At the end of 2012, I had the great privilege to bring to fruition a project I had spent many a restless night tossing and turning about. The project was one I’ll long remember into my old, toothless age: I helped the Vatican bring the Pope onto Twitter.
It all went off (mostly) without a hitch, and here are five lessons I learned about work and life that I’ll hold close for a long time to come.
1. In 2013, Everyone Needs to Be Social (Even the Pope)
Being social is no longer an add-on, an extra, or even an option for businesses and organizations of any size. To win, you’ve got to be social. The Pope knows it, and so should you. Struggle with that? Here’s a free manifesto on how do it right.
2. Most Good Things Happen by Teamwork
The work you do alone can only take you so far. It’s a team that brings you to the finish line. I worked with several amazing teams for this win, and I’m the lucky one for having had the chance to work with them. Although teamwork can – at times – be challenging, it’s almost always more than worth it.
3. Details Matter
When you’re busy trying not to forget the forest for the trees, you sometimes forget the importance of those trees. A splendid launch in life and business requires attention and rigor when it comes to the small stuff. This doesn’t mean that you should ignore the larger picture, but it does mean being careful to know how much small things matter. (A lot, it turns out.)
4. It’s Important to Celebrate Your Wins
For me, celebration extended beyond a celebratory tweet. A great dinner with the Vatican team, a champagne toast with my husband, and a glorious 14-hour sleep were welcome reliefs at the end of the launch event. Any great feat in work or life should be celebrated. Forgetting this can be detrimental to health, happiness, and future professional success.
5. Rest is More Important than Ever After a Season of Hard Work
A long weekend off in Rome, a Top Chef marathon, and a good book next to a sparkling lake over the December holidays were great ways to bring me back to rested. Make sure that you are resting – after long projects, long seasons of hard week, and long days. Rest, so you can win all over again.