Tag: goals

Acting with Intent

It has become more and more apparent to me that it is extremely easy to act mindlessly and do certain things simply because it is easy and takes minimal effort. People turn into mindless beings that work their 9-5 job, go home, eat, sleep and repeat. Why is that? Where has the excitement gone? Where is the individualism, the effort, the passion? Why do we get into a routine as an adult and struggle to find our way out of it?

Do you remember being a kid? Do you have any idea what it was like to do things because you wanted to do them? Now, granted a lot of times as a kid we had to do things because we were told to do so. When I watch my daughter experience things, it is like her whole world grows a little bigger. Her eyes widen and she has the expression of pure excitement on her face. When does that go away? When are we told or taught to stop experiencing things for the first time? I wish I knew that answer.

As adults, we become numb and blind to the amazing opportunities around us. We ignore the energy, and the lure of being excited and actually acting with intent. We switch from passionate sponges to hardened robots. I have been thinking a lot about how to break this cycle lately and I have come up with a few things to develop the habit of taking action out of intent rather than routine.

First off, what do I mean by “intent”? Intent, to me, means purpose, drive, and meaning. For example, I can take the same road to work day in and day out and see the same buildings and just zone out for the entire commute, OR I can purposefully take a different route to work to see things I haven’t seen yet and discover what else may be between home and work (the two places we spend the most time). Instead of letting autopilot take over, you deliberately make a change. This change can lead to something else you would not have seen otherwise. So by saying “intent” I mean a purposeful and deliberate. Make sense?

Ok, so now that we know what having intent means, what does it actually look like? I have already given one example, but let’s dig deeper. The number one way to break up the routine is to change thought patterns. This is way easier said than done, but it is foundational to this concept. Let’s look at one specific example: a student (big surprise there, right?). As a student you have a specific routine that you follow in order to succeed. And this is important! However, it is easy to slip into certain ways of thinking that make it harder to learn rather than help. Breaking the habit of thinking “I have to…” is a process and can’t be done without replacing it with a new thought pattern, the “I want to…” thought pattern. Working with students and having been one recently has made me realize this even more so. A lot of people I work with get into this mentality that they just have to get X done because it is required. Well, yes it is, but you should WANT to do it. How does that happen?

Shaping the “I want…” thought pattern comes from discovering your WHY. This is something I have heard a lot and from a wide range of topics. Discovering your WHY is another step in the direction of this thought shift. Why do you want to take this particular course? Why do you want that degree? Why do you want to go to one school and not the other? Finding out your own reasons behind the decisions you make should be a conscious effort, not a subconscious one. Remember, be deliberate and purposeful. So, in order to change your thought patterns from “I have to…” to “I want to…” you must discover your true, personal reasons (not shallow ones!) for making a decision. You need to become your own inner toddler.

The next way to act with intent is to take the wants that you discover and figure out how to make them realities. If you find that you don’t really like the school you are at and want to study abroad, do the research to make that your reality. This step can be very thrilling and very grounding. This is where it gets fun. You get to find out what it takes to get you there. It can also be very humbling, because you may find it it going to take a lot of time and effort. Everything you do to get you where you want to be must be done with intention! And now we have come full circle.

What happens when you get there? You enjoy it and everything that comes with your success. We have all heard that hard work pays off in the end, and it absolutely does. I love seeing the students I work with reach their graduation! They have such a sense of accomplishment and can say “I did this because I WANTED this!” It is a beautiful thing. Keep in mind, that some successes are small, and yet still significant. If you are doing things with your own intention, they will seem much greater and much more exciting.

Start with baby steps. In the morning, start thinking about your daily routine and how you can act with more intention. You don’t have to eat the same thing for breakfast every morning. Instead of listening to the same radio station, listen to a podcast about that one thing you always wanted to learn about. Start thinking about things differently and make more conscious decisions, however small they may be.

There are countless ways to act with intent, and I really hope you start putting this into practice into your daily lives. Changing my thought patterns and discovering my WHY has lead to a much more enriched and full life. I am finding that I experience things to a much greater extent. It is like taking off blinders I have worn for to long! It is a great time to be alive if we take the opportunities.

