In a recent coaching conversation, my client mentioned finding her notes from work we’d done together a few years ago. We had explored what she wanted in her life and work, including:

• Work that serves people and aligns with her values
• A cozy home of her own that “smells good” (referencing cherished memories of her childhood family home—she was living in an apartment with her kids at the time)

Looking at that old list, she realized something remarkable: she’d actually achieved everything on it. She had manifested a life of her own design. Was everything perfect? Of course not. But the big things she’d envisioned had largely come to pass.

This raises the question: How do we get what we want?

Based on thousands of hours working with clients, established neuroscience principles, and my own experience, here are six practices that can help you manifest an intentional and meaningful life. I’d welcome your thoughts on how this resonates and what you might add.

One important caveat: This isn’t about getting three wishes from a genie. Manifesting what matters takes time, intention, and consistent effort. Some goals will take longer or unfold differently than you envision. But creating a clear picture of what your life can become is both empowering and essential for executive growth.

1. Be Clear in Your Requests

Bryan MacDonald, a sales expert who coached me on building my business, once told me: “The quality of our lives is directly correlated with the quality of our requests.” When we’re clear about what we’re seeking, it’s more likely to show up. The universe—and the people in it—line up to help you get what you’ve clearly defined.

Find your method for clarity: vision boarding, journaling, or conversations with a trusted friend or coach. Check whether what you’re seeking genuinely aligns with your values. Distinguish between what’s merely pleasurable and what’s truly fulfilling (hint: fulfilling things generally require more work but are more lasting). Create a clear list—in writing, pictures, or symbols—but make it concrete.

2. Bring a Shovel

I was sharing a vision for my coaching business with a good friend, describing all the work involved. She laughed and said, “Yeah, if you want a garden, dream about flowers, then go get the shovel.”

Anything worth having requires focus and effort. It feels great to finish a marathon or receive that promotion, but consider all the training and preparation that preceded race day or the announcement email. While having a clear vision is critical, be prepared to do the work.

3. Challenge Your Beliefs and Assumptions

Has this happened to you:? You know exactly what you need to do, yet you’re still not doing it. Often, we’re crystal clear intellectually about our next steps, yet we procrastinate—choosing to work on it “tomorrow” or “when things are less busy.”

When we know what to do but still don’t act, it’s usually a limiting belief holding us back. For me, the self-talk sounds like: “The execution has to be perfect before I can launch this idea. I need to figure out one more thing and make it just a little better before sharing it with the world.”

The key is understanding those limiting beliefs and then asking yourself:

• Is the story I’m telling myself real?
• Is holding onto this story more important than achieving what I really want?
• What’s one small step I can take right now—this week—to get started?

4. Take the Long View of Progress

We can get frustrated when immediate results don’t match our expectations. That frustration can exhaust us and stall our progress. However, when you use the long lens—looking at results over time—you’ll likely find you’re much farther along than you thought.

A client recently shared how miserable he felt because he was working very hard, facing challenging projects, and his business wasn’t where he wanted it to be. When we explored what had occurred over the past couple of years, he recognized his revenues were up 250%, his opportunities were greater than ever, and he was working with a caliber of client he couldn’t have imagined just two years earlier.

So, if you’re feeling frustrated, try taking a longer lens to your results. You might find you’re actually getting what you want, but not on the timeline you imagined. Speaking of which…

5. It Won’t Show Up the Way You Imagined

When we envision our future, we often have a specific view of the journey ahead. Here’s the reality: it likely won’t unfold that way. It can be wildly different, with unexpected twists and turns. Setbacks are to be expected. At other times, your accomplishments will be astounding. Your growth won’t be a straight superhighway—expect a winding mountain road. And that will be okay.

6. Be Ready to Ask for Help

This is challenging for me because I was raised with the belief that we should be hyper self-sufficient. Yet as I mentioned earlier, when we’re clear about what we want, people around us will line up to help.

An example: One requirement of coach training is building a certain number of real coaching hours, which means asking people to be coached. As a rookie coach, I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to work with me, so I hesitated to ask. Fortunately, my brilliant wife sent a couple of emails, and within days I had an ample list of people ready to work with me.

Give people the opportunity to support you by sharing your clear requests with the world.

It all starts with knowing what you want and being willing to let the world know. This isn’t a panacea—it requires self-assessment, hard work, vulnerability, and agility. But it can lead to you living your biggest life possible.