Intentions vs. Goals

We find practically everyone uses the words “goal” and “intention” as synonyms. This is not a problem, unless it’s important to you to be engaged in the kind of possibilities and projects that fulfill something meaningful. If our professional lives are only constituted in goals, for example: X% growth this quarter, it’s a certain pathway to experience disconnection from what’s most important to us as human beings. 

Therefore, we have found it immensely valuable and useful in our work with committed and ambitious business owners and professionals to make a distinction between what is an intention and what is a goal. 

We propose the following: 

Intention: A stated and articulated purpose that gives rise to building and creating, and is sourced by (i.e. connected to) what’s meaningful, significant, and profound about your existence, your life, and why you’re here on planet earth.

Goal: A specific, measurable result that fulfills an aspect of an intention.

Note: Goals are only useful if you constitute them as a promise i.e. Your Word! (That will be for another blog post.)

We have found that what’s required to create sourceful intentions as distinguished above is you must slow down so that you actually take the time to create.

The question: “What is my intention?” can and does apply with everything in life.

Taking a moment on Sunday to create an answer to the question, “What’s my intention for the week?” can be difference-making. Taking the time to articulate a sourceful intention for a meeting has the meeting be more than just a meeting. 

When you get clear on your intention, because you have distinguished it (and by distinguishing it you have created it), the circumstances of the world around you look different and you immediately begin to see opportunities and possibilities that you didn’t see before. 

Moreover, getting clear on your intention creates energy, focus, and the possibility of alignment with others and the world around you. 

It’s also worth pointing out: you do not need to know how to fulfill an intention before you declare the intention.

Becoming proficient at creating sourceful intentions will take diligence and practice on your part. We invite you to have at it, and let us know: What are your intentions?