Growing up, my dad emphatically told me to “foooocus” when learning to read so that I’d concentrate on what was on the page. This came with a dramatic hand gesture and silly voice that could have made him a great sock puppeteer. All these years later I’ve returned to this word for 2025.
For the past several years, I’ve chosen a word of the year:
2021: Kaizen
2022: Balance
2023: Strive
2024: Unvarnished
This year I’ve chosen “focus” because I have found that I’ve tricked myself into thinking that a busy calendar is a fulfilling one and that involvement with professional organizations is synonymous with hobbies. Now, this will not be an article about doing more with less or platitudes about self-care. Instead, it is a call to be more intentional…
More “can” rather than “have to” and “should”
More unscheduled evenings than planned ones
More participating than leading outside of work
More reciprocal investments of time and energy
Focusing on what matters most, enjoying the few rather than forcing the many and using discretionary time for things that recharge and reinvigorate feel like a much better way to spend 2025.
Put in Practice
One of my favorite reflection exercises to share with leaders is listing their energy vampires and “Energizer Bunnies.” Here’s to hunting and taming vampires and petting more bunnies…and making that choice each day.
To the Point
If the theme of focus resonates with you, consider becoming a puppeteer with me, find a silly voice and remind yourself to “fooocus” this year.
Image sources: Great Big Photography World and CHILD Magazines
Gif courtesy of Wix
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