Intention
Introduction
I want to welcome you and express my appreciation for the opportunity to work with you. My goal is to inspire and motivate you through my content, helping you believe in yourself and push forward. I'm committed to sharing my experiences and insights to equip you with valuable knowledge and tools. Ultimately, I aim to achieve two main goals: do great things and help others along the way.
Defining Your Path
- Knowing where you're going in life is crucial.
- Defining your passion and vision allows you to map out a path to achieve your goals.
- Your vision acts as a magnet, guiding you toward your objectives.
- Obstacles will arise, but overcoming them is what qualifies you for success.
Challenging the Status Quo
Many people accept their present reality as unchangeable, but your present reality is not set in stone. You can achieve more than you imagine. Life offers endless possibilities if you begin the journey of self-discovery and development. Society's version of "normal" often leads to dissatisfaction, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Taking Control of Your Life
- This course and my content focus on taking control of your life with intention.
- It's essential to get clear about what you want and create a path to achieve it.
- Many people are unhappy because they live according to societal norms and conditioning.
- However, people are beginning to wake up and question their programming.
Providing Clarity and Purpose
My aim is to help you gain clarity and accomplish your goals, leading to a fulfilling life. This course is designed to be short and to the point, without fluff. Clearly defined life goals bring clarity and purpose to your daily actions.
Self-Improvement is Not Selfish
- Developing yourself is not selfish; it's essential for personal growth and bettering those around you.
- Committing to self-improvement enhances your relationships and lifestyle.
- This process benefits both you and those you interact with, making you a more peaceful and healing presence.
Ready to Begin?
If you're ready to learn, reflect, and discover, let's get started. LET'S GO!
Vision
Importance of Vision
Most people have no idea what they want their life to be like. It's sad, but many just know they don’t want it to be the way it is. So many people are in pain but don’t know the way out. Here’s the question: If you don’t know where you want to go, how will you ever get there? People are broken down, tired, and aimless. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
If you don’t know where you want to go, you’ll end up going in whatever direction life leads you. There’s nothing wrong with living in flow, but if you’re willing to go wherever, somebody out there will assign a plan for you. It’s up to you to make your own way.
I’m not promising that you'll become a gigantic self-made entrepreneur or the next famous person. Coming from someone who used to have similar goals, I’ve realized that those things don’t truly make a person happy. When you break it down and gain some wisdom and perspective, you realize that people truly need simple things like stability, a sense of autonomy or freedom, love, and good relationships. These are things that money can’t buy and require care and cultivation.
I believe in financial freedom, but if it were all about money or fame, you’d never hear the stories of unhappy actors, singers, and other celebrities. If you know within your soul that you are supposed to impact many lives, I won’t disagree with you. It’s important to have those kinds of people in the world. I’m also realistic, so I don’t fall for every bit of advice from entrepreneurial gurus. I’ve worked full-time, part-time, for myself, had businesses, and everything in between. I’ve been happy and fulfilled, and I’ve been sad and depressed in every one of those circumstances.
Finding Fulfillment
- Fulfillment in life is not dependent on whether you work for someone else, work for yourself, are rich or broke, famous or unknown.
- Daily fulfillment comes down to simpler things:
- Are you working toward your vision?
- Are you doing something you’re passionate about?
Now, you see where I’m coming from. So let’s get clear on the vision.
Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
Having a vision is important down to our smallest goals, but for the purpose of this course, we are focusing on the overall vision for our life.
Perspective
In light of everything said earlier, I want you to focus on the important things in life. What do you want in your life? Pause and think about that. Just think for now. Don’t think about what you would wish for. Wishing DOES NOT work. I spent much of my life wishing and only started seeing real results when I took action.
- Focus on what you want out of life that you know you can accomplish with time, given your level of faith, knowledge of yourself, capabilities, and work ethic.
- Take your time to figure this out.
- Be rested, clear-minded, and in a quiet place.
- Ensure that your goals will be rewarding and make you proud.
