How Serious Are You?
It can be all too easy to settle for mediocrity. Being stuck on ‘the rat wheel’ is a classic outcome of settling for ‘the cards you’ve been dealt.’ Sometimes, you might like the work you do but still dread going to work. Maybe it’s the company culture, the people you have to work with, or the particular tasks at hand.
Being clear on what you want for yourself can set you up to see where you need to take action. Often, the starting points are very similar—your mindset, stories, and environment. You can be as intentional as you like, but you are a product of your environment. It can either work for you or against you. Being intentional requires setting yourself up to succeed, and sometimes it requires drastic action.
I have always found the story of Hernán Cortés burning his boats upon arrival in the New World intriguing, but I felt the "no plan B" option was unnerving. A friend shared how this story inspired him to dramatic change. He had struggled for years with paper overwhelming his desk, and one day he got a big black rubbish bag. Sweeping his arm across the desk, he cleared everything into the bag, tied it up, and put it in the garage. Instant clear desk. An easy starting point for keeping a clear workspace.
Do you think this example is a little too dramatic? I used to, but the results spoke for themselves. Reflect on how decisive and intentional you are. Change requires making your intentions clear to yourself and those around you. The next step is to align all the factors you can to support your intentions, like your processes, systems, and environment. This action makes success much more certain. Sometimes the actions you need to take can feel dramatic, like distancing yourself from a colleague who is a bad influence or reducing or stopping addictions.
I have been working with my team to turn off all notifications on their phones so that they control their phones, rather than the other way around. Initially, people find this incredibly hard. Because of the addictive design of phones, they struggle with the withdrawal from regular interruptions and stimulations of buzzes and beeps, followed by the intermittent reward of something engaging on their screens. However, they’re amazed at how many messages await them during breaks. When they realize how often they would have stopped working to read and reply, it doesn’t take long for them to enjoy being more in control of their focus. You can try this for yourself. Pick one element in your environment that you know you need to change, and do it. Review the results after a week.
How does one ‘just do it,’ to borrow the Nike slogan? Great question. Look at why you think it will be hard. Usually, it’s because you’re worried about losing control, upsetting someone, or disappointing others. Two thoughts for you: You are the captain of your life. You need to take ownership of what you can control and steer towards your destination if you want any chance of change. However, remember that the best way to do that is by bringing people along with you. Occasionally, you’ll encounter conflict and need to confront it. Listen to people’s concerns, show that you care, and be clear with your directions. Explain what you’re doing and why. Ask for their help in achieving the outcome you desire.
Being the “captain of your ship” gives you ownership of where you choose to go. Being intentional gives you focus and proves to yourself that you are in control of your life. It’s not without cost. You need to learn to navigate the storms of discomfort and new terrains, and you must throw unhelpful and unnecessary cargo overboard. The more you do this, the more wind you catch in your sails, making the journey greater and more enjoyable.
A key factor in future success is to stop choosing the short-term, easy, and comfortable options. Confront change courageously. I know I had to work hard to stop ‘people-pleasing’ and mixing closely with those who weren’t beneficial influences. A great starting point is to avoid giving time and attention to what is easy but non-valuable.
Applying these principles means selecting areas where you can stretch and grow. Be intentional in the environments you live in, and set yourself up to succeed. Find people who inspire, assist, and lift you up.
When you leverage the power of intent, you can combine it with your ideals to create a powerful pull factor that draws you towards your dreams.
