49: You Only Get One Shot 

read time 3 minutes

Welcome to the With Intention weekly newsletter where I share ideas & learnings to help you live & lead with intention

At a glance:

• Essay: One shot
• Quote: Don't waste it
• Visual: A lot can happen in one year

One Shot

“I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory.”
— Alexander Hamilton

We saw Hamilton in New York this past February. Incredible show.
But that one line stuck with me, and it hasn’t let go.

Hamilton lived with urgency.
He moved fast.
He built like his days were numbered.
Because they were.

And truth is, so are ours.

I just turned 49 this week.
And this happens to be the 49th straight issue of this newsletter.
Not planned, but pretty poetic.
It’s a reminder that time is moving. Life is moving. And we’re either drifting… or building.

This week I returned to a practice I first learned through Chet Scott’s Built to Lead experience:
Daily writing.
Every day — reflect, wrestle, build. From the inside out.

It’s not journaling for journaling’s sake.
It’s about becoming.

Chet also shares a story I’ve never forgotten:

King Phillip of Macedon — Alexander the Great’s father — hired a servant to whisper in his ear every morning:
“Phillip, one day you will die.”

Not to scare him.
To focus him.

And here’s the thing, especially if you’re leading a team, building a business, or trying to grow something meaningful:

You can’t perform at your peak if you’re coasting on autopilot.

Most burnout I’ve seen doesn’t come from doing too much.
It comes from doing the wrong things for too long — without stopping to ask:

• Who am I?

• Why am I here?

• Where am I going?

I'm fortunate to work with a lot of high performers and growth-minded leaders.
The ones who thrive long-term are the ones who lead with clarity and intention.

They’re not chasing status. They’re building significance.

And they know this truth:

You only get one shot.
Don’t waste it.

🔥 A Challenge for You:

Take a moment today and ask yourself:

1. Who am I becoming?

2. What am I building?

3. Will it matter in 10 years?

That kind of clarity doesn’t slow you down. It unlocks real momentum.

📘 Book I Recommend:
Becoming Built to Lead by Chet Scott.
If you want to grow from the inside out and lead with more clarity, conviction, and courage...start here.

💬 One Final Thought:
Whether you’re leading a team, building something new, or simply trying to stay grounded in the chaos, the questions you ask yourself will shape your future.

Keep asking:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?

Thanks for being here. Thanks for reading.
49 years & 49 newsletters down… and still just getting started : )

— Jon

A lot can happen in one year 

source: Sahil Bloom "5 Types of Wealth"

Thanks for reading!

Jon Giganti 

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