2016 is here and it's time for the resolutions. This year I've decided to mix things up a bit and supercharge my usual list of new year's resolutions with an overarching theme. A simple theme that will bind all my goals, set the trajectory for the year, remind me of my priorities and if I play my cards right, set me up for a new kind of success. A theme that's centered around intentionality and focus. What is it, you ask? INVITATION.
Several months ago I heard a message series from Andy Stanley (North Point Ministries) that really resonated with me. The idea was simple but profound. He suggested that most events and relationships in life that stand out as exceptional and noteworthy can be traced back to an invitation. Think about it – first dates, friendships, marriages, college choices, where you attend church, jobs, vacations – whether formal or casual, an invitation preceded most of these life events. At some point we've all been invited to join something or someone. To come along side or to participate, and the seemingly simple acceptance has had a huge impact on our lives. The power of an invitation is undeniable.
So this year I've decided that I'd wrap up all my personal resolutions, goals and hopes with an invitation to others to join me. My goals for the new year are simple. To nurture and grow my relationships with family and friends, to refine and focus my career objectives, to spread my entrepreneurial wings and to enjoy God's creation though adventure and outdoor travel. And it's directly into these objectives that I'm going to invite my friends and family. Dinner with my wife, ballgames with the kids and their friends, tech conferences with peers, lunch with coworkers. Fishing trips with friends and family and cross-country road trips pursuing outdoor adventure, I'm opening my calendar up to those around me in the hopes that sharing my passions and pursuits with folks I care about will enrich each of us.
Logistically, I've got a lot of work ahead of me. A full 2016 calendar with prioritized outings and events will need to be created early enough in the year to allow folks to plan for some of the bigger happenings. I'm working on that now. My plan is to earmark at least one unique invitation opportunity each month (with the exceptions of July which is reserved for family vacation). I'm going to lean heavily on Facebook as the method of broadcasting the invites to friends and acquaintances. Since I have a "guys only" policy on Facebook (that's a post for another day), I'll use it mostly when sharing news about outdoor events such as my upcoming turkey hunt in the midwest or the fall charter to chase red fish with a fly rod. Backyard BBQ nights, industry Meetups and tech training invites will be shared on Facebook as well but I'll likely need to supplement those invitations with Tweets and personalized emails to achieve broader reach. And of course coworkers and neighbors are the most likely to get a friendly drive-by and in-person ask.
I'll keep this space updated too and will report back on progress as the year gets underway. It's kinda cool, for the first time in a while I'm totally digging the whole resolution tradition.