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+---
+visibility: public
+---
+
+# intentionality
+
+the meta-skill. "be intentional" applied to work selection, relationships, growth — everything.
+
+## the core question
+
+"what are we even trying to do here?"
+
+this question cuts through drift, scope creep, and the feeling of being busy without being productive. when things aren't working, often the problem isn't execution — it's that you forgot to be intentional about what you're executing on.
+
+## intentionality in work
+
+- clarify expectations before starting (learned this the hard way at a startup — see [[startup-workflow]])
+- time yourself — you get stuff done much faster when you're aware of how long things take
+- look for libraries early — don't reinvent wheels. being intentional about tools saves enormous time
+- always ensure robustness — don't skip quality because you're rushing
+
+## intentionality in relationships
+
+"connect intentionally — talk to people you can learn from, but also chat with people you're not closest with." at the neurotech startup, i deliberately repaired relationships with two teammates through intentional one-on-one walks (see [[relationship-repair]]).
+
+"make people feel good" — the intentional choice to build people up rather than tear them down. there's a contrast between scary-attacking leadership and comforting leadership. both can work, but the intentional choice matters.
+
+## intentionality in growth
+
+"what i want to be doing is learning and implementing and growing." when i check in on this, the drift becomes obvious. see [[critical-path]].
+
+## the first-principles version
+
+get values → values are hard so get fuzzy values → do things that roughly fit. this is the most stripped-down version of intentional living. you don't need perfect clarity — fuzzy values still create direction.
+
+## intentionality vs. ease
+
+"there is an ease in unfocus that is unsettling — want purpose ↔ confidence." being intentional takes energy. [[resets]] and [[zooming-out]] help restore the capacity for intentionality when it's drained.
+
+monotony kills intentionality. the fix: structure the first hour robustly, make the next hour unstructured. spend 10% on crazy ideas. see [[startup-workflow]] for the 80-15-5 rule.
+
+## give it your all
+
+"give it my all (intentionality, urgency) + notice things (focus on sensations happening now)." intentionality paired with presence. not just knowing what you're doing, but being fully there while doing it.
+
+see also: [[critical-path]], [[operation-optimization]], [[narratives]], [[confidence]]
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