Richard Branson may be one of the most successful leaders in the business world today. He’s also well known for offering clear insights on not only how he achieves success but how others can mirror his journey. In a recent article published by Entrepreneur.com, Branson provided 5 tips on how all leaders can strive to hit their goals by following a simple code: intention.
What is intention?
According to Merriam-Webster, intention is the thing that you plan to do or achieve: an aim or purpose
Further, Branson took the abstraction one step further. In a recent blog post, he writes:
“A day without intention is a day wasted. Without intention, there can be no productivity, and in turn no success.”
Is there truth to what this very successful CEO says? As a fellow entrepreneur myself, I’m inclined to agree. Let’s take a look at the following claims that Branson suggests intention will bring you. On their own, each step is so simple yet when you string them together and attack them each day, you’ll find the magic that lies within this genius solution. My guess is that most leaders do these very same steps everyday. But without realizing the importance and acknowledging the why of each step, you’ll miss out on the larger picture. At its core, this is what living with intention is all about.
1. Start your day fresh.
At the start of the list, Branson highlights the importance of letting the troubles of yesterday slip away. If not, you’ll risk allowing today to be overshadowed by events you cannot change. Take a deep breath, rise with purpose, and bask in the beauty of the unchartered territory that awaits you.
2. Write down your intentions
You’ll never be able to accomplish a long list of to-do’s without first writing them down. This is a critical step in getting your day started on the right gear. While you may get sidetracked, your goals will still be written down, meaning you won’t be able to let them slip away so easily.
3. Use your time wisely
You’ve let go of yesterday. You’ve got an outline of tasks to accomplish today. Now, all that’s left is to use the time wisely. Be conscious of how much time you’re spending and energy your expending on a single task. Be mindful of your list and include limits for tasks that seem to eat up time excessively. Learning how to prioritize the tasks on your list is a hard lesson to learn but once you understand the skill, you’ll take the lesson to your grave.
4. Think ahead
We can’t change the past so the best option we’ve got is to plan for the future with intention. Get creative, Branson suggests, and think outside your ordinary processes and contacts.
5. Have fun
Finally, achieving success is one thing; enjoying that success is an entirely different and much harder goal. When possible, find as many slices of joy throughout your day.
What are the ways you live life and work with intention? Send your ideas my way!