30: There's Only One Choice (Own Your Future)

read time 4 minutes

Welcome to the With Intention weekly newsletter where I share ideas & learnings to help you live & lead with intention

At a glance:

• Essay: There's Only One Choice (own your future)
• Quote: It's never too late
• Visual: Keep going

There's Only One Choice (Own Your Future)

Every day, we face a decision: do we remain where we are, or do we move forward?

It’s a choice that defines more than just our days; it shapes our lives.

My Turn: A Journey of Reinvention

Years ago, at the lowest point in my career, I was on the verge of being fired.

I felt stuck, misunderstood, and out of options. It was then that a mentor stepped in—not to save me, but to challenge me. He told me not to reinvent myself but to invent myself anew. This wasn’t about changing; it was about creating from scratch, a profound reimagining of who I could be.

This idea of creation became a guiding principle in my life.

Even years later, after significant personal and professional growth, I found myself falling into old patterns of blame and excuse during a tough phase at work. That's when an executive coach reintroduced me to the concept of control through a simple but powerful exercise with two concentric circles. He asked me to shade the smaller circle inside the larger one, explaining that the tiny area I filled represented what I could actually control—everything else was just noise.

It was a stark reminder of the importance of focusing on my circle of influence rather than the circle of concern.

Your Turn: Claiming Your Power

Now, I invite you to reflect on a current situation in your life or frustration.

Perhaps you’re blaming external factors or making excuses. Can you identify your 'little black circle'? What elements of your situation can you actually influence?

What are you truly in control of?

Claiming your power doesn’t mean you won’t face setbacks or revert to old habits occasionally. I certainly have. But it does mean choosing to focus on what you can change and taking actionable steps forward.

This is about owning your responses to the challenges life throws your way.

Dr. Shad Helmstetter points out a startling statistic: by the time we reach adulthood, we’ve heard "No" or "You can’t" about 148,000 times—nearly ten times more often than "Yes" or "You can." This overwhelming exposure to negativity profoundly shapes our mindset, making it no wonder we often default to blaming and complaining instead of seizing control and focusing on what we can influence.

This is Ownership. This is Agency.

You are more powerful than you realize.

The journey of self-improvement is continuous, a constant return to what is within your control and how you can expand your influence. Remember, there’s always a next step, a next opportunity to choose differently.

You’ve got this.

A Visual: Keep going

Source: (2) Janis Ozolins (@OzolinsJanis) / X

Welcome and Thank You

A special welcome to all the new subscribers who joined us this week, and thank you to everyone who attended the workshop.

Your engagement and curiosity are what make this community so dynamic and enriching. If you're feeling inspired to take the next steps in your journey of personal and professional growth, consider joining the first With Intention Coaching Cohort. We have limited spots available to ensure a personalized and impactful experience for each participant.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a community committed to expanding our circles of influence and taking ownership of our lives.

For more details and to secure your spot, please visit here.

A replay of the workshop is also available below - we talked about breaking through by gaining awareness, taking action and building resilience - I had so much fun with the live group, and I believe you'll find value watching it if you weren't there!

Whether you’re a new subscriber or have been with us for a while, your presence here is valued. Each one of you contributes to the strength and diversity of our community. Remember, every day presents a new opportunity to choose growth and intention!

Until next time, keep moving forward with courage and purpose!

Jon Giganti Author. Speaker. Leader.

Attention requires a focused head.
Intention requires a focused heart.

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