With the turning of the page from 2009 to 2010 comes a new chapter in the books that are our lives. As always, it’s a time of both reflection and looking forward. Yes, it’s cliche, but it’s true. No other time of year, beside maybe our birthdays, do we put so much emphasis on what we have accomplished or what we want to accomplish in twelve months worth of time.

This year I will be turning 39 in February. It’s hard to look at that number without thinking about the next one that looms on the horizon. There were so many things I wanted to accomplish by the time I hit 40, so 2010 is THE YEAR those things have to be realized. If not able to be realized in such a short amount of time, then, at the least, groundwork must be laid for them.

In 2009 my wife talked me into trying out Twitter. For that, I am forever in her debt, as Twitter has been huge for me where my writing is concerned. The people I have met, the friends I’ve made, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the renewed desire it has lit within me are phenomenal. It is also through Twitter that I discovered Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan), author of Trust Agents, and his 3 Guiding Words, which changed the way I am planning for the coming year.

If you’re not familiar with Chris’ 3 Guiding Words, here it is in a nutshell. Rather than making resolutions, he chooses three words that he uses as compass points to guide his way and shape what he does to achieve his goals in the coming year. This framework is more flexible than specific resolutions and can be used for a variety of goals rather than just one.

I’m calling mine Compass Words because that term works for me, but they are, basically, Chris’ 3 Guiding Words. The words I have chosen are ones that are meaningful to me and relate, for me, to what I want to accomplish in 2010. So, without further ado, here are my Compass Words for 2010.

Discover, Capitalize, Realize

Discover – When I discover, I learn and when I learn, I can then make informed decisions and act with the greatest possibility of success. In 2009 I made many discoveries that have already or will help me accomplish what I want to do. In 2010, I will continue my quest of discovery in everything from finding a balance between family and other pursuits to getting published.

Capitalize – Discovery means nothing if you don’t capitalize on it by using what you’ve discovered. So, I will make sure that I will capitalize on what I learn. I will capitalize on the opportunities that present themselves to me. I will not sit idly by and let anything pass me by that can be used to accomplish my desired goals.

Realize – Realization of goals is key for me this year. Too many years I have meandered in what I have done and never really realized anything. This year, I will discover and capitalize to realize a concrete completion of (or, at least, a significant step toward) my goals.

For me, I think using Compass Words will work much better than making resolutions. Do you think they could work better for you than resolutions? If so, then care to share your own Compass Words with us? Please, share your thoughts and your Compass Words with us in a comment below.

2010 is THE YEAR!