reviewed my 2021 word of the year (willingness – read more here).

For 2022, my word of the year is (drumroll, please) … commitment.  One of Dictionary.com’s definitions for commitment is “a pledge or promise”.  Another is “dedication”.  There are, unfortunately, some definitions I will choose to ignore, such as criminal actions and assignment to a prison or mental hospital.  I certainly hope those things don’t happen in 2022!  However, with the strange political uncertainties from the past two years who knows?

Pledges and Promises

in 2022, I hope to accomplish many things in my business (www.globalnpsolutions.com).  Sometimes, I find myself struggling to meet tight deadlines or strategic goals.  Sometimes, the day-to-day gets in the way of my ultimate vision.  Thus, I hope that “commitment” allows me to focus on the end goals.

Pledges and promises are stronger, I think than goals.  That’s why commitment is important.  We are taught (for mental health reasons) to forgive ourselves if we don’t meet our highest goals and aspirations.  After all, these are hopes and dreams, maybe not to be taken too literally.

Yet, a pledge means we will see the thing through to the end.  A promise is NOT to be broken.  In this way, commitment means finishing what was started.  In my personal life, this definition of commitment will help me a lot – I am committed to finishing projects that I have started.  (One example is to finish cleaning out my craft room to donate excess supplies!)

From a professional standpoint, I pledge to offer my whole self and to give the best experience to my clients as possible.  My “To Do” list seems to a mile long permanently, but if I concentrate on the important (not just urgent) tasks, these items can be completed, too.  Perhaps, you can help me be accountable to finishing a couple of the requested online tutorials for innovation management.  Let me know which topics are the highest priority to you!

Dedication

The definition of commitment that focuses on dedication rings true for me as I look forward to the new year.  Interestingly, the word “willingness” probably gave me too much freedom in 2021.  While it’s important to be willing to try new things and to use failure as learning, it’s also important to have dedication and focus.

A lot of self-help and productivity books discuss habits as a way to improve focus.  In 2022, I have laid out a schedule for each weekday that includes focused tasks – work, fitness, and household chores.  A commitment, or dedication, to a repeating schedule can help a person become more efficient (I hope) and complete more of those lingering “To Do” list items.  For years, I have also religiously kept a calendar recording the time I spend on each task during the day.  This helps me to dedicate the right amount of time to a future, similar task with a realistic estimate.  Check out my Daily Creativity Journal which includes a five-day calendar for building creativity habits here.

Tying Together the Words of the Year

As I mentioned in my 2021 review, some of my past words of the year were outreach and economical, along with the most recent of willingness.  Combining these words is a pledge of my values – a commitment both professionally and personally.

I am committed to continue focusing on growth as a product innovation leader by reaching out to customers and clients to learn their needs.  In this case I apply typical lessons learned so I can find out what worked, what didn’t work, and what can be improved.

I have been and I will continue to commit to being economical.  My core belief is we have too much “stuff”.  Asking myself whether I really need another business book (a bad addiction of mine) or more craft supplies (another bad addiction!) before I buy them can help me be dedicated to an economical and minimalist lifestyle.  The same is true of collecting too many apps on my cell phone.

Finally, I commit to be willing to learn and try new things.  However, in 2022, focus on similarities will outweigh broad brushes of change.  Habits and schedules can guide productivity without compromising a willingness to take acceptable risks.

2022 Word of the Year

I’d love to learn what word you are choosing to guide you through the new year.  Share it with me in the comments or email me at info at globalnpsolutions.com.

My Commitment to You

My first commitment to the product innovation community is to offer the highest quality product portfolio management (PPM) class you can find.  In 100 Days to Effective PPM, you will learn the theory and then apply the tools to streamline your own product portfolio.  You must have willingness to learn, be economical in the active project set, and use outreach to fully determine customer needs.  Learn more and commit here.  Our 100-day journey starts on 7 February 2022!

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