Stop Hoping, Start Growing: The Power of Intentionality

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If you are going to grow, you must adopt a mindset of intentionality. Yes, it's a real word. But, being honest, I wasn't sure if I was making it up or not, so I asked Google. 🤷‍♂️

Google confirmed it as a legit word and defined it as the "thoughts, beliefs, desires, and hopes directed toward some object or state of affairs."

They were SO close to getting it right. 🙄

But hoping for something is not a strategy for growing a business or even a book of business. Unfortunately, not everyone has figured this out. We already see too many salespeople and agency owners who are addicted to "hope-iates." They keep hoping their growth results get better. 😑

I'll return to this idea of hope, but first, let's examine the other three features used to describe intentionality.

Thoughts

The conversations that take place in our heads are our interpretation of what goes on around us. Our thoughts influence our intentionality by establishing our frame of mind as we approach tasks, behaviors, and relationships.

For example, positive thoughts create a sense of optimism and motivation, providing the confidence to take on anything. At the same time, negative or self-doubting thoughts can stop us in our tracks, keeping us from even reaching the starting line of intentionality.

By being more aware of our thoughts, we can keep our mindset positive, leading to more positive actions. As my yoga instructor challenged during a New Year's morning practice, "You can only have one thought at a time; why not choose one that's positive?"

“The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.” – Henry Ford

Beliefs

Beliefs serve as the foundation that supports our efforts and determines what we deem possible or impossible. At any given moment, our belief system may seem rather static. However, it constantly evolves as we encounter new experiences, information, and perspectives.

When we find our belief system holding us back, such as believing that "my larger competitors have an advantage I can't overcome," we must intentionally work to evolve such beliefs and create a stronger foundation by:

Surrounding yourself with others who share a more positive version of the belief
Building skills and knowledge that make the size of the competition irrelevant
Identifying examples of where others in your position had (positive) results that are contrary to your belief

When you believe in your ability to succeed, you are more likely to take intentional steps toward your goal. Of course, on the other side of that coin are limiting beliefs that will restrict your willingness to act, leading to missed opportunities.

You can do a thing only if you have the belief it can be done. - Anonymous

Desires

Desires are important as they represent our intrinsic motivations and aspirations, which become the drivers of action, build resilience, and help us remain focused. They provide the "end in mind," which is the direction and purpose that keeps us moving forward rather than taking the first exit that comes along after a disappointment.

When our desires are clear and specific, they fuel our commitment to pursuing specific goals and create an emotional connection to those goals.

The goal of writing $100,000 for a new business is admirable. Add in the emotional desire to allow your partner to stop working that second part-time job, and you have a whole new driver for your intentionality.

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” – Napoleon Hill

Speaking of hope...

I started by sharing Google's definition of intentionality, the "thoughts, beliefs, desires, and hopes." I'm going to adjust that definition a bit, though. We're going to kick that word "hope" to the curb and replace it with "habits."

Yeah, 🤔 I like "thoughts, beliefs, desires, and habits" much more!!

Habits

While some are good and some are bad, habits are those things we do regularly, often without conscious thought. It's important to take inventory of good and bad habits affecting your ability to achieve your goals.

Being more intentional about building and executing healthy habits improves the efficiency and effectiveness of our efforts, as they create a foundation of consistency and discipline. It makes it easier to stay focused on what truly matters.

Conversely, negative habits can derail our intentions either through mere distraction or, worse of all, by leading us to self-defeating behaviors.

“Once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom and responsibility to remake them.” – Charles Duhigg

Ignore the shiny squirrel

In an industry prone to chasing shiny squirrels, finding a mindset of intentionality isn't always easy. But keep reminding yourself that every day you spend intentionally doing what your competition won't do puts you a day closer to being able to do what they can't.

Q4i and Goose can help   

We have built an online platform called "Goose: Your Ultimate Wingman" to help you implement these types of growth ideas. In it, you will find the business tools that you need to help foster the thoughts, beliefs, desires, and habits that drive intentional growth: tracking tools, training programs, peer community, access to coaching, and marketing assistance.  

To learn how Goose may help drive your growth, check out our website at Q4intel.com/goose. Or feel free to connect with or contact me directly on LinkedIn. 