Being Professional in 2019

Today’s working world is a complex and confusing one. In a world where freedom is cherished and individuality encouraged, knowing how to be a successful professional can be difficult. Believe it or not, there are still some unspoken standards even in 2019. They may be a little bit different than they were ten years ago, but they do still exist. A lot of employers still look at certain things in a work environment. What are those hidden things that make someone more professional? Even though fashion and culture changes, there are still areas that are timeless and still hold value in the working world. There are three areas that you can focus on to become a better professional: attire, mentality, and talk. Now, there may be more, but these are the foundation of becoming successful in a career.

Professional attire is an important aspect because it effects your first impression. This is especially significant when interviewing. There is an art to looking professional. Some things are simply timeless and can make a great first impression. For women, proper coverage is a must. You can look great without showing too much. Today, sexual harassment is a big issue in the workplace. If you are showing off too much, that might stand out to them negatively. The same goes for wearing clothes that are far too tight. This can be another red flag. Again, you can look good and professional, just be careful. Have class and leave the weekend outfit at home. Men have it a little easier in this aspect, however they still  need to dress appropriately for the job. If your dress code is jeans and a polo, make sure you wear clean and wrinkle free clothes! If you must wear a suit and tie, make sure things match. Wearing clothes that clash can be seen negatively no matter where you work. You want to look like you care about your appearance, and the job you do. Stay classy.

What you wear says a lot about your personality. It can be fun to personalize what you wear; just remember the impression you want to give off. If you want to be a professional, you must look the part. First impressions are a big deal in the business world, and it can be very difficult to undo a bad one. You don’t want to reveal too much about yourself at once. Leaving some room for mystery is a good thing. It allows for conversation. One last thing about attire – know the context. You will dress differently for different occasions. Know what you are getting into and what is expected. Knowing your audience will give you insight on how to dress.

Let’s move on to mentality. Having a professional mentality will set you apart. Going into your career with the right attitude will help you meet your goals. If you go in to work everyday with a poor attitude, that is going to show and rub off on your coworkers. Displaying negativity will not get you anywhere! The same goes for laziness. If you want to be successful in what you are doing, you have you be self-motivated. No one will do your work for you. Do the work and reap the rewards. It’s worth it. Laziness kills your career. Complacency makes you stagnant which kills your goals. Don’t let yourself sink into this mentality! It will destroy you. Even more so, it will hurt those around you. Your mentality will affect other people’s as well.

Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean being the office sunflower. You don’t have to be something you’re not. It simply starts with your own self talk. If you don’t like where you are, make goals to go somewhere else. Tell yourself “I CAN” and “I WILL” rather than letting negative thoughts float around unchecked. You can control your attitude! Grasping the concept of self-talk will empower you more than you know. Remember this: if you think positively, you will act positively.

Lastly, lets cover professional talk. By talk, I not only mean office conversations by the coffee pot, I also mean the conversations you have with superiors and how you conduct yourself. This goes together with your attire and your mentality. Professional talk is the culmination of everything else. It is the output. When thinking about talking professionally, consider what people want to hear about. Your superior doesn’t want to hear through the office grapevine what you did last weekend. Keep your conversations productive! If it doesn’t help you reach your goals, don’t bring it up. Your job is your job for a reason. Your home life is separate. Now, you don’t have to be completely isolated. You can have good conversations without going too far. Know the balance between pleasantries and too much information! This might be the number one problem social media has created. The divide between personal life and professional life has become blurred because everyone always has access to everyone. You can be different. You don’t have to follow that pattern.

Sexual harassment was brought up earlier, and I want to review that again. Since the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment has become a major concern for employers. People have to be very careful in the way they talk at work. What is funny to you may not be for someone else and that could come back to haunt you or even cost you a career. Be careful with what you say to people in the workplace. Not everyone has the same morals and background and could take offense to something you mention. I am not here to say what is sexual harassment and what isn’t. All I want to make sure I make clear is that anything you say in the workplace can be used against you. Don’t give them anything to use!

Professional culture is a moving breathing thing. It changes and adapts with the world around it. It is important to keep up with what is valued in a career environment. While you should never change your values for superficial reasons, you should be aware of what is going on around you. Being a professional in today’s world is challenging. There are new demands, new policies, and ever-changing opinions. If you look the part and dress for your own success, check your own mentality and talk the talk, you will meet your goals. It is possible to succeed, and it is simple. Work hard, look your best and speak with purpose.