In a few weeks, Time Magazine will announce the person of the year. Instead of accepting this suggestion, I would like to offer an alternative. How about if you nominate yourself as person of the year? Heck, you worked hard this year. And, I’m sure you have a lot more on the horizon.
Like you, I’m fascinated every year to see who “makes the cut” as the most influential and most respected list of the world’s most amazing people. In the past, this list has included political and religious leaders.
Interestingly enough, the Time Magazine 2006 person of the year was “You” for the great strides made with social media advances such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Just give yourself a pat on the back for your creativity for updating your Facebook profile, cropping your tweets, and designing that unique avatar. Check out the article at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html
This year, you have an opportunity to pat yourself on the back for taking ownership of getting through the year. In particular, you should give yourself some credit for overcoming challenges such as riding the national economic crisis.
Within my book Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success, I reinforce the importance of taking charge and ownership. This is an essential for assuming any leadership post. By taking the initiative to share via social marketing, you should get some credit as the next Person of the Year. So, just think of ways you can be considered a leader in your own right if you have…
…Something important enough to share do so.
…Something unique about you, tell it!
…Creative insight or a discovery. Why not shout it from cyberspace?
…Done something amazing or just reached a personal goal, post it!
…Some thoughts about issues in your community or worldwide. Sound off!
…Want to say something but cannot find the words? Post a song, picture, or video.
…An interest in gaining support or opposition to an issue, start an online campaign.
In the near future, stay tuned for the big Time Magazine announcement. But, be sure to keep in mind that you have already earned the title Person of the Year by making yourself known as the leader you are.
-Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
