When Goals Make You Feel Worse

Christi Hegstad October 9th, 2024

“I’d rather not set goals at all. That would feel better than setting them and falling short.”

I hear this or something like it fairly regularly, and my heart breaks a little each time. Goals – at least how I view them – are meant to inspire, challenge, and stretch us, not weigh us down.

But, I am also not immune to the experience of feeling somewhat defeated in the achiever experience. You may remember me writing about this earlier this year, in fact. So, I’m not here to tell you to just grin and bear it, but I’m also not here to tell you to give up on goals, either.

Maybe one of these three ideas can help you find a common ground:

Gain Over Gap

You may have seen me mention a goal-related book, 10x Is Easier Than 2x, in my reading wrap-up last month. And while I enjoyed that book, I’d actually recommend reading the authors’ earlier book, The Gap And The Gain, in this instance.

The core principle: Pay more attention to how far you’ve come than how far you have yet to go.

Revisit this as often as you find helpful. And if that means daily, so be it.

Supporter Over Dictator

If you create a long to-do list each day, don’t allow yourself to veer from it whatsoever, and feel ‘less than’ when you don’t complete every single item on it, your to-do list is essentially dictating your life.

To-do lists, and goals, are there to support our accomplishment, inspire us into action, and encourage our focus – not boss us around as if we don’t have free will or independent thought.

Consider placing your goals in the passenger seat. They can offer direction, provide navigation, and help guide you through detours, but you get to drive the car.

Purpose Over Check Mark

Don’t get me wrong: I love checking things off the list as much as the next person! So much so that I’ll sometimes add completed tasks at the end of the day just to get the satisfaction of checking them off. But I also recognize there’s more to goals – and more to life – than simply checking the boxes.

If your goals feel bound in shoulds, check marks, or ’empty wins,’ revisit the foundation. Goals that align with your purpose, and being able to consistently link your actions to your overarching ‘why,’ provide the best motivation I know.

Plus, even if you fall short of your goal, you’re still intentionally honoring your purpose, which brings its own kind of unshakeable fulfillment.

While you can apply all three of these ideas to your current goals, I definitely encourage you to proactively apply them to your 2025 goals. And now – before the hustle and bustle of holidays and year-end activity is upon us – is the best time to begin setting those goals for 2025! I have a handful of spots left in the Bold Goal Bonanza, so if you’d like the tools, coaching, and expert support in setting purposeful goals and achieving them in meaningful ways, be sure to enroll before the spaces fill.

May your goals inspire you into action and guide you to the difference you’re here to make!

When You Don’t Reach Your Goals

Christi Hegstad May 30th, 2024

It’s the end of the month, which means it’s time for my monthly review + planning session. And I’ve realized I did not reach all my goals this month.

Specifically, I set two fitness goals – a mileage amount and number of weight-lifting sessions – and I fell short on both.

I have to admit: The achiever in me is disappointed.

But the coach, and human, in me knows this is an opportunity to explore, ask a few questions, and make some changes for next month. I thought you might benefit from these questions too, in case you find yourself in a similar situation!

A simple, nonjudgmental, Why?

Sometimes the answer is clear: maybe illness or unexpected travel interfered, for example. (Tornadoes and extreme weather definitely impacted my plans to hit the trails this month!) But sometimes the answer is a more ambiguous ‘I just didn’t feel like it.’ Whatever it is, view this as a fact-finding question – not a judgment of your self-worth.

How did I come up with this goal?

In the case of my mileage, I have to admit, my number was quite arbitrary. Which led directly to the next question:

What’s the purpose behind my goal?

My fitness goals fall under a broader ‘Best Self’ Bold Goal I’ve set for myself this year. The purpose behind this goal involves feeling my best and includes measures around energy, confidence, mindset, and the like. Even though I didn’t reach my specific fitness goals in May, I did engage in some other actions that fed my Best Self, so I’m incorporating them into my review, too.

What did I gain?

I love the simple yet profound message in Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s book, The Gap And The Gain: Essentially, focus less on how far you have to go and more on how far you’ve come. I didn’t hit the specific number of weight-lifting sessions I had intended, but I did do more – and with greater consistency – than any other month so far this year. That counts as a win, too!

What will I do differently next month?

