My 3 Words for 2025

My 3 Words from last year were my favorite trio yet, and I kinda wanna repeat them. But that’s laziness. I’ll keep some of the ideas alive at least for the next few months. But the whole 3 Words exercise is about a new focus for a new year.  

Fellow words nerds will notice I chose nouns this year. In 2025, these words will live as concrete ideas, the subjects of actions I take. This is how I’m going to do the things better. Drum roll, please.

My 3 Words for 2025

• Tempo

• Completion

• Subtraction

Tempo

While “tempo” is often (for me) about slowing down, it’s more accurately about acknowledging the proper pace and timing for any action. Be more patient than speedy. Do it well not just fast. To quote a Woodenism, “Be quick but don’t hurry” (that’s from coach John Wooden and you can search it).  

Completion

I’m good at generating ideas and starting things. I need to be a better finisher. Not just, like, get it done someday. But understanding that completion is a vital part of ideation. Ideas to actions to achievements.  

Subtraction

I live somewhere between materialist and minimalist. This is not about having less. It’s about simplifying processes as well as closets. In the process of writing this, removing words helped more than adding. It can be the same for a marketing campaign or a fitness training plan or a winter soup recipe.

What’s up with “3 Words”? Here’s a history

“Choose any three words you feel will guide you forward,” advised Chris Brogan, the author and speaker who shared his 3 Words process with me years ago. Brogan says to think of your 3 Words as “lighthouses” that can direct you daily.

This is a personal thing, and I will display the words in my home office as a daily reminder. I also publish and share this story for accountability. And I will repost it again in about months. Consider your own 3 Words practice. Pick action words or nouns or adjectives – whatever is meaningful to you. And when you do, let me know, please. I’d love to support your 3 Words journey.  

Tips for Choosing Your 3:

• Choose simple individual words, not a phrase.

• The more utilitarian the word can be, the better.

• Stick with the 3 words all year.

• Keep them visible and review them often.

• If they matter to you, they matter.

 Previous Choices

• 2024: Influential. Deliberate. Creative.

• 2023: Believe. Share. Discover.

• 2022: Specify. Reach. Cut.

• 2021: Think. Break. Go.

• 2020: Create. Ask. And.