Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness

Chapter 6

The Three-Word Exercise

I first heard about this focusing exercise from blogger and author Chris Brogan. Since then, I’ve adopted the practice and added it to my end-of-year activities.

This exercise isn’t dictated by any calendar, and it can be done at any time it is needed.

This will help you focus your thoughts and goals for anything. If you’ve got the yearning and need to make a shift, use it to focus on what are the most important things to you in a new job. Not in a great relationship? Perhaps this will help you figure out what you are truly looking for in a partner. Trying to decide what college to attend? Step through this to determine what’s going to make it the most rewarding experience.

Although this can be used for anything, here I show how you can use it specifically to make a job change.

You can always make more money, but what you should focus on here are the important pieces—beyond the salary—that make you happy in a job. To come up with your three words do the following:

1. Think about all the things you want to do in the coming year. This includes both the small and the large. Take a week to really think about this, and in the notebook you have with you at all times, write down ideas as they come to mind. (You did get a notebook, right?) Don’t worry about how you are going to accomplish the items on your list or if they are really what you want to focus ...