Intentionality
Have you ever felt like a leaf falling from a tree—floating through the air with no real idea where it’s headed?
Tossed around by the wind, hoping it lands somewhere good.
For many people, that’s exactly what life feels like.
In fact, studies show that nearly two-thirds of people do not have a written plan for where they’re going in life—career, finances, or personal growth. And yet, almost all of us want the same thing: for our life to count.
So why does it often feel like we’re stuck in the same routine, day after day, with no clear destination?
The missing piece is intentionality.
What Is Intentionality?
Intentionality is choosing your destination before you start moving.
It’s putting the right bait on the hook for the fish you want to catch.
It’s wearing shoes designed for running before you head out on a jog.
It’s entering the address into your maps app before you start driving.
It’s knowing what kind of ring your fiancée wants before you buy it.
We’ve been practicing intentionality our whole lives—often without even realizing it.
And yet, many men leave their life, career, relationships, and health to chance, hoping they’ll somehow end up in the right place.
I did that for years.
My Wake-Up Call
Most of my twenties—and a good part of my thirties—were spent drifting.
This job, then that job.
Letting the wind push me wherever it wanted.
In the back of my mind, a question never stopped whispering:
Where am I going? What was I created to do?
Then one day, something changed.
It was like a compass that had been spinning wildly, suddenly locked onto true north. And from that moment on, everything aligned—education, career, finances, relationships, and time—all moving in the same direction.
That’s the power of intentional living.
“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others’ choices make us.”
— Richie Norton
Living intentionally means deciding—ahead of time—what you want your life to stand for, and then filtering every decision through that lens.
The truth is, it’s easy to spend your life fulfilling someone else’s expectations instead of having the courage to pursue the life you were created for.
Purpose + Plan = Intentional Living
There’s a familiar verse in Scripture that says God has a plan and a purpose for your life. Many of us love that verse—but we often stop at “purpose.”
Let’s flip it around.
What are you gifted at?
What brings you alive?
What burdens you enough that you can’t ignore it?
For some, those answers come early.
For others—like me—it takes time, prayer, and paying attention.
But this blog isn’t about discovering your purpose.
It’s about the plan.
Because intentionality isn’t just knowing why you exist—it’s knowing how you’re going to live it out.
Why Most People Get Stuck
If you were driving from Texas to Toronto, you could just point your car northeast and hope for the best. You might get there eventually—but you’ll take wrong turns, hit slow roads, run low on gas, and waste a lot of time.
That’s how many people live.
They have a general direction, but no clear plan. And then life happens:
A parent needs care
Your marriage feels out of sync
Your teenager’s schedule takes over
An unexpected crisis derails your momentum
Everyone faces obstacles.
What separates the people who reach their destination from those who don’t?
Intentionality.
They have a map—and they stick to it.
From Dreamers to Doers
Yes, you’ll experience detours.
Yes, plans will need adjusting.
But the difference between dreamers and doers is simple:
Make a plan
Work the plan
Stay with the plan
Benjamin Franklin said it best:
“If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.”
Or as Yogi Berra famously said:
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.”
So Let Me Ask You
Do you have a plan for where you’re going?
Not just an idea—but:
A clear goal
Broken into smaller goals
With daily, weekly, and monthly action steps
Because whether it’s your marriage, career, finances, or faith—the process works the same.
Questions Worth Asking Yourself
Am I being intentional with my relationships? (spouse, kids, friends)
Am I being intentional with my finances? (saving, investing, planning for the future)
Am I being intentional with my career?
Am I doing what I love?
Am I growing?
Am I moving toward where I want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years?
Am I being intentional in my spiritual life? (Scripture, prayer, serving, community)
Next Steps
If you want to go deeper, start by learning how to create S.M.A.R.T. goals, then break them down until you know exactly what you’re doing this year, this month, this week—and today.
Be intentional—and you won’t just live life.
You’ll live it on purpose.
Need Help?
If you need clarity on where you’re going—or a plan to help you get there—coaching may be the investment that changes everything.
Explore what intentional living could look like for your future.
Recommended Resources
The Principle of the Path — Andy Stanley
The 12 Week Year — Brian P. Moran
The Compound Effect — Darren Hardy
Today Matters — John Maxwell