Working With Intention
It sounds good, but what does it really mean to work with intention? Does it mean late nights, bottomless pots of coffee, endless lists, or rather, caring deeply about what you’re doing? We feel that it’s the latter. No matter your position or industry, sincerely caring about your work will have an impact on the quality of that work, as well as the work habits of those around you.Peter Drucker, a renowned author and educator once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Wondering how to create a future for yourself? We believe it comes down to three things: interest, skill, and opportunity. Now let’s dive in.
Interest
Interest /ˈint(ə)rəst/(noun): the state of wanting to know or learn about something or someone.
What comes to mind when you think about your dream job? What could you talk about for days on end? What are your most bookmarked online articles about? The answers to these questions are important because they will help you define your interests.
While interests may not always seem like money-makers, they do identify a natural draw towards a subject that is important to you. It’s been said that if you aren’t doing the thing you love, you’re wasting your time. We agree! Get out there and discover your passion. Think about your interests, follow that lead, and you might just find it.
Skill
Ask yourself these questions, and be honest with yourself:
What are you good at?
What skills have helped you thrive in life and in business?
What feedback have clients or colleagues given you along the way?
Take note of the times you’ve felt empowered, successful, and/or invigorated, because these are true indicators of what you’re good at. These are skills you should invest your time and energy in to improve as you continue working towards your goal, whether it be career-focused or otherwise. Remember that digesting feedback and thoughtful self-reflection are essential to growth.
Opportunity
Many people wait in the wings for that “aha moment” or the perfect storm of people, projects, and opportunities. Instead of waiting for those things to come to you, you must take steps to find them for yourself. The first way to do this is to start thinking of opportunities as anything that could bring you even one step closer to your genuine interest.
Take actionMake things happen for yourself. Join that networking group you’ve always talked about, take that class you’ve been eyeing, reach out to like-minded people for coffee, make personal introductions and ask for a few in return.
Stay HungryYou have to find what drives you. The quality of your contributions usually matches the quality of energy you spend, and this is easier with a goal in mind. Make sure you are keeping your eye on the prize and constantly reflecting on what will get you there.
Find a FlowFind a rhythm that works for you. Keep notes on when you feel most productive, and even the hours you feel a lull. Use these to help prioritize long and short-term goals or tasks. Work in unity with your team to achieve goals and navigate obstacles.
Hopefully, this serves as a guide in helping you align your own stars. Give these tips a try and keep us posted on what works and what you learned along your own journey towards working with intention.