In any transition or when starting something new it's always helpful, actually essential, to be clear on your outcome, aim or purpose - also known as intention. How essential? Have you ever started something, perhaps a home improvement project, an intricate task or something like a small and simple search, and in the midst of it been so overwhelmed you just wanted to or actually quit? You may even have said, "now why did I start this?" If you don't have an intention - aim or purpose, you will stay in overwhelm or abandon the project, task or search altogether.

Many projects stall or pause and that's sometimes great to help you reset your intention, sharpen your aim. So don't think it's always smooth sailing. The important point is to recall what your intention is in doing what you're doing to help keep you on track. Otherwise you may wind up like Nancy.

Nancy is ready to expand her business. Previously, she had focused in on one area in the leadership consulting area and now saw opportunities in career services, like helping to develop powerful ("awesome", she says) resumes. She began talking with her existing clients to see if there were interest, as well as doing research on the internet, keywords, ads, competition, etc. She spent time in the library reading up on the various types and styles of resume development. And she developed her marketing plan. She was feeling, well, awesome.

But nothing was happening. No one was beating a path to her website to try or buy her services. After a couple of months, she abandoned the project. When I asked Nancy what was her intention when she started this project, she said, "I just thought given the current challenging environment and people looking for jobs, there was a great business opportunity here." I was feeling her pain, so I gently asked if the purpose was a shorter term, couple of month's investment or was she building a business in resume support? I was not surprised by her answer. "I guess I was just looking at what's happening now and using that as my reason for starting this."

Commitment: pledge to a certain course

Nancy's intent was clear in her mind, a quick win, but it lacked the commitment that's needed to give her unstoppable success. We all jump into opportunities that really look good and promising at the outset. When we find that they're not as quick or as easy as we had hoped, we abandon them. Our intention was good, maybe even awesome, but the commitment wasn't there to sustain us over time. And in any business endeavor, it can just take time and oh yeah, "working" that marketing plan...

When you're clear about your intention, it's a fabulous and an important start. Now, couple that with a commitment to zig, zag but follow through, and you will be unstoppable.

Your next steps: When you're ready to start your next project - be it a home improvement, business opportunity research or career search, begin with being clear about your intention - "what's my aim or purpose here".

Next, decide how committed you will be to its completion. Be honest with yourself. If it's 20%, 60% or more, being clear at this point will help you: - Determine if you really want to invest your time and energy - Reduce your disappointment if it isn't completed as expected

You can be truly unstoppable when you're clear about what you want and how committed you are to having it. Now that you have the formula, where did you leave your keys?