The Role of Intention

Set a Direction (Not a Destination)

I’ve always felt like I should be going somewhere. Like I was failing myself because I wasn’t aiming toward something bigger. I only had the concept of bigger—I just wanted more. More of anything. But without defining what bigger actually means, nothing was ever good enough.

That’s where intention comes in. More than chasing some vague idea of success, it’s about clarity—understanding what actually matters to you.

• I want to be recognized for my ideas.
• I want to feel more challenged in my work.
• I want to leave this job and build something on my own.

When you get specific about what you actually want, it stops feeling like you're just grasping for more and starts feeling like you're moving with purpose.

Let Intention Be Your Guide

Once you have an intention, it becomes easier to focus your energy. You stop wasting time on things that don’t serve you.

If your intention is to be recognized for your ideas, that changes how you approach meetings, projects, and conversations. You start speaking up more, taking credit where it’s due, and finding ways to showcase your strengths.

If your intention is to leave and build something for yourself, you start thinking differently about your current job. Instead of just grinding through your tasks, you look for ways to gain the skills, experience, and connections that will help you later. You’re using someone else’s money to develop your vision.

No matter who pays you, you work for yourself. Employment is meant to be a partnership. We are participating in an exchange of benefits, not just an exchange of time for money. The business owner controls the direction of their business—they do not control your direction.

Track Your Own Wins—Because No One Else Will

If you make a shift in your mindset, people will notice. Many will want to follow. But not everyone.

Apathy in the workplace is hard to handle. The why bother? attitude can be contagious. It’s easy to start questioning whether your own progress even matters when no one else seems to care.

That’s why you need to track your own progress. Think of it as recording your personal ROI—your return on investment. Every time you solve a problem, make an impact, or learn something valuable, that’s proof that your effort is paying off. If you don’t track it, it disappears.

So how do you record wins in a way that actually helps?

• Write them down. Keep a running list of what you’ve accomplished—big or small. Closed a difficult sale? Helped a coworker solve a problem? Navigated a tense meeting with confidence? It all counts.
• Frame it in terms of growth. Instead of just listing tasks, think about what they say about you. “I handled a crisis without panicking” is different from “I sent a bunch of emails.”
• Use your wins to make decisions. Looking at your track record helps you see patterns—where you’re excelling, what drains you, and what actually moves you forward.

When no one else is paying attention, you have to be your own scoreboard. That’s how you stay focused, stay motivated, and prove—to yourself—that you’re getting somewhere.

Take Control of Your Work—Even in a Job You Don’t Love

Intention transforms how you show up. It makes your work feel less like something you’re stuck in and more like something you’re leveraging for your own success.

You stop working just to get through the day. Instead, you work with purpose, making sure every move brings you closer to what you actually want.

Ask yourself: What’s your intention? And more importantly, how are you going to use it?

Finding Your Intention with the Right Support