If you’re like me, you’ve had thoughts about where you want to go in life since you were young. Some of the vision changes as you grow, and some stays the same. I always dreamed of being a great dad and husband and loved the name Emma. Now, I get to be those things, and my wife’s name is Emma. You’re drawn to things because of your vision, even if it’s undefined or in your subconscious.
Now, let’s define it so we’ll be drawn to the life we intend to have.
Define Your Vision
Setting Your Vision
I like to set my vision with three different time periods in mind: short-term (1 year), mid-term (7-8 years), and long-term. The specific span of years can vary for each person. The important thing is to have clear short-term, mid-term, and long-term visions.
Since we grow and evolve, none of these visions are set in stone. In 5 years, some goals may be met while others may still be in progress. Sometimes, you’ll reach parts of your vision with minimal conscious effort.
Writing Down Your Vision
Research shows that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals by writing them down. This process focuses your attention and serves as a reminder of what you aim to achieve. So, pause this and get ready to write. Use the graphic I’ve provided, a notepad, or your phone—just make sure to put it down.
Creating Your Vision Timeline
Each person’s timeline is different. That’s why the graphics are left blank for you to fill in as you see fit. Print as many as you’d like and practice until you are confident with your vision. This process is about getting clear on what you want in life. Be honest and realistic with your expectations. Once you set your goals, hold yourself to them and do what it takes to achieve them.
Detailed Vision Questions
- Spiritual: How connected will you be with the Creator? How will you connect spiritually? Will you read or pray? How often?
- Mental: How organized will you be? What will you be learning? How often will you read?
- Physical: What weight will you be? What percent body fat? How strong or fit will you be? How often will you exercise? How will you eat?
-Relationships: Who will you love? Will you have children? Who will your friends be? How often will you talk to them? How will you spend time with them?
- Home: What type of house do you want to live in? Is it a two-story or single-story? What color is it? What type of area do you want to live in? Do you want neighbors or land?
- Home Life: Who will be in your home? Who is your family? How will you spend time together? What kind of atmosphere will you have?
- Social Life: Who will you be close to? Who will you surround yourself with? What will you do together? Where will you spend time?
- Vehicles: What kind of car do you want to drive? What kind of vehicle do you love? What color? What does the interior look like?
- Occupation: What will your day job look like? What would you be happy doing? How many hours will you work? Will you work for yourself or someone else? Will you have businesses?
- Financial: What will your bank account look like? How much money will you earn in a year? How much money will you earn in a day? Where will you invest money? Where will you give?
- Hobbies: What do you want to do for fun? Who will you do it with? Where will you be? How often will you do it?
- Daily Life: What would you like your daily schedule to look like? What time will you get up? What time will you go to bed? How many hours a day will you spend working? How many hours a day will you spend with others?
Summarize Your Vision
Summarize what you want your life to look like in each period of time. Describe it any way you’d like. This exercise is about getting your mind to think this way and to clarify what you want.
I’ve left blank spaces for you to add any areas in your life that I haven’t mentioned. This is custom to you for the sole purpose of bringing yourself clarity, so write whatever you need to!
Going Forward
Now that you’ve defined your vision, put it somewhere you will see every day. Focus on it daily, especially your summary. Pray about it daily. Base your schedule and routines on your vision. Pair some images with your vision if possible.
You’ll be surprised how much of this will come to pass when you keep it in the forefront of your thoughts. Consistently keeping yourself aware of your vision will shift your thoughts and actions toward better outcomes. Refine it as often as you want. This is your vision for your life!
Next Step: Passion
Now, let’s get to passion.
Passion
Importance of Passion
Let’s talk about the importance of passion. This is where you want to spend your days. In working toward your vision, you’re going to want to do things that you’re passionate about. I'm not saying you have to be miserable working for someone else and never have time for your passion. That's completely wrong.
Most “experts” today act like the only way to pursue your passions is to work for yourself. They make it seem like anything else is misery. I know better. Happiness, fulfillment, and purpose run deeper than that.