Based on my review, I am not giving up on my fitness goals – but I am setting them differently in June. As you continue with your goals, consider how different ways of approaching or measuring them might serve you next month. Also take into account any travel, vacation, or seasonal changes that may impact your goal.

I’ll be sharing my specific changes with the Coaching + Connection group at our next event – and you can still join us for the remainder of 2024! Click here for more information and to enroll.

As achievers, we can easily get down on ourselves when we don’t accomplish what we set out to. Don’t just give yourself the brush-off, though. Ask a few thoughtful questions, answer honestly, and move forward accordingly.

What other questions do you ask yourself when assessing your goals?

Top Ten Books Of The Year – Fiction Edition!

Christi Hegstad December 19th, 2023

Last week I posted my nonfiction favorites; this week, it’s fiction’s turn!

At the time of this writing, I’ve read nearly 100 books, almost evenly split between fiction and nonfiction. Below, after much difficulty (book nerd problems! :-)), I’ve listed the ten fiction books that topped my list. Have you read any of these?

French Braid by Anne Tyler

This is my second Tyler book (I read A Spool of Blue Thread last year) and I feel she writes the ultimate ‘quiet story’ – nothing much happens outside of everyday life stuff, yet as the reader I somehow can’t stop turning the pages. Her character development is extraordinary, as is the vividness of her environments and the draw of emotions. I have two more of hers I plan to read – possibly over the holidays – so I may need to update this list at that time!

Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton*

I’m cheating a bit here since I’m encapsulating eight books into one entry. I was told about this series near the start of the year and have been enjoying about one book a month since (and luckily still have 20+ more waiting in the wings!). A fun mystery series with a smart, somewhat sarcastic middle-aged protagonist who keeps finding herself involved in solving the crimes of her small British village; these books have helped fill the void left by no Louise Penny book being published this year. I listen to the audiobooks via my library’s Libby app and thoroughly enjoy the narrator – a factor which often can make or break a reading experience.

True Biz by Sara Novic

I picked this one up on a bit of a whim and hoped to enjoy it, but I had no idea how deeply I would adore – and truly be moved by – it. The book focuses on a group of high school students and their families, faculty, and friends at the River Valley School for the Deaf, and seamlessly addresses a whole range of social issues while sharing a gripping story. I empathized with so many characters in this book and marvel at Novic’s ability to weave together such a compelling, eye-opening narrative.

Wandering Souls by Cecile Pin

I don’t follow many book prizes too closely, with one exception: the Women’s Prize for Fiction. This award list has led me to some of my favorite books of the year, multiple years in a row. Wandering Souls, a historical fiction story of a family fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s, was touching, heartbreaking, and beautiful, and probably not a book I would have known about had it not been for the prize. A short, powerful read offering a unique perspective.

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Keane’s earlier book, Ask Again Yes, made it into my top ten a few years ago, so I was thrilled to hear she had written another – and even more thrilled that I loved this one, too. She has a way of writing such flawed (aka, human) characters that have you cheering for them, yelling at them, and relating to them deeply, all at once. At one point in the story, I literally gasped because a character I thought I knew so well made a completely different choice than I expected. I love experiencing such emotion through literature!

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center*

I haven’t read much in the romance/rom com genre lately, but I wanted a paperback while traveling and decided to give Katherine Center a try. I’ve since read a couple more of hers and, like I wrote above about Anne Tyler, have others on deck in the near future! Center’s books somehow manage to be both light and funny yet deep and touching, too. Fortunately she has quite a backlist so I’ll have picks for a good while.

Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Clocking in at 672 pages, this was definitely the longest book I read this year, and I enjoyed every page! Classics usually take me a little while to get into in terms of the language and cadence, but once I fell into the flow of this one, I was entranced. We often seem to revel in the ‘simple life’ nostalgia of these times, but authors like Gaskell show how not simple it truly was, especially for certain people. I’ve now got several other Gaskell works on my TBR; North And South will be next.

Foster by Claire Keegan*

Size-wise, this one is at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to Wives & Daughters at barely more than a novella, but equally as poignant. Keegan has a mastery of words unlike any other author I know; her writing is sparse yet packed with imagery and meaning. I had a hard time deciding whether Foster or her later book, Small Things Like These, would make the list – I read both this year and both were absolutely stunning.

