There’s a quote by Naval Ravikant that’s been ringing in my ears lately:
"Play long-term games with long-term people."
It’s a simple idea, but it’s heavy. When you stop and really think about it, it’s not just about business partnerships or friendships—it’s about how you approach your entire life.
We live in a world of endless distractions. The feed never ends. Everyone is vying for your attention.
But here’s the truth: the way we spend our time, the words we speak, the moves we make—they’re either building the life we want or keeping us stuck in mediocrity.
The Bible puts it like this:
"Let your yes be yes, and your no be no." – Matthew 5:37
Clarity. Purpose. Intentionality.
When I finally got this, everything changed (as in like a month ago 😅). I stopped saying yes to things that didn’t align with my values. I started building systems, not just for my work, but for how I live. Every word I speak, every task I take on, every message I send—I ask myself, “Is this moving me closer to the life I’m creating?”
And here’s why this is everything as an entrepreneur or freelancer or whatever you classify yourself as:
- Your time is your inventory. Just like a store can’t stock endless products, you can’t take on every project or answer every email. Choose wisely.
- People are watching. What you say and do isn’t just about now. It sets the tone for the kind of relationships and opportunities you’ll attract tomorrow.
- The compound effect is real. Consistent, intentional actions—day after day—lead to exponential growth. It’s not sexy, but it’s the truth.
Intentionality doesn’t just make you more effective—it gives you freedom. It frees you from the trap of doing things just because everyone else is doing them. It keeps you grounded in your own game plan.
So here’s the challenge: audit your life this week. Look at your calendar. Look at your to-do list. Look at the conversations you’re having.
Are they intentional?
Are they building the future you want?
Or are they just filling the space?
It’s your life. Make every move count.
Stay intentional,
JaQuan
P.S. If this resonates, hit reply and let me know how you’re planning to apply this. Would love to hear your thoughts.
A Wisdom Moment
I decided to try to launch an online community called Time Investors where I shared crucial productivity resources for solopreneurs.
I then realized I was chasing the money and not passionate about it. I shut it down after spending a week propping it up.
I have to remind myself that I need to be focused and rational about the projects I am already working on and avoid shiny-object syndrome.
Ironically, this aligns with what I stated above around intentionality.
Fave Links
- Exit Five Community - I renewed my subscription to this amazing B2B marketing community last month after silently being apart of it for a year. Definitely worth every penny!
- The Mind Gap - Great article all the way from 2004 covering how wealth inequality is not as bad as people like to say, and that the general quality of life is the best it’s ever been.
- 25 Hours a Day - Normally I'm not a fan of personal development books, however, this was a quick read by one of my favorite hybrid athletes and the Founder of BPN, a nutritional company. Truly a book that lit a fire under my rear.
- Potty Training Video - Jasmine and I have been trying to potty train our 3yo and it has been "fun". This video is the only thing that seems to work and motivates him to go in the potty.
