A mindset shift for high achievers

I like to think of achievement in three parts. There are more, but for now, let’s boil it down into these bowls.

Intention, Action, and Execution. 

Intention is the idea or the dream. It’s what you want to do, and where you want to go. It often has the word “should” in it. “I should budget my time better.” That’s an intention, it’s good and necessary for the process, but it needs to have a short lifespan. The reason is it’s easy to stay here, always dreaming and wishing. Because, well, let’s be honest; it’s comfortable and safe here. Once you start confusing intention with action, you’re on a slippery slope.

Action is movement, it’s the wind in the sails of your idea. It pushes you forward and allows you to steer the idea or dream to fruition.

Action is hard to take. It requires courage and acknowledging that you will be uncoordinated in your initial advances.

Someone specific in your life needs to read that too 👆

Action should also have a short lifespan. Action is what gets you moving, but to stay here is to confuse “movement” with “progress.” While action can lead to progress in the beginning stages, we can easily get stuck in “busyness circles.” This is where most people stay, taking arbitrary action on what is most urgent, instead of what is most important. Uncoordinated action is not where excellence is found.

Execution is not only action, it is specific, planned action with a specified outcome. It’s the map that leads you to the treasure, while simultaneously the steering mechanism. When you have execution, you know what direction you’re moving in and what steps you need to be take next. Think of a surgeon making one exact cut after another. It’s when you know where you are going, why you are going there, and what you must do to get there. Execution is the land of excellence that few learn to find. 

Intention - I should eat healthier this year. (Good, but still no progress)

Action - Spending hours researching the best foods and recipes. (Necessary, but don’t linger here)

Execution - Schedule and prep your meals for each day of the week. Plan everything out, get clear on what it means to “win.” Break it down into specific, actionable steps until its so easy someone such as yourself can actually do it. (Progress, when you eat your first meal that is healthier.)

Notice how you move through each part of the three steps, and yet even in execution, they are all still present. This is hard, we are undisciplined and would rather research “how to be (fill in the blank)” for hours on end than take one step in that direction. We have to move to execution, otherwise progress will be sporadic at best.

Dream with intention, get started with action, focus action and intention into execution for lasting progress.

Where do you get stuck in these three steps?