What's Your #OneWord2017?

As we begin a new year many folks have taken to Twitter to tell the world what their #OneWord2017 will be. The idea is you have this one word to use as your mantra to guide your work and focus to have a successful year. Many are also writing blog posts to explain why they picked that one word.

This post from Neil Gupta does a wonderful job of explaining the why and the how.

Here are just a few of my favorites.

New: #OneWord2017 EMBRACE. #JoyfulLeaders #txeduchat #edchat #EduGladiators #satchat @getoneword https://t.co/nLQIFXFX1g pic.twitter.com/zzO2FTEh5B

— Lindsey Bohler (@MrsBohlerSES) January 1, 2017

.@drneilgupta's #oneword2017 is INSPIRE. I enjoyed reading his why! Learn how to do/share YOUR word. (Not too late) https://t.co/xf9hiNArD1 pic.twitter.com/Ch174m1v9V

— Laura Gilchrist (@LauraGilchrist4) January 2, 2017

#OneWord2017 my one word for 2017 - Eunoia #edchat

— Shaelynn Farnsworth (@shfarnsworth) January 1, 2017

Now, if you are like me, Shaelynn challenged your thinking by picking Eunoia. In case you were wondering it's the goodwill a speaker cultivates with their audience.

My #OneWord2017 is Reflection.

I always try to take time to think about my work. The time I spend with teachers working on making classrooms more innovative or to help them think differently about how learning can be done. Or after I work with administrators and leaders on implementing technology initiatives or better understanding the role of technology in learning. And while I try to reflect often I don't do it often enough.

As 2016 came to a close I looked at several of my keynotes and presentations I had been doing over the past year and decided I was unhappy. I wasn't motivated by the content any longer and it all seemed routine. I sat down and reviewed them one at time thinking about how I had presented them, the content and how I could improve. Many hours were spent redoing just one presentation but in the end it was worth it! I was excited about the content again and I had so much fun again presenting it.

Taking that time to reflect and realize I wasn't happy with what I was doing and I could do a better job made all the difference in the world. I want to bring that same mantra into other aspects of my work besides presentations and keynotes. So Reflection is my #OneWord2017

This would be a great exercise when kids head back to the classroom after a winter break. Get them to think about what drives them and what word do they want to be their focus and help them realize their potential.

What will drive you this year? What do you want to accomplish to make this the best year ever? What will your #OneWord2017 be?