I still make New Year’s Resolutions and set goals each year. I enjoy the process and find it helps me organize my year. I look at the process as a planning meeting. I’ve learned a lot about the process over the year and combined with some accountability practices it serves me well.

Still, there is always more I want to do and accomplish. A few years ago I was introduced to the concept of The One Word for the Year.

For the past few years, I have watched with fascination on social media as people proclaim there “one-word” theme for the upcoming year. The concept is to choose a word that represents the theme you want to focus on, in this year of your life.

The idea clearly works upon the knowledge that as we improve in one area, that improvement bleeds into other areas of our life.

There are blog posts, videos, books, and even jewelry that embrace this concept of a one-word, annual theme.

My one word for 2020 is: Finish.

I do feel like I accomplish a lot each year, but there are a couple of areas and goals that I have been working on for years that continue to escape me, and if I could finish these… well, they would provide me with the most gain, happiness, and success.

I have a lot of ideas. I have a lot of really good ideas. While this seems like a blessing, and in some ways it is, these great ideas often detour my focus on finishing. I still want to document these great ideas, but I want to focus and finish.

I saw a quote last year that said, “The elite don’t dabble.” Not sure I am aiming for elite, but I know I want to get better. Not sure what I do is dabbling, but I know the primary areas I am most interested in don’t get finished. I love to brainstorm. I love to start. But finish… sometimes I drag my feet on purpose.

So… FINISH is my one word for 2020.

Here are a few things I want to finish in 2020:

1. Publish my children’s book, Unthink Before Bed.
2. Lower my weight under 230 lbs and getting more fit.
3. Recording the audio version of my book Along Came a Leader.
4. Building one online course.
5. Sending out a monthly newsletter.
6. Complete a 5K in under 35 minutes.
7. Stop drinking soda pop.

Rather than focus on these individual goals, I will focus on the word Finish. When I work on a project I will approach it and work on it daily with the mindset of finishing. 2020 will be the year I really build this habit.

Maybe you can help hold me accountable?

Finish. Finish faster. Finish sooner. Finish better. I will reflect on this word and make finishing my one word for every day of the year. I will make it a habit to finish. Finishing will be a part of my character.

To assist me with my one word, I just started reading John Acuff’s book Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done.

I will apply what I learn.

What is your one-word of 2020? Why? I’d love to read it in the comments below.

Remember, choosing your one-word is a great start, but you have to live it each day.

Here are some books that go much deeper into this one-word for the year concept:

• One Word That Will Change Your Life by Britton, Page, & Gordon
• Your One Word by Evan Carmichael
• My One Word by Ashcraft & Olsen
• Life Word by Gordon, Britton, & Page

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