“Structure”

Each year, as I look back and prepare to turn the page, I choose a word which I believe will define the next.  In 2013, my word was “connect,” 2014 was “go,” and 2015 was “intentional.”  These words were intentions that powerfully became a complete representation of the year.  It’s amazing the power words have.  Now in my fourth year, choosing a word of the year is one of my favorite ways to begin again.

This year, I had my word well before the clock struck midnight.  I thought for sure 2016 was going to be the year of “endurance” or “fortitude.”  But when I began the process of going through “The List” (an exercise I never skip when selecting my word of the year), a different word caught my attention: “structure.”

By definition, “structure” means: “the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.”  As a verb, it means “to arrange according to a plan; give a pattern or organization to.”  So when I look at 2016 plans, “structure” could not be more perfect.  As WOM has grown, putting structure, policies, and all of the (boring) back-end procedures in place has completely been ignored.  But I recognize that it’s the foundation—boring or not—that will make WOM successful for years to come.  It will be structure that allows the business to continue to grow, and “to give a pattern or organization to.”  

Also, WOM has added many new team members recently, and will continue to do so in 2016.  While it’s exciting to have a growing team, it’s also very tricky, and it takes a skill set to manage and lead that I’m still honing.  But I’ve learned that it’s the people—the ones making up the blueprint of your organization—who will ultimately make you sink or soar.  So focusing on “the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something as complex” as people will be my number one focus this year. 

So there you have it friends; 2016 is looking a lot more structured.  And like last year, we’ve partnered with Jenn Gietzen of Write On! Design to hand-paint your chosen word (or words) in either watercolor or metallic ink and offer them for sale in the Shop for a limited time only.  I’m collecting my words, framing each one, and hanging them in my office.  I can’t wait until the day I have a wall of words…how powerful will that be?!  Truly, MKR