My new year’s resolutions are vague, and that’s the way I like it. Last year was “people and projects to grow with.” This year is “balance with risk.”
I shared my resolutions last night at a marketing MeetUp. One participant had a long list of reasons why not to do things.
Why it was wrong for a fellow to spend $75 million to redesign his house so that it contained a replica of the small-town block he grew up on, bowling alley included. Why it was wrong, unless there were good morals involved, to work on a community garden in the Lower East Side. Why it was doubtful to express passion about a project that wouldn’t make any money.
And a few moments ago, I just realized that as much as I thought it was wrong to have such a long list of wrongs, I’ve done similar things.
I’m talking about the dangers of overwriting. The dangers of lists.
It’s easy for me to get over-excited about a project and write too much. And in writing too much about my expectations or hopes or dreams, I actually exclude other people from participating, from bringing their own to the table.
So as part of my resolution of greater balance and greater risk in the new year, here’s to writing just enough to excite and spark and tease and hint.
And here’s to risking writing too much, so long as I’m aware of what I’m doing.