Take the Hill...with Intention

I’ve shared my mantra of Take the Hill a few times here.?I ground that mantra in three words: Innovate (clear vision), Experience (human interaction), Inspire (storytelling). Looking ahead to 2022, I want to anchor one more word to the phrase Take the Hill — Intention.

Throughout my life and this year, there have been moments both great and small where I have been called to Take The Hill. Sometimes this has felt impossible. Yet, I knew somehow it would be possible. It has evoked fear of the unknown and excitement for the opportunity. Other times, it’s meant sadness because the hill I had to climb led me away from something or someone.

Being called to Take the Hill has also given me an utter thrill for what lies at the top. The opportunity to face the challenge and conquer the climb – stomping with determination on every step and have my Rocky Balboa moment as I look back at the valley!

All of the hills I have taken both personally and professionally, within this year or over the course of my life, have taught me valuable lessons. Lessons that have a common theme - you can’t always choose your hill, but you can choose how you respond to the climb, allowing the power of intention to guide every step.

Intention is a determination to act in a particular way. It is an aim. A plan. It gives purpose to motion. When taking a hill, intention is how you take that first step even when you have to start the climb before you can see the top clearly.

As humans, sometimes our biggest battle is simply starting the climb as it might seem easier, safer and more appealing to camp out in the valley. It is essential that we turn away from that feeling and not be afraid of a situation challenging us. That is when change happens! The first step up any hill is an intentional decision – I will put one foot in front of the other. I will keep climbing. I will get to the top, and I will conquer any hill that I am called to take!

Something that unites us all, we have taken this two-year pandemic hill together. And while this climb has seemed long and arduous, and it has been tough to see the top of this hill, we have walked with intention and purpose with a shared vision in mind – to see our way out of this moment, to learn, innovate, remember the experience and inspire change for the future. Now that is a hill worth climbing!

As we head into 2022, I encourage you to stop and think about the year ahead as a hill that you are being called to climb and before taking your first step, pause. Pause and reflect on the intention that you will use to power your climb. How will you take that first step? What will you do to achieve the outcomes you desire? Who will be on the climb with you and who won’t? What will you see at the top?!

Remember, we can’t always choose the hill, but we can choose how we climb. Take the Hill this year with intention and the drive to innovate, experience and inspire.

I will see you in 2022 - this will be our best year yet!?

Shanna