Another New Year, Another New Me: 5 Things I Learned In 2015

Yeah, it’s a resolutions post – not on autopilot.

1. Marketing is not me. Always known I’m not cut out for sales and the reality for most small businesses, that’s all they want. The holistic business communications I do – everything from project management to branding, social media to design, all under the umbrella of true Public Relations that serves overall business goals – has been subverted to strictly serving marketing and sales, so it’s time to do something else.
2. All ‘this’ doesn’t matter.* The blogging, the networking, the ‘strategic’ updates with their keywords and hashtags, it’s starting to feel like it’s for the 1% of those it helps. No one is listening, the rest is vanity, only matters to those who care; see also Twitter decides to nix the share count.
   • *Except when it does. Because it’s all about WHO you know and these days, that’s your social network, online and off. So if you’re looking for better career opportunities (waives hand) or support for a campaign, that’s the first place you turn.
3. I’m over it. Bureaucracy and red tape are b.s. and clipboards are of the devil. Pretty much all political posturing is crap, no one wants real change — unless it serves their own interests. That we allow ourselves to be divided by ‘issues’ is on us and …I will stop before I get into trouble.
4. People are Awesome. Or at least, they can be – see below. When shit gets real, people can surprise the hell out of you with their support, compassion and generosity. This year, MIND. BLOWN.
5. I am a total [bleeping] badass. Flip side of bad luck is the good luck that it still could have been worse. That’s me, each and every year; 2015 was a whopper – some of you know of what I type. Think I surprised a few folks, but I’ve always known that I can count on myself to get it done, keep it moving.

Pesky Resolutions: Easy to Type, Hard to Do.

After the year I’ve had more than ever, my resolution is I choose me. Priorities, I am my number 1, 3, 45, and 89th priority.

Pay it forward. Blessed I’ll find a better way to give back, do more for others, find something that’s me, that does actual good for real people.

Be less negative. This for many a BFF, including Jayme Soulati who knows of hard times and how to deal. It’s an attitude shift per Kaarina Dillabough, a change in my mindset acceptance vs expectations.

Even though I don’t have the pedigree resume and brand name client list, I could. I am that smart, that capable, that talented. I have to start believing that, own it – and help me, ‘sell’ others on it.

Find my CAN DO list. In the wise words of Jack Sparrow, excuse me, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, “The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can’t do.” I’ve got my can’t dos – I can’t sell, can’t sit in a cube farm, can’t deal with daily commutes and perfunctory 9-5 lifestyle. I can’t do my best work sitting in meetings or filing TPS reports, so it’s best I don’t.

I can and do work smart, work hard. I can be flexible, adapt, give to get. I can write, plan, think out of the box, out of the silo. I can see big pictures and little details, and I can get things done. (Now to put that into LinkedIn resume friendly terms.)

So stay tuned, another new year, another ‘new and improved’ me. You: any big reveals in 2015, grand plans for 2016? Please share.

Want More? Keep Reading.

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