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

An award-winning book and a popular movie – both of which have been around for 30+ years – and I am just now getting to this novel! Definitely worth the wait, though. I loved the great care the main character took with his work, finding meaning in each of his various tasks as a butler; I also ached for him and some of the realizations he had along the way. Such a quiet, compelling story – I haven’t yet seen the movie and am not sure I will, but I may very well reread the book.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

As I shared in my nonfiction top ten list, I believe this is the first time in decades of reading that an author has made both my fiction and nonfiction favorites the same year! I adore Patchett’s gift for storytelling; while I didn’t love everything she incorporated into this one, I can’t deny how vividly I still picture the cherry orchards and the theater company and nearly everything else she described. The cover of this book is glorious, but I also recommend the audiobook – read by another master of her craft, Meryl Streep.

What an outstanding reading year 2023 has been, supplemented by fun bookish podcasts and insightful booktubers, too. What tops your list of favorite books for the year?

* Signifies that I’ve read and enjoyed multiple books by the author this year!

Top Ten Books of 2023 – Nonfiction Edition!

Christi Hegstad December 13th, 2023

What an excellent reading year 2023 has been! This has made narrowing down my list to ten favorites delightfully difficult, but today’s blog is my attempt to take on this annual challenge.

My ten favorite nonfiction reads are listed here in no particular order. If you’ve read any of them, I’d love to hear your thoughts, too!

HumanKind by Rutger Bregman

A beautiful, thoughtful read that can help restore your faith in humanity. Bregman does a terrific job presenting facts about our world that show quite a different story than what we may see on the nightly news. Although not sugar-coated nor in denial of the issues we face, HumanKind is an optimistic and uplifting read, and also a good reminder to think critically and not simply take headlines and sensationalism at face value.

All The Beauty In The World by Patrick Bringley

This may be the only nonfiction book on my list this year that actually brought tears to my eyes. We see (and I typically enjoy) a lot of ‘project for a year’ types of books, but this was completely different: prompted in large part by grief, Bringley left his fast-paced career in journalism to quietly stand guard over the artwork at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – a position he then held for the next ten years. I love the reflective nature of this work and his story, and the deep impacts he experienced in all aspects of life.

Wild & Precious, narrated by Sophia Bush and others

I’ve long been a fan of Mary Oliver’s gorgeous poetry, and this book (found only in audio format, I believe) reminds me that I’m certainly not the only one. This unique celebration includes commentary from famous actors, general readers, Oliver’s students, and more, and even includes samples of Oliver reading her own poems – a beautiful way to take them in. A very unique format and a powerful example of legacy.

Quit by Annie Duke

This was one of the first books I read this year and has remained one of the most impactful. Duke’s perspectives on quitting – from her unique background in both psychology and professional poker playing – really challenge my long-held beliefs about quitting. I’ve written articles about how this book has affected my thinking (you can find an example here) as well as the realizations I had when reflecting on the connections between quitting and persevering (as discussed here).

The Good Enough Job by Simone Stolzoff

For 20+ years my professional life has been dedicated to helping people experience meaning and purpose at work and in life, so I love reading different explorations of this topic. By sharing a variety of individuals’ unique career experiences, this book provides an intriguing look at our relationship with our work, how much it defines us, and whether or not we ‘require’ a certain job or role in order to find fulfillment. If you find your definition of success changing over time, you may find this book particularly insightful.

The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris

Confidence is an area I coach on often, although it is rarely the specific one that brings people to coaching; it’s often an underlying component that can unwittingly impact our motivation, achievement, and sense of purpose. This book is over ten years old but just made my reading list last month and instantly became a favorite. I especially appreciate the practical solutions Harris suggests, as well as the section on values, goals, and their connection with confidence.

Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor with Michelle Hamilton

I can’t quite imagine the life of a professional athlete – someone whose livelihood requires them to run for miles upon miles upon miles every day – but this memoir took me a bit closer! Beyond the intense physical training of an elite distance runner, Kastor shares the importance of mental toughness and the training she had to undergo in mindset, optimism, and positivity in order to achieve the incredible feats she has accomplished. I particularly love her drive and determination blended with utter kindness, care, and compassion for teammates and competitors alike. I recommend listening to the audiobook while exercising – a good motivation boost!

Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban by John Talty

When I started this audiobook I barely knew who Nick Saban was; by the end he practically felt like a colleague. I’m admittedly not an avid football fan but I am a fan of effective coaching – whether in athletics, business, or elsewhere – and I took away a number of tidbits from this book. Informed by a variety of people who have interacted with Saban over the years, this book clearly shows he has impacted many throughout his lengthy career. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on foundational keys like consistency, focus, efficiency, and not letting external circumstances run the show or impact your level of effort/dedication. Very motivating!

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

As I’ll share in my upcoming fiction top ten list, I believe this is the first time in decades of reading that an author has made both my fiction and nonfiction favorites the same year! A collection of essays, this book explores aspects of Patchett’s life ranging from her unique relationship with her three fathers, to how Tom Hanks came to narrate her Dutch House audiobook, to friendship, bookstore ownership, and more. Patchett became one of my favorite writers of all time back in the early 2000s and I will pretty much read her grocery lists at this point, should she choose to publish them.

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

If you heard me gush about Think Again a couple years back, get ready to hear me gush about Grant’s latest release in a similar fashion. I tabbed and highlighted pretty much every page of this one, and even copied a few poignant lines in my personal journal because they spoke to me so deeply. If you’d like to chat with me about Hidden Potential early next year, make sure you’re on my email list or connected with me on social media, as I’m partnering with a nearby bookstore for a fun book club chat about this one!

There you have it: My ten favorite nonfiction reads of the year! A few honorable mentions came close – feel free to peruse my blog for thoughts on those. And stay tuned for my ten fiction favorites, coming soon!

What was your favorite nonfiction book of the year?

Create Your Own Career Development Retreat

Christi Hegstad November 28th, 2023

Nearly every year for the past 20+ years, my sister and I have taken ourselves on a roadtrip / business retreat. We are both entrepreneurs, so this annual event gives us time to brainstorm ideas, mastermind solutions, and map out the coming year for our respective businesses.

(And typically seek the best guacamole we can find in whatever town we’re in, but that’s a blog for another day. 🙂 )

If you’ve ever attended a retreat aimed at career or business development, you know how rejuvenating they can be. Part of that stems from the energy and idea-sharing with those around you, but much of it comes from dedicated time focused on your growth.

If you don’t have a retreat lined up in your near future, here are a few considerations for designing your own – either solo or with a colleague(s):

Change your scenery.

My sister and I live in different parts of the country, so sometimes we pick a location new to both of us. Other times, one of us flies to the other for our retreats – but even then, we still rent a place in a different town. The change of scenery can prompt fresh ideas for your career planning, plus heighten your senses and creativity.

Set a retreat goal.

What do you most want to gain from your retreat? Maybe you want to walk away with an outline of your product and marketing launches for the next year, or perhaps it’s a detailed map for the leadership role you’re about to begin. Whatever your desired outcome, specify it as clearly as possible before you go so you can structure your time accordingly.

Plan your tools + activities in advance.

Imagine paying to attend a two-day retreat, then watching the presenter spend the entire first day trying to decide what to focus on. Not super efficient, right? The same goes for your personal retreat: Invest some time before you go to gather or create the tools, guided worksheets, journaling prompts, or whatever will support you in achieving your retreat goals.

Plan your time.

Personally, I have my highest energy in the morning, so that is the best time for me to take on actions requiring creativity and concentration. The afternoons are better for more routine tasks, filling in details, and the like. Whether I am on a solo retreat or with others, I do my best to honor these personal rhythms so I can make the most of the experience.

Weave in fun-tivities.

If your retreat lasts only a day, plan some breaks throughout – and use those to refresh, replenish, and perhaps explore your surroundings a bit. If you’re on a multi-day retreat, you might even book an activity or two in advance to ensure you enjoy your location. As someone who can easily get in flow and stay in a hotel room for hours on end, I sometimes have to ‘force’ myself to do this, but I’m always glad I did.

If you’re able to make it happen, I definitely recommend taking yourself on a retreat! What else would you incorporate in your own career / business development retreat?