For years, my deepest passion was music. I worked on music so much, and it gave me great pleasure and fulfillment, along with some frustration—that’s part of the journey. I did it all while managing businesses and full-time jobs to provide for my family. It wasn’t easy, but that’s why it’s called passion. You’re passionate enough about it that you find a way to incorporate it into your life and make it a priority. If you can make your passion your main source of income and it aligns with your vision, that’s great! That’s the dream. But it’s not a necessity to be happy and fulfilled.
Your Vision and Passion
- Your vision is your greatest passion.
- Taking care of your vision takes care of the most important things that provide the greatest rewards in life.
- Passion is personal and unique to each individual based on preferences and characteristics.
Think of it like this: Your passion is what you want to learn, teach, or how you want to make an impact. It’s important to do things you’re passionate about. Without passion, we tend to get caught up in the daily grind, feeling overwhelmed and bored. A project or goal you’re passionate about adds extra spice, energy, and purpose to your days.
The Power of Passion
Even small things like coaching a kids’ football team can turn into something that you’re passionate about, adding greater motivation and purpose to your days. I’m most passionate and excited when I’m writing and creating things that will help people. What’s most powerful is when your passion aligns with your vision. That’s when your passion becomes a superpower!
The importance of doing things you’re passionate about cannot be overstated. Doing things you love impacts you spiritually, mentally, and physically. By impacting you in such a profound way, it changes how you impact others. When you do things you love, it makes you a more positive person, which in turn makes you a positive influence on your peers.
Perspective on Passion
Almost every self-help book or advice has something to say about finding your “WHY.” The concept is that when you know “WHY” you want to do something, it helps push you through hard times. This makes sense for short-term goals, like weight loss. For example, if you want to look good in a bathing suit for a beach trip, that becomes your “WHY” for dieting and exercising.
For long-term vision and passion, I don’t love the concept of “WHY.” It can feel too shallow and can cause confusion. I believe that what’s for me is what’s for me. To need a big “why” can make it seem like an excuse to suffer, making your whole goal destination-oriented instead of journey-oriented. If you have a vision you’re excited about and are consistently doing something you’re passionate about, you’ll embrace the journey with all its ups and downs. The journey, with its obstacles, becomes part of your growth.
Embracing the Journey
When you strongly desire to do something, it doesn’t always make sense and may not lead to a glorious "why." Searching for the "why" can complicate things and lead to inaction. Success requires action—both failing and winning are necessary. Overcomplicating it will hinder action.
This wisdom explains why many people achieve their dreams only to end up depressed. They focus solely on the destination. Life is a beautiful journey, and all parts should be appreciated and enjoyed, not just the high points.
Finding Passion in Unexpected Places
I want you to remove any walls you’ve built around pursuing your passions. For many years, I pushed and wondered what I should do, boxing myself in.
Let me tell you a quick story: One day, the president of my son’s football organization called me, saying they needed coaches. I had no desire to coach, but I knew that if they needed coaches, some parent with no clue about football might end up coaching, causing the team to lose a year of growth. So, I decided to coach them. I gave my all and became passionate about it. I formed a bond with those kids and believe I made a positive impact on them.
I believe I’ve always been meant to strive for greatness and inspire others to do the same. Initially, I did this through music. After the season, while praying about what to do next, I felt God saying, “It’s not so much about what you do, but about who you are when you do it.” This freed me. I realized that the avenue of my passion is less about the things I do and more about the person I am.
Adaptability and Passion
As humans, our passions will change. This is why adaptability is crucial. You might start doing one thing, only to find a clearer path toward your vision through something else. Staying open-minded and adaptable is important because sometimes the journey of intention leads you to unexpected places you end up loving more than your original vision.
I started with music, learned content creation because of music, wrote a lot because of music, and now I’m writing and creating content, still working on music, and sometimes coaching kids' football. I love it all. It gives me extra fulfillment. I’ve been adaptable. It’s more about who you can be, not just what you can do.
Remember, it’s all about journey-orientation, not destination-orientation. The important thing is to start right here, right now. The rest will work itself out.
