Intentional living has always mattered to me, but it didn’t fully click until I realized how much it shapes the way I lead. For years, my day began the same way: with a steaming cup of coffee, a corner chair by the window, and a few precious minutes of stillness before the world woke up. That quiet ritual created space for gratitude, reflection, and perspective — a grounding that helped me meet the rest of the day with clarity.

But over time, I noticed something important:
Living intentionally for the first hour of the day wasn’t enough.
If I wanted a life marked by alignment, purpose, and meaningful relationships — at work and at home — I needed to bring that same intentionality into every part of my life.

That realization became a turning point. Somewhere along the way, I had adopted the mantra:
Live intentionally for excellence.
It resonated deeply, but in the hard seasons of life, I lost sight of it. Rediscovering it became a reminder that life is short — and that the way we show up matters far beyond our to-do lists or job titles.

And that’s the heart of intentional leadership:
How we choose to live shapes how we lead.
Not the other way around.

Purpose Starts With Paying Attention

My purpose — creating connection and community in the workplace — didn’t appear out of nowhere. It grew from observing small human moments: the employee who doesn’t feel understood, the manager who communicates in a way that shuts down dialogue without meaning to, the team that works hard but never quite aligns.

When we understand ourselves, we lead differently.
When we understand others, we relate differently.
And when we choose to live intentionally, those differences become strengths — not friction points.

Intentionality is simply awareness turned into action.
Here are three ways to practice it in daily life, at work and beyond.

1. Make a Difference — Even in Small Ways

We often underestimate the impact of small gestures because we assume they’re insignificant. They’re not.

A simple hello.
A moment of genuine attention.
A willingness to acknowledge someone who feels unseen.

These actions ripple outward. Sometimes they shift someone’s entire day — or the way they think about themselves.

Fear often keeps us from reaching out (“What will they think?”), but intentional living requires us to move toward others, not away. Small acts of kindness are leadership in motion.

2. Bring a Different Person to the Table

We all show up with natural wiring shaped by personality, upbringing, and lived experience. These internal patterns influence how we communicate, how we perceive others, and how they perceive us.

Intentional living asks a simple but powerful question:
What version of myself does this moment need?

That doesn’t mean abandoning who we are.
It means expanding who we can be.

A highly driven personality may need to soften intensity.
A quiet processor may need to speak earlier in the conversation.
An optimistic influencer may need to organize thoughts before sharing.
A conscientious evaluator may need to widen the lens from details to impact.

Leadership is never just about the message — it’s about meeting people where they are. When you shift your approach to how others best receive information, connection grows.

How we choose to live shapes how we lead — in every corner of our lives.

3. Step Up in the Moments That Matter

Intentional living doesn’t require grand gestures or major commitments. Sometimes it means noticing what’s needed — and choosing to act.

Support someone struggling with remote work by sharing what’s worked for you.
Offer guidance to a new team member who feels lost.
Create space for a difficult conversation and approach it with honesty.
And yes — when something isn’t right, be the person willing to say so.

Leadership is influence, and influence begins with courage.

Leading in Your Whole Life

The truth is, every year will bring challenges. Circumstances change, roles evolve, and the world offers no shortage of uncertainty. But intentional leadership isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions.

It’s about choosing how you show up today.

The small choices you make — how you speak to a colleague, how you respond to stress, how you treat the person standing in front of you — shape the culture around you. Whether you realize it or not, people are watching. They’re noticing your current. And they’re deciding whether it’s a safe one to join.

Leadership isn’t confined to the office. It’s practiced in the grocery store line, at the dinner table, on challenging days and ordinary ones alike.

So go be a force for good — at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
Today is the day.