Happy weekend!
Last weekend I started a new creative sprint, something I've been working on for over a year that I've finally decided to START.
Power Acronyms are a curated list of acronyms from a variety of different authors, coaches, companies, and contexts created to help you live on purpose.
I love acronyms because of the power they have to use language to remember and communicate wisdom, life lessons, helpful tips, and useful frameworks for our life and work.
As the collection has grown I've wrestled with the best way to structure how to share them consistently, and finally decided on how to go about it.
So last week I started sharing one Power Acronym a day in the form of a 60-90 second video on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
Consider this a way to spare you from 101 emails in 101 days 🫠
But I did think it would be a good idea to start organizing them each week on this Newsletter for a few reasons, here are two:
Some people prefer an email
Deeper dives!
Below each video, you’ll see the short write-up I shared on social media with links to additional resources you can check out that connects to the source of Power Acronym itself. ⚡
This will also make it easier to find each PA over time.
I'm still working on the Letters to Leadership series (OOO coming soon!) but I felt I was up to this creative summer sprint sharing 101 Power Acronyms in 101 days ending August 28th.
I hope you get value from these and I look forward to hearing what you think about these concepts!
Support this work by:
Power Acronym 1: YOUR NAME
Create your own Acronym with each letter of your name standing for a virtue or value you aspire to embody every day.
My name: AARON
Awareness
Astonishment
Relatable
Optimizing
Neverstop
What's yours?
Dive Deeper:
Philosopher’s Note: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Philosopher’s Note: The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman
Power Acronym 2: D.R.I.V.E.
I wrote this acronym years ago when I sold cars as a commitment to myself and to others on how I would conduct myself in business. I commit to it every day and it has only strengthened over time.
D.R.I.V.E.
Dedication
Relationship
Integrity
Volition
Enthusiasm
What virtues are you committed to putting into action?
Dive Deeper:
Philosopher’s Note: The Spartan Way by Joe De Sena
Power Acronym 3: G.A.P.
I learned this acronym from the Heroic app.
The Science of Hope is all about G.A.P.!
Goals - what do you want?
Agency - who do you need to be to attain it?
Pathways - how can this be done?
This is a top 5 all-time acronym to me!
Fun fact: Hope is my number 2 signature strength according to ViaCharacter.org!
Dive Deeper:
Philosopher’s Note: The Psychology of Hope by Charles R. Snyder's
Philosophe'r’s Note: Making Hope Happen by Shane J. Lopez, PhD
Power Acronym 4: A.C.T.
This is a powerful framework that helps me find serenity when my mind starts to get caught in a whirlwind. I'm definitely not perfect in the execution but I am grateful to have this tool to practice with. I hope you find value in it.
ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Training, which has 6 principles. I cover them in the video and do my best to expound on them in the time allowed.
Defusion
Expansion
Connection
The Observing Self
Values
Committed Action
Dive Deeper:
Philosopher’s Note: The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris
Power Acronym 5: B.I.O.
This one has 2 layers ☯️
Tell life itself: "Bring it On!"
The challenges to overcome.
The obstacles in the way
The conversations to confront.
BRING IT ON!
Interesting side note…
Bios also happens to be the Greek word for "life"
and
Graphia in Greek means to ‘take account’, so…
Biography: life account
What's a good way to do that?
Breathe In & Out
Two mantras, tools of the mind, to remember in the form of one Power Acronym for the hard work (bring it on!) and the soft work (breath in & out) we can use for the paths we are on.
Dive Deeper:
Power Acronym 6: A.B.C.
Starting a new habit is as easy as A.B.C.!
ANCHOR the new habit to existing behavior.
In this example, it's walking outside.
Make the BEHAVIOR tiny.
Don't start with 100, start with 1.
Consistency is the key. Make it easy to win so you can...
CELEBRATE! Integrate that behavior more deeply into yourself by celebrating the moment you do your thing. Vocalize it with a "yes!" Or "that's like me!"
Or a high five / fist bump with someone you love (in this case Chelsey😆) that makes it fun and affirms that you are the type of person who does this.
That's this A.B.C. (there's another A.B.C. I'll share some other time)
What habit will you install next?
Dive Deeper:
Philosopher’s Note: Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg
Power Acronym 7: B.I.C.
B.I.C. is a powerful journaling exercise to use for reflection and personal inventory of what we can appreciate about the experiences we have had to design the life that we want.
Author Tal Ben-Shahar calls this exercise Appreciative Inquiry and I thought this was a great one to share as we head into a long weekend.
Take your bic pen 🖋️ and...
take the BEST of your past (years, months, weeks, or days)
to INSPIRE the present
to CREATE the future
Dive Deeper:
Pilosopher’s Note: Choose the Life you Want by Tal Ben-Shahar