Define Your Passion
Now, let’s start putting some clarity on your passion. Get the graphic I made for you, or take notes in whatever way works best for you. Allow yourself to search deep within and get to the core of who you are as a person.
Identifying Your Passion
First, let’s keep it simple. Look at the graphic and write down anything and everything you love to do. Notice any overlaps in your interests. Finding a starting point can be simple when you’re not focused on changing the world just yet. For now, let's get you moving in the right direction by taking simple actions toward specific goals or activities you love.
Think about the things you love and answer these questions:
- When you’re not consumed with your responsibilities, where does your mind wander the most?
- What can you do for hours and get lost in the task at hand?
- What are you curious about? What would you like to learn more about or become an expert in?
Going All-In
These are the kinds of things you want to go all-in on. I’ve been all-in on many different things that seemed unrelated, but now I see how they’ve come together to create my unique story. Writing down your thoughts and answers to these questions helps you start somewhere. Dive into the subject, learn as much as you can, and take action. You never know where your actions will lead you next.
Deepening Your Passion
For those ready to identify the difference they want to make in the world and tie their actions to a deeper purpose, think about passion in two ways: Purpose and Avenue.
Passion = Purpose + Avenue
Purpose
- This is about the way you feel you should impact the world. It’s about the knowledge, wisdom, or love you believe you should share.
- For me, it’s always been: Achieve, Encourage, Inspire.
- This part of your passion is about the heart you’ll express through whatever you do. It should pour out of you when you’re in your zone.
- Write down what you feel. How would you like to impact the world? What do you want to be known for?
Avenue
- This is about what you do. It doesn’t have to be complex.
- Remember, I became passionate about coaching my son’s football team, even though I initially didn’t want to do it. It became an avenue for me to make a profound impact.
- Think about where you can start. Start somewhere you love. For example, I started with music, which became my avenue for sharing my purpose. Today, I have more avenues.
- What’s your avenue to share your purpose? This could be anything, including something you’re already doing. Maybe you haven’t realized you could be sharing yourself on a deeper level.
- Write down your avenue and start. Get passionate about it and let the journey develop.
Examples of Passion and Avenue
To illustrate this concept, here are some well-known examples of people’s purposes and their avenues for passion:
- Gary Vaynerchuk
- Purpose: Encouraging, Building Self-Esteem of Our Generation
- Avenue: Business & Media
- Adam Sandler
- Purpose: Making People Happy
- Avenue: Comedy/Acting
- Dwayne Johnson
- Purpose: Inspiring
- Avenue: Acting
- Jesus
- Purpose: Loving, Caring, Providing Freedom from Sin
- Avenue: Teaching, Discipleship, Sacrifice
Find a place to start and you’ll be surprised by how much life will open up to you. The mundane tasks won’t seem so mundane because you’re living with passion. Remember, it’s about who you are when you do something, not just what you do. Stay adaptable and open-minded, and let your journey of passion lead you to unexpected and fulfilling places.
Conclusion
By now, you should have gone through all the content and exercises. Hopefully, you have the clarity you need to take your next steps toward your vision and passion. I believe in making the most of life, and I hope this helps you do that.
By being thorough in your self-exploration and documenting your thoughts, you should be able to find a place to start. It might not make sense right away how your passion aligns with your vision, but it will develop over time. The main thing is to put it out there and get started. Dedicate yourself to the journey for it to unfold.
While I aim to equip you and lead you in the right direction, my content is less about giving you all the answers and more about provoking you to find that greatness within yourself. I want you to believe in yourself and make the most of your life!
Stay Connected
If you’ve enjoyed this or learned something, let me know. Share some love. Every review, comment, follow, subscription, or purchase helps me go further in my life too.
I’m constantly putting out new content on my socials @zachbanes and newsletters/blogs on my website, zachbanes.com. If you want to go further and learn more, check out my other courses!
Thanks again!
I’m your friend. I’m your brother. It’s ya boy,
Zach Banes