2012 is here … have you made any New Year’s resolutions?

Admittedly, I’ve started this year with the vague aspiration to help my family eat healthier and remain active … but I still hate resolutions.  Instead, as my regular readers may know, I try to choose three words to act as themes to help guide my personal and professional development during the coming year.  Chris Brogan laid down the original challenge and I found it a great take on the more “traditional” ways we tend to set goals for ourselves. 

This year I plan to …

Partner – No one can reach their goals by themselves.  This year I aim to consciously focus on what I can bring to partnership ventures as well as review what I can receive from them, in return.  My time and attention is valuable and I want to purposefully place it where I feel it makes the most difference … for myself, for my family, and for those I work with.      

Productive – Following along those same lines, I plan on working smarter, not harder.  I know, I know, it’s an old cliche, but I want to increase my freelance writing and blogging and want to ensure I’m meeting all my other obligations, as well.  Any tips out there?

Open - Who knows where opportunity will strike?  In 2012, I want to remain curious and open to new possibilities … whatever they might be. 

And you?  What do you do to start the New Year?  

Click through to find my words for 2010 and 2011.

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While I enjoyed a slightly extended Christmas break this year, a slew of interesting items came through my inbox … read on to find out more about:

• Governing for Sustainable Rural Futures:  The International Comparative Rural Policy Studies Summer School (June 21 – July 6, 2012), Quebec – Bringing together international graduate students, researchers, and practitioners to discuss relevant rural development policies, case studies, and best practice examples. 
• Rock the Farm (February 4, 2012), Edmonton, Alberta – An agricultural industry conference for young producers (18-35).
• STEP UP Mentorship Program – A Canadian on-farm learning placement program that matches those considering a farming career with an experienced farm manager to learn critical aspects of farm business management in a hands-on setting. 
• If brevity is the soul of wit, it should also be the soul of email correspondence.  Having problems?  Think:  how would Robert De Niro answer an email?  An amusing – and relevant - article on email etiquette and business correspondence from Entrepreneur.com.
• Rural Small Business Trends 2012  by Becky McCray, Small Biz Survival.

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With a little luck, I plan to curl up in a corner with tea and cookies to enjoy some books this Christmas, even though I rarely make it through the list of titles I’ve stacked throughout the year.  Here’s a glimpse of some holiday reading … for yourself, for friends, or just for fun. 

Enjoy! 

For Entrepreneurs

Let My People Go Surfing:  The Education of a Reluctant Businessman is the intriguing story of Yvon Chouinard, the founder and owner of Patagonia Inc.  Born in Maine, the son of a Quebecois handyman, Chouinard moved to California as a child and grew up to be an expert rock climber.  Patagonia had its origins in the climbing equipment Chouinard developed for himself and friends.  Eventually, Patagonia expanded from selling outdoor gear to clothing and other related items. 

But, the more successful Chouinard became, the more he became concerned … leading him to introduce initiatives like “1% for the planet,” which has seen Patagonia forge an alliance of businesses dedicated to donating at least one percent of their sales to environmental causes; it’s the story of a lifetime of living, and growing a business, out-of-the-box. 

The Innovator’s DNA:  Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators is a book based on the premise that to think differently, you have to act differently.

With research done by authors Jeff Dyer, a professor of business strategy, Hal Gregersen, a leadership consultant, and Clayton M. Christensen, author of previous related bestsellers, they share how creative thinking or creatively rethinking basic skills like networking, experimenting, observing, and even asking questions can lead to new ideas.  “Thinking outside the box,” they cheerfully state, “often requires linking the ideas in your area of knowledge with those of others who play in different boxes.”   

For Fiction Lovers

Part novel, part history, but entirely fascinating is Jeff Guinn’s The Autobiography of Santa Claus.  Beginning with Santa’s origins, Guinn tracks down legends, lore and more, combining them into a tale that shares the fantastical story of Santa Claus for Christmas lovers everywhere.

Matchless, by Gregory Maguire (of Wicked fame) takes the classic holiday story of The Little Match Girl and adds another dimension – that of a young boy, Frederik, whose yearnings are the catalyst towards a better future for himself and his family.  Using his storytelling magic, Maguire’s rendition is easily a new holiday classic. 

For Family

Every year, every church holds some sort of Christmas pageant, and every year everyone knows what to expect:  angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, Wise Men.  The story doesn’t change, and it can get a bit routine.  So it was with the pageant at Second Presbyterian Church in Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  But then the Herdmans got involved, and no one knew what to expect – except, perhaps, disaster.

“The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world,” says the young narrator.  “They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken-down toolhouse.”  Read this story and expect to be delighted.

The imagination that gave us Hobbits, Middle Earth, elves, orcs, and battles also brings whimsical letters to life in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Letters From Father Christmas.  

Did you know … that the North Pole Bear (NPB) helps Father Christmas (FC) prepare for Christmas?  Unfortunately, NPB is a bit of a klutz and often hinders as much as he helps.  His misadventures include crashing through the roof of FC’s house along with overflowing his bathtub and flooding the room below that was full of gifts ready to be delivered; a fun and amusing addition to Santa lore.

For Fun

Strictly for adults, Holidays on Ice by humourist David Sedaris can be counted on to give you a few chuckles this time of year.  Here’s a taste of his trials as an elf at Macy’s department store: 

“A spotted child visited Santa, climbed up on his lap, and expressed a wish to recover from chicken pox.  Santa leapt up.”

“Lately I am feeling trollish and have changed my elf name from Crumpet to Blisters.  Blisters – I think it’s cute.”

Finally, The Fat Man:  A Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken Harmon tells the tale of a 1,300-year-old elf, fired by Santa after being framed for a crime.  His path to redemption – through the grittier side of Kringletown – will take him on an unforgettable trip that mixes noir fiction and pop culture … you’d better watch out!

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