Turn Intention Into Action

Written By Diane Robin Johnson, ESQ., J.D.*, CFP®

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Diane Robin Johnson, ESQ., J.D.*, CFP®

Diane is the owner of her own fee-based financial planning firm. Prior to establishing Blackhawk Financial Advisors, Diane served as a Director of Financial Planning for Lincoln Financial Advisors. In that role, she served as “the financial planner to the financial planners” or the brains of the financial planning department. Diane’s knowledge and expertise allowed her to help other planners behind the scenes design sophisticated financial strategies for their clients including retirement planning, investment planning, fee-based financial planning, and insurance strategies.

To date, Diane has drafted over five hundred financial plans for clients.

Before Lincoln Financial Advisors, Diane was a Commercial Investment Banking Associate for the Union Bank of California – she analyzed financial statements of small and large corporations to qualify them for loans up to $50,000,000. Diane has also held the position of Municipal Bonds Investment Analyst at Sutter Securities Incorporated. There, she analyzed all aspects of municipal bond credits to facilitate the underwriting process.

Diane earned her J.D. degree from Hastings College of the Law, her B.S. from San Jose State University, and is a member of the California Bar Association. Having the legal education, the Director-level experience, and the financial background experience truly sets her apart from the rest of the financial planners because she is able to give financial planning advice, tax planning, and estate planning analysis in far greater depth and breadth that a traditional financial planner.

Diane’s home is in San Ramon where she loves playing chess, kickboxing, and Bikram yoga. Diane is a member of Family Bible Fellowship, The California Bar Association, the Contra Costa County Bar Association, and Alpha Kappa Sorority Inc.

*Licensed, but not practicing

https://blackhawkfinancialadvisors.com/
Previous

Small Steps Create Big Shifts
Next

Make Room for Growth