Coaching + Connection Q&A

Christi Hegstad November 20th, 2023

I recently shared about a new offering for 2024 that includes both 1:1 coaching sessions plus monthly opportunities to connect with other achievers. Today, I am addressing a few additional questions that have been asked about this unique offering!

Can I schedule my coaching sessions however I want?

Yes! Whether you choose the 4, 6, or 12 session program, you can spread them out throughout the year or we can coordinate them on an as-needed basis. The only requirement is to complete them by 12/1/24.

What will our coaching sessions focus on?

Essentially, we can focus on whatever you’d like. You might set a goal at the start and we coach toward it throughout the year, or you can bring a new issue or focus to each session. That’s the beauty of 1:1 coaching: it is truly customized to meet your needs.

Many people come to coaching knowing they want ongoing support but not really sure what specific outcome they desire. That is absolutely fine! Part of our first session – as well as the Coaching Self-Assessment you’ll receive in advance – will bring greater clarity and focus right from the start.

What is your area of coaching specialization?

I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) specializing in personal growth and professional / executive development. Topics I frequently coach on include goals, purpose, meaningful work, leadership, confidence, motivation, business and career growth, and time/productivity.

What will the ‘connection’ opportunities be in this Coaching + Connection program?

Each month throughout 2024, you will be invited to connect with fellow achievers! These are wonderful opportunities to get to know, learn from, and become inspired by other outstanding individuals.

These connection points will be a combination of in-person and virtual offerings and will include mastermind sessions, guided topical / book discussions, office hours, Q&A sessions, and relaxing Happiness Hour gatherings. We have one planned each month throughout the year, and everyone enrolled is welcome to attend as many as they wish!

Limited spots are available for this 2024 program, so I encourage you to email us and reserve your spot. You can find additional information here, and feel free to ask further questions in the comments below!

Crafting Your Turnaround Story

Christi Hegstad December 7th, 2022

If we’ve ever chatted for five minutes, you probably know I’m a big fan of goals.

Especially at this time of year.

But although I can sing the praises of goals from the mountaintops, I know not everyone feels the same way about them. I also know that creating goals for a fresh, new year can actually feel like a very daunting experience.

Especially if this year hasn’t gone quite as hoped.

(If ‘Set 2023 Goals’ has been on your to-do list, week after week, with no action yet taken, you get it.)

Today, I’d like to propose something different.

First, I want you to think of a magazine or publication you really admire.

Now, imagine that next year at this time, the editor of that magazine contacts you.

They’ve heard about your year – how you really turned things around and made a remarkable comeback.

And they want to write a feature all about it – all about you! They love your story, they recognize the hard work it took to get there, and they want to share your experience to inspire others.

Pretty awesome, eh?

So, what turnaround are they writing about?

When they contact you, next year at this time, what’s different?

How have you enhanced your life? Grown in your work? Made your difference?

Establish that picture in your mind (maybe even imagining your magazine cover!).

From there, start answering a few questions they’ll want to know, such as:

What helped you get from where you were in December 2022 to where you are now, in December 2023?

How did you get started?

What challenges did you face, and how did you persevere?

See if this shift in perspective prompts a bit more clarity and energy around what you want to create in the new year.

Maybe you’ll find that you want your story to focus on the business you started or the leadership role you took on.

Maybe it will highlight the learning you pursued or the meaningful connections you made within the groups you joined.

You might even discover that your story showcases a feeling more than anything – how you now feel more purposeful or confident or fulfilled.

Start by celebrating and imagining the article. From there, perhaps with the help of your coach, you can craft the goals and design the action plans that will get you there.

I want to celebrate your turnaround with you – feel free to share in the comments below! And know I’m here cheering you on.

Surround yourself with cheerleaders – click here to enroll in the ASPIRE Success Club!

The Weight of The Undone

Christi Hegstad November 28th, 2022

Every month for the past few years, I have summarized my biggest lessons learned that month.

(I typically share these lists on my blog and LinkedIn as well.)

Back in February, one such lesson was:

“Half-finished projects / tasks are a mental weight.”

I am definitely ready to lighten some of that weight before we ring in 2023! How about you?

This week, schedule a Completion Block.

Look at your goals and to-do list, and identify what you most want to complete before the year wraps up.

Maybe it’s one partly-done project, or 15 little tasks.

