The Power of Intention
Jan 06, 2024
The American musician Henry Rollins once said,
“There is no such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time, no such thing as down time. All you got is life time. Go.”
Wow.
Wisdom.
Meandering through life is a waste of time.
This is partly what causes the infamous midlife crisis.
One day we wake up at 45 years old, realizing we have fewer tomorrows than we do yesterdays (thanks Scott, for this one), and we think, “Damn… is this it? What have I been doing?”
We have limited time on this planet.
We are all going to die.
While this may sound morbid, accepting this can give us a kick in the pants to start living.
Today I am going to talk about intention.
It is the thing that can take us from drifting to definiteness of purpose.
It can help us achieve everything we want to achieve.
Let’s dig in.
The Current State of Reality
Wake up.
Get dressed.
Get the kids ready.
Get to work.
Go home.
Eat food.
Netflix and social scrolling.
Repeat.
Sounds like an epic day, huh?
Our days are filled with things we need to do.
They are also filled with tons of things that fight for our attention.
It is easy to get caught up in what we need to do.
The kids can’t take care of themselves (can they?).
The mortgage won’t pay for itself.
We DO have responsibilities.
But when we sprint from one task to the next, we miss the opportunity to ask ourselves what it is all for.
Why must we do the things we do?
Are they aligned with our goals?
Do we have goals in the first place?
In my work with high performers, ALL OF THEM share a single unifying trait: Intentionality.
They are purposeful about the actions they choose to take.
What’s more, they show up to each task with intention, understanding the impact of that task and the quality of their presence.
They make time for personal development, dinner with the family, work goals, and more.
You can do it to.
But first we must figure out what we are going to be intentional about.
What to be Intentional About
Before we can be intentional, we must first understand what we want to be intentional about.
We do this by setting goals.
We cannot be high performers unless there is something to perform toward.
There must be a north star for our actions.
Goals are the north star.
But goals do not exist in one realm of our lives.
We are not only workers. Or parents. Or spouses.
We are all of those things.
Therefore, we need goals for all the roles we play.
When setting goals, first ask yourself, “Who do I wish to become?”
Then add a qualifier at the end:
- “… as a human.”
- “… as a leader.”
- “… as a parent.”
- “… as a spouse.”
With this answer in hand, we can then create a plan of action to become that person.
These actions are the things we must be intentional about!
Want to be the best spouse? How much quality time are you spending with your significant other?
Wand to be a kick ass parent? What are you doing to build a relationship with your kids?
Want to be in influential leader? How are you building a vision and supporting your team?
Goals require actions.
Actions require intention.
If we get distracted during action, our goals get pushed farther into the future.
With your list of actions in hand, THEN you can set yourself up to be intentional.
How to be Intentional
Intentionality is a mindset.
It is the ability to choose your actions AND be focused on the tasks at hand.
The best way I have learned to do this is with three specific time blocks:
- The plan
- The transition
- The reflection
“The plan” refers to the morning time set aside to list out what needs to be done that day.
This list of to-dos should be directly related to your goals.
I like to track 5 things each day that contribute to achieving my goals, and planning for these actions does not take long.
Each morning, try setting aside 5-10 minutes and think about the 3-5 things you need to do and when you will do them.
Then get after your day.
“The transition” is the period of time when you transition from one task to the next. This could be from one work project to the next, or from one environment to the next.
In these transitionary periods, it is important to shift your focus from the past task to the new task.
That way you do not bring the thoughts of your recent work conversation to the dinner table with your family. You can show up with intention and focus.
When in a transition, take 60 seconds to breathe, relax, and let go of the previous task.
Then remind yourself how you want to show up to the next task, and why.
“The reflection” is the time at the end of the week where you reflect upon your actions and consider what worked… and what did not.
This should take about 15 to 30 minutes.
Sit down, go over your goals, checked to-do boxes, and accomplishments.
How did you do? What should change? How can you show up differently?
Use this time to course correct based on your recent experience.
How to Track Progress
During the reflection, it is helpful if you know the success rate of your intentional actions.
Did you do what you said you would?
Did you complete the things you needed to do with focus and intention?
To track progress, you only need a list.
I like to use a goal tracker that is printed on big sheets of paper.
You can download a copy of the one I use here: Yearly Goals and Tracking
One this sheet, list your big goals, and the daily tasks you need to do to accomplish them.
Then, you can check the daily boxes as you go, charting the small steps you consistently take.
If you check off enough boxes, you will get to your goals.
If you check off a ton of boxes and do not get closer to your goals, then it is time to assess your action list.
The Wrap Up
Being intentional is a sure way to achieve more.
Start by listing your goals and daily action plan.
Then make time each morning to plan the day.
Don’t forget to leverage your transitions to reset your mind and be intentional with your focus and presence.
Get after it today.
Be intentional.
And crush it!
Clark