I talk a lot about goal setting and 90-day planning. However, a couple of years ago, I started doing something each morning as part of my day-open process and saw significant results. That “thing” was setting intentions.
Today, I set intentions for the year, month, week, and day. Intentions are more than goals; they are the driving force behind our actions and the blueprint for our dreams. By setting intentions, we declare our deepest desires and align our focus and energy toward bringing them to fruition.
For entrepreneurs, setting intentions can be a transformative practice that leads to purposeful and prosperous ventures. When you intend to do something, you’re much more likely to do it.
Let’s explore further.
As entrepreneurs, setting intentions provides us with clarity amidst the chaos of our entrepreneurial journey. By clearly defining our intentions, we can focus our efforts on the aspects of our business that truly matter to us. Intentions act as our guiding lights, helping us navigate challenges and opportunities confidently and purposefully.
For the year, I set intentions for what I want. For example, I intend to deepen my relationships with my friends, spend quality time with my husband, and build a relationship with a money program. In a way, these intentions are goals, but they are deeper and, more often than not, reflect the actions and feelings I want.
I fine-tune those intentions each month, bringing renewed focus and clarity to them. At the start of each week, I indicate what I intend to accomplish or do. Daily, I set my intention for the day. For example, today, I intend to write two blogs, have a great client meeting, and schedule two coffee dates.
“I intend to stay focused today.”
Setting intentions empowers us to take control of our entrepreneurial endeavors and acknowledge our power to shape our own destinies. It fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for our actions, pushing us to take bold and decisive steps toward our goals. By declaring our intentions, we hold ourselves accountable for our progress, driving us to stay committed and resilient in the face of obstacles.
Because I write out my intentions each morning, I declare to myself what I intend to do each day. It’s a commitment to myself, one I like keeping. I feel more loosely connected to my day when I don’t set the intention.
“I intend to do my physio exercises twice today.”
Intentions encourage us to cultivate mindfulness and presence in our entrepreneurial journey. By setting intentions for each day or moment, we become more attuned to the present moment and the actions we take. This mindfulness enables us to make strategic decisions aligned with our values and aspirations, leading to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven business.
I’m a goal-setter and a planner. To say I live mainly in the future is an understatement. I think this is one reason I love setting intentions daily. It reminds me of what I want to do today and how I want to feel and accomplish. This can help ground me, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
“I intend to be present during the online networking meeting.”
In the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship, setting intentions fosters resilience and adaptability. While intentions provide us with direction, they also allow us to pivot and adjust our strategies as needed. Embracing change with openness and flexibility allows us to navigate uncertainties with grace and confidence, ultimately propelling our businesses towards success.
Obstacles can always derail us. Even when something happens that changes my priorities, I can quickly use my intentions to adjust to those changing priorities and keep me focused on the new goals or priorities. When things feel heavy, I can also use intentions to redirect my focus.
“I intend to contact a lawyer about redoing my will today.”
Setting intentions significantly boosts our confidence and self-efficacy as entrepreneurs. Our confidence grows by taking intentional action toward our intentions and witnessing our progress. This newfound belief in ourselves motivates us to pursue even bigger dreams and ambitions. Additionally, setting intentions helps us cultivate self-trust, knowing that we have the skills and resilience to overcome any obstacles that come our way. This increased confidence propels us forward and inspires others to believe in our vision and support our entrepreneurial journey.
When I started to write my intentions regularly and saw the consistent progress I was making, it was a boost to my confidence and my results.
“I intend to create and schedule four weeks of social media posts today.”
Conclusion
Incorporating intention-setting practices to complement our planning and goal-setting processes doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as setting aside a few moments each day to reflect on our intentions, journaling about our aspirations, or creating vision boards to visualize our goals.
As entrepreneurs, let us embrace the power of setting intentions as a transformative tool for success and fulfillment. By aligning our actions with our deepest desires and aspirations, we can create businesses that not only thrive but also make a positive impact on the world. Together, let us harness the power of intention to empower ourselves and inspire others on our entrepreneurial journey.
“The secret to changing your life is in your intentions. Wishing, hoping, and goal setting cannot accomplish change without intention. What is needed is a shift from the inert energy of wanting to the active energy of doing and intention.”Wayne Dyer
“The secret to changing your life is in your intentions. Wishing, hoping, and goal setting cannot accomplish change without intention. What is needed is a shift from the inert energy of wanting to the active energy of doing and intention.”
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