Rethinking Focus

Reflections on intention, presence, and the leadership power of choosing who you want to be.

As a strategic development partner for leaders and teams, business owner, and human being - I’ve often felt pressure to have it "all together".

I’m someone people come to when they need support in moving their life or leadership forward - not the person who gets insecure, afraid, or caught in moments of self-doubt… right?

But here’s the truth: I am that person too. I get scared. I second-guess myself. And sometimes I feel like an imposter. That’s not a flaw in my leadership - it’s part of my humanness.

And honestly? That’s where a lot of real growth begins.

Over the years, especially while growing 3DLife® and supporting others, I’ve returned again and again to this word:

FOCUS.

Focus is what I’ve told myself I need in order to do it all - build the business, lead meaningful trainings, support others, keep learning, and still show up as a grounded, present - healthy - human in my personal life.

Focus is what I tell myself when a dozen brilliant ideas land in my mind and light me up.

But focus can feel elusive. Especially when you're passionate. Especially when you care deeply. Especially when you're wired for service and possibility. Especially when you have a full plate.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize though:

Focus doesn’t start with goals or lists.

It starts with INTENTION.

A few years ago, I read The Illusion of Money by Kyle Cease.

One of the things that stayed with me most was his invitation to shift our focus from chasing accomplishments to choosing how we want to BE in the world.

Why? Because your intentions are what give your actions meaning.

For example, when I set the intention: “I want to live my best life,” everything I choose - how I spend my time, what I eat and drink, who I surround myself with, what work I do, how I play and have fun - flows from that intention.

Likewise, when I set the intention: “I want to bring more empathy and understanding to the world,” I show up differently with the people around me (and with myself). I make choices from alignment, not pressure.

That’s a very different energy than trying to cross the next goal off the to-do list just to feel productive.

As you’ve probably experienced too, the moment we check off a goal, that dopamine rush we get for accomplishing it is fleeting - gone before we even know it.

Guess what happens then? Another shiny new goal pops up for us to set our sights on. And it becomes a never-ending ladder with no real sense of arrival.

(Been there. Done that. Join the club!)

But when we lead with intention, we lead from a place of clarity, direction, and purpose. We root ourselves before we rise.

Another concept I love that deepens our intentions is your MTP (Massively Transformative Purpose). I first heard this on The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes, (Episode 881 with Peter Diamandis) and immediately thought, "This feels like one powerful overarching life intention."

For me, my MTP is helping leaders effectively lead themselves and others, live their best life by discovering meaning, fulfillment, and value in what they do - and supporting them to become who they truly want to be.

And let me say this clearly: I’m not here for the YOLO mindset ('You only live once'). Because we don’t live once. We live every single day. What we do once is die - and in between now and then, we get to choose who we are and how we show up.

So yes - your intentions can evolve. You might have a few. But be mindful not to overload them.

Because without clarity, intention gets diluted.

Without focus, purpose gets fuzzy.

And without presence, even the best goals lose their meaning.

So I invite you to pause and reflect:

• What’s your MTP?
• What intentions are guiding your life and leadership right now?
• What would shift if you focused less on doing - and more on BEING?

Because from that place, you don’t just get things done - you grow into the leader you are meant to become.

Pop your MTP in the comments below - I'd love to hear what yours is!

Until next time...