What Matters Now:  70 Words of (Unconventional) Wisdom for 2010

 

 

As 2009 ended, I was forwarded a copy of What Matters Now.  It's the brainchild of Seth Godin, who persuaded 70 other innovators, writers, and bloggers to participate in the project.

The idea is simple:  Each of the contributors suggests one word that you and I should think about in 2010, and then uses one page to explain why and how that word matters.

The result is an interesting and inspiring collection of unconventional wisdom that is available free to everyone.

Seth Godin begins the PDF talking about generosity. "When the economy tanks it's natural to think of yourself first," he writes. "You have a family to feed and a mortgage to pay.  Getting more appears to be the order of business. It turns out that the connected economy doesn't respect this natural instinct. Instead, we're rewarded for being generous."

Derek Sivers, an entrepreneur and programmer, offers his take on passion. "If you think you haven't found your passion yet, you're probably expecting it to be overwhelming," he writes. "Instead, just notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level."

Jackie Huba and Ben McConnell, who write the Church of the Customer blog, urge marketers and innovators to focus on the One-Percenters - the "small percentage of the tribe within the larger tribe who spread the word" about new products, new ideas, and changes of all sorts. "They are the roots of word of mouth," Jackie and Ben argue.  "This year, your job is to find them and attract them."

Arianna Huffington reminds us of the need to slow down and recognize the virtue of sleep. "I've had to learn to unplug and recharge," she writes." To trade multi-tasking for uni-tasking and - occasionally - no-tasking. It's left me healthier, happier, and more able to try to make a difference in the world.  My eyes have been opened to the value of regularly closing them."

Finally, writer J.C. Hutchins makes an impassioned appeal to find gumption in our lives.  "Most of us settle in, and settle for what we have.  Rather than pursue, we accept.  Our lives become unwitting celebrations of passivity," he writes.  "Get hungry - hyena hungry.  Get fired up.  Find your backbone, and your wings."

I urge you to download the PDF, process its ideas, messages, and calls to action, and then share it with as many friends, associates, and colleagues as possible. I guarantee it will give you some fresh perspectives on 2010, which promises to be another year of challenge and change.