Fill your life with intention

We were born with an entrepreneurial spirit that makes us a little restless. It drives us to try new things, chase new experiences, and make sure that every nook and cranny of our lives are filled. We don’t want to miss anything, and we certainly don’t sit still for long, do we?

We’re constantly told, “you’re so busy.” Yup. We know. We get it.

And, you know what? We kinda like it. The frenetic pace drives us. Gives us life.

But the difference between chaos and balance comes from filling our lives with intention. You, and only you, should be the one to choose how to fill your life. Don’t be the person who says yes to everything. Learn to say no.

To keep my life from tipping into chaos, I ask myself four questions before taking on a new adventure.

From running a marketing creative agency, to scooping ice cream (my second business), working as an EMT, restoring an old camper… you get the point. My curiosity to try new things has always led the way. This box is rarely left unchecked.

We small business owners love to learn. It’s in our DNA. Every challenge teaches us something—about business, people or ourselves. Growth doesn’t come from comfort, and the lessons that stick are often found in unfamiliar places.

Here is a simple example. How many boards have you joined during your business career? It's so flattering to be asked, isn’t it? I used to say yes to every single invitation. Before I knew it I was driving across the state almost every night to attend meetings.

But something was missing. While I had an incredible amount of respect for the work that those boards were doing, I wasn’t passionate about it. And that’s okay! I respectfully resigned.

This one is often the toughest to check off, but the most meaningful, particularly in our current environment. As small business owners, I believe we have a responsibility to give back, to support others and to do good in our community.

You are the only person who can define what doing “good” means to you. Maybe it’s volunteering your time, donating services or simply grabbing coffee with a young entrepreneur who is eager to learn.

These four questions work for me, but we all have different values. I encourage you to dig into what truly matters to you and tweak my questions to suit your life. Then take stock of all the things you currently do (block off a few hours; it’s a long list!), and run them through your own checklist.

You might be surprised by what makes the cut—and what doesn’t. The goal isn’t to do less, it’s to make sure what you do actually matters to you.