Then, pull out your calendar and block a good chunk of time, such as three hours on an upcoming Friday afternoon.

Protect that time like gold – and when it rolls around, use it for the purpose you’ve identified.

I bet you will close out that day – and the year – feeling lighter!

Click here to enroll in the ASPIRE Success Club – Earlybird Rates end next week!

Outgrowing and Upgrading

Christi Hegstad November 26th, 2022

As I pulled on a t-shirt yesterday, I noticed that it was from a race I completed … in 2008.

My patio furniture, purchased a couple decades ago, looks a little rusty and raggedy.

And I have a couple of cute sundresses that I adore but that no longer fit.

I can’t help but consider the life metaphor here: the activities I’ve outgrown, the routines that have become stale, even some relationships that perhaps no longer fit.

Do I need a life overhaul?

This is the question that springs to mind, dramatic as it is. And after a bit of thought, I don’t believe I need a life overhaul.

I do, perhaps, need some upgrades.

I’m always a bit surprised how luxurious a new pair of quality socks can feel, or how a coat of paint can change a room from drab to delightful.

Simple upgrades but transformative results.

Are you due for some upgrades, too?

If you feel a bit weighed down, ho-hum, or drab, maybe a couple of strategic upgrades are in order. Consider categories such as:

Office supplies

Home decor

Household or personal care items

Clothing

Also take a look at some of the ‘bigger’ life areas and ask a few questions, such as:

How could I add some delight to my daily routines?

What would breathe fresh new life into my career?

What activities, habits, or relationships do I need to rethink a bit?

We are continually growing, evolving, and changing. And if you are an achiever or lifelong learner, you are probably doing so at a fairly rapid rate at times. It’s only natural that, along the way, you might outgrow or need to upgrade in simple and/or meaningful ways.

Consider where you might require an upgrade of some sort, and start simple.

A burst of freshness might be just on the other side!

Join the ASPIRE Success Club or the waiting list for the ASPIRE Bold Goal Academy – enrollment remains open for just a little longer!

Can I Be Intentional And Watch TV All Day?

Christi Hegstad November 25th, 2022

Imagine these two scenarios and see if you notice a difference:

In Scenario #1, you wake up on a Saturday morning feeling a bit sluggish. You think, “I’m going to watch an episode of XYZ Show, then I’ll get to my projects.”

Next thing you know, twelve hours have passed and you’re still sitting in front of the TV.

In Scenario #2, you reach Friday evening and acknowledge that it’s been a rough week. You subsequently declare tomorrow “TV Day” and decide to do nothing all day other than lounge on the couch and enjoy a movie marathon.

Next thing you know, twelve hours have passed and you’re still sitting in front of the TV.

Do you notice a difference? More importantly, would you feel a difference at the end of these days?

Same Action, Different Experience

The actions in both scenarios are the same: Couch, TV, twelve hours passing.

But I bet you’d feel quite different at the end of Scenario #1 than you would at the end of Scenario #2. Especially if you’re an achiever.

This is a simple example demonstrating the difference between being intentional – or not – with your time.

Intentionality has been our focus in the ASPIRE Success Club this quarter. When we’ve discussed what ‘living with intention’ actually means to us, words like ‘purposeful’ and ‘deliberate’ and ‘mindful’ have risen to the surface.

Being intentional means deciding how to engage your time. It involves giving thought and consideration to your actions. On the flip side, not being intentional typically means running on autopilot, letting circumstances dictate your actions, or – like in Scenario #1 above – reaching the end of the day or week feeling like you had no agency over it, thus have little to show for it.

Intentionality can often be the difference between fulfillment and frustration.

Living With Intention

So, how can we live with greater intention? A few ideas to get you started:

Map out your week. On Friday afternoon or Sunday evening, map out the week ahead, taking care to address your top priorities. (The Weekly R+P Session can help.)

Set a daily intention. As you look at your schedule each morning, choose a word that represents who and how you want to be throughout the day. For example: Energized, purposeful, productive, calm. Call your intention to mind as you go about your day.

Decide in the moment. Essentially the same as the previous idea, only on a moment-by-moment basis. Who/how do you want to be during the meeting you’re about to enter? The call you’re about to make? The conversation you’re about to start?

How else do you increase intentionality in your work and life? Share your ideas below!