The power of words in shaping your business
How can you use language and images to catalyse change and build your business with more intention.
In our life and work journey, the words we choose to define our intentions can shape our reality. Think of it as selecting a North Star to guide us through the ups and downs.
In this spirit, I've embraced the practice of selecting a "Word of the Year or Month," and I want to show the impact it has had on me.
2022: The Year of 'Visibility'
I chose 'visibility' as my guiding word. It represented stepping into the light and embracing openness – crucial for my growth as a freelancer and the business I wanted to create.
Yet, life is unpredictable. Just a week after setting this intention, a personal setback made me want to retreat under a duvet. This experience taught me the value of also choosing a monthly word to adapt to changing circumstances. After my break-up, 'visibility' shifted to the background as I focused on introspection and understanding the barriers to being visible. (Read more about this journey here). Here’s a glimpse of how 'visibility' influenced my LinkedIn presence.
My content performance for 2022
My content performance for 2023
2023: The Year of ‘Value’
As we entered 2023, I chose "value" as my guiding light. This word is still unfolding its meaning to me, yet it has steered my focus toward making meaningful contributions. Last year was all about exploring and providing value in various forms – whether through the 486 freelance opportunities in this newsletter or our 12 free Sense & Respond - monthly reflection and intention setting sessions.
Monthly Reflections: A Word for Each Month
In our Sense & Respond sessions, we've embraced the practice of choosing a word for each month, aligning our intentions with our evolving personal and professional needs. Here are my 2023 intentions:
January - Value
February - Visible Experimentation
March - Visible Experimentation
April - Intuition
May - Value
June - Visible Experimentation
July - Presence
August - Release
September - Release
October - Release
November - Domino Effect
December - Domino Effect
I sometimes linger on a word to allow it to fully unfold its impact. For example, during "visible experimentation" months, I found myself getting more and more familiar with making videos to share my work in the open.
From Heavy Lifting to the Domino Effect: Changing Perspectives
During one of our Sense & Respond sessions, I realised that my approach to building IMMA was like pushing a massive stone uphill – exhausting and heavy.
So, I decided to change the image and embrace the concept of the "Domino Effect," which now involves:
Identifying the most impactful "domino."
Letting go of control and embracing what unfolds.
Adding playfulness and ease to my efforts.
This change in perspective has been transformative, lightening my efforts and infusing joy into my work.
Your Turn: What's Your Word?
So, what about you? What's your word for this year or even this month? A word that can reshape your approach, energise your projects, or bring a new perspective.
Words hold power, and choosing the right one could be the key to unlocking a more fulfilling, impactful journey. Write your word in the comments, and let's inspire each other on this journey of building our business with intention.
The shortcut
Regardless of the time of year, there's always an opportunity to set intentions. This template serves as an invitation to deeply explore the life you aspire to lead in the long term and to transform those aspirations into tangible actions.
Feel free to use this template whenever you feel the need to set or adjust your course.
As Yogi Berra said :"If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else."
Interesting opportunities for you
After spending hundreds of hours and sharing 486 opportunities in 2023, I feel it's time to value my time and effort. Therefore, I will share 10 weekly opportunities with free subscribers and reserve the full list for the members of our community.
Facilitator for difficult conversations - Sutton Community Farm
📍UK
💰 Not stated
⏰ 22nd of January
Education Coordinator - Rio Grande Farm Park
📍Hybrid, US
💰 $22-26 per hour
⏰ ASAP
Human-centred Design Consultant - Dakota County
📍Dakota, US
💰 Not stated
⏰ 29th of January
Graphic Designer - Social Canvass
📍Remote
💰Hourly
⏰ 15th of January
Content Specialist - Internews
📍Remote
💰 Not stated
Freelance Tech Writer - GearLab
📍Remote
💰 Not stated
⏰ ASAP
Technical Product Manager - OpenMined
📍Remote (GMT-4 to GMT+3)
💰 Not stated
⏰ Until filled
Italian Creative Strategist/Planner - RWS Group
📍Remote, Italy
💰 Not stated
ASAP
HR Advisor - Vertical Aerospace
📍Bristol, UK
💰 Not stated
⏰ ASAP
Senior Full Stack Engineer - Global Change Data Lab
📍Remote
💰 350 - 470£/day
⏰ 14th of January
Join as a member to unlock full access to all our opportunities. We've shared 34 just in January alone. We limit new memberships each month to foster a more intimate and connected community experience.
Behind the Scenes at IMMA:
Exciting times at IMMA! We've just welcomed 24 founding members from Europe and the US, shaping our vibrant community.
Quick update: I've temporarily removed the Grow membership from our site to refine its details and avoid any confusion. Consider this part of our ongoing evolution – update number 150, if you will, to our website. Always improving, always learning!
As a freelancer, having a network for advice is crucial. Join our upcoming events – online, or in London and Berlin – to connect with like-minded professionals and our amazing members. Expand your network and gain valuable insights!
Thanks for reading and sharing IMMA, I appreciate you and will send some more insights and opportunities next week.
Lilli