Why Intentions Matter First

	Welcome to the first issue of Career & Work Life Matters for 2012.	Career & Work Life Matters ISSN 2150-6299 Vol 3, no. 01
Should you wait?	Are you wondering if 2012 is the year for a new position? The start of the  new year is often a time to take stock of your career and make plans for the upcoming 12 months.But what if the much anticipated  economic recovery is disappointingly slow?  Should you wait? What should you do in the meantime?  Read this article to find out why you should focus on your intentions first.

Reviewing Your Year

What stands out for you when you look back on your experience of 2011?  When I review my year, one thing that is prominent is the experience of “waiting”.  I felt as if I was waiting because a significant planned change did not happen.  An expected family relocation was put “on hold”.

Uncertainty as an Obstacle

One of the challenge of uncertainty that it makes it difficult to fully commit. For example, because I expected to be moving I delayed getting started on a new project I had planned for 2011.  But plans are not guarantees. Things may not happen as planned!

Are you making decisions or putting things on hold? In today’s job market, finding a new position usually requires a lot of personal commitment. You need to devote time, effort, persistence, and resources to get where you want to go.
But how do you decide what to commit to?  Where should you begin?

Your Life Intentions?

Although new year is typically a time to set goals, there is a step before that.  According to Marie Nemeth, author of  Mastering Life Energies, the place to begin is to reassess your life intentions.

What do you want to be known for? What do you want to contribute? Knowing what is most important to you is your compass for choosing your goals.  Do you want to be an innovator in your field, a mentor to others, a successful team member?

If you’re not sure what to include in your life intentions list, use Nemeth’s inventory to get started.   Remember that your list is unique to you.

A Foundation for Goals

If you are feeling pressured in your current situation, spending time thinking about what you want may seem like a luxury. Career goals may feel elusive and out of reach.  Yet, your life intentions are the foundation from which to develop your goals.

Being clear about your intentions has very practical advantages.  Although the importance of different intentions to you may change over time, they are not dependent on external circumstances.

“Maintain coherence by bringing everyday actions
into alignment with what is most important to you.  (Marie Nemeth)

Once you are clear about your intentions, you can be more creative in how you choose goals.  If external circumstances get in the way of achieving your goals, you can return to your intentions and find new ways to move towards them.  You can review what you are doing on a practical day to day basis, and ask whether or not what you are doing supports your life intentions.

COMING SOON:  Are you ready to take action on your intentions?

Later this month, I will be offering a free class to provide
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