02/21/2025

To Lead with Intention, Follow These Three Steps

Boost success through making conscious choices

I became an Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent in my mid-20s and was the youngest in my "new agents" class. The FBI appreciated the scrappiness and spunk I developed while growing up on a remote cattle ranch in Wyoming. However, it didn’t take long to realize that what got me there wouldn't keep me there.

Sure, my scrappiness and spunk convinced my bosses that I would stick with a complex investigation long enough to see it through. However, I was surrounded by older, more experienced agents who effortlessly turned those intricate investigations into logical conclusions at lightning speed. I lagged, and while I eventually arrived at the same results, witnessing their expertise made me realize that achieving leadership success required an extra step if I wanted to stand out.

I was fortunate to work alongside many agents who allowed me to observe and understand what made them exceptional. I quickly learned that successful agents made deliberate choices in their personal and professional lives.

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