Getting to the Next Level

Getting your business or career to the next level involves three steps: aligning your purpose, restoring balance, and leveraging the power of intention. Aligning your work with your intended purpose is key to long-term success. If your work is not aligned with your purpose, you may achieve short-term success along the way. However, this success will always come at a cost (e.g. health, family, ….). Understanding your purpose can be difficult, but once you find it – it will seem obvious. There are some specific approaches to finding your purpose: Being open to all opportunities and possibilities; Asking yourself what you love to do, that you lose track of time doing; and, Figuring out how to use your unique talents to serve others. You must avoid the temptation of jumping to the planning steps until you have identified your purpose. It can be difficult to properly focus on identifying your purpose, especially if you are caught up in daily survival. If this is the case for you, then it might be helpful to move to step two – restoring balance.Gone are the days when “workaholism” is considered to be good or positive. If you think about those whose lives are almost entirely made up of work, they are most always mid-level managers. They are people who seemed defined by their position – rather than people who are fulfilling their purpose. However, if you think about people who are extraordinarily successful, they have balance in their lives. They exercise, donate their time and money, have hobbies, enjoy entertainment, and value friends and family. Start by setting boundaries. Don’t make a big deal about it – it will not help to get labeled as not being a team player. Maybe, quietly discuss the need for some balance with your boss – but be realistic. Connect with family and friends. Connect with nature – there is an amazing organizing force in nature if you pay attention. Get a hobby or interest outside of work. You cannot be great – even at your purpose – without some balance. Finally, the last step is to leverage the power of intention. While entire books have been written on this subject, this really is the easiest part. Once you have identified your purpose and have achieved some balance, placing your intention on the outcome happens with ease. In this step, you start by holding a vision in your head of being what you want. Then, you need to make a plan that will get you to that vision. Your plan should be based on a daily calendar – with the first day being a review of your purpose and the last day being a review of what you accomplished toward achieving your purpose. Every morning, every night before going to sleep, and several times throughout the day, you should focus on your vision of you fulfilling your purpose. With your purpose identified, your life in balance, and your mind focused on that which you desire, you will achieve success.