To Achieve, Start with Intention

While most will remember the film Apollo 13, which dramatizes an ill-fated NASA mission, for the memorable line, “Houston, we have a problem,” there’s another line that resonates with me more. During a particularly challenging part of the mission, Tom Hanks, who plays astronaut Jim Lovell, asks his fellow astronauts a penetrating question: “Gentlemen, what are your intentions?” As I’ve considered this line, it seems more than just than a leader attempting to quell a brewing conflict. It’s a basic—if not fundamental—query: What do you really want to achieve in life?

A Lack of Intention?

I reside in New York City and each year, the city hosts the US Open tennis tournament. This year, on the men’s side, one player gained plenty of notoriety: Nick Kyrgios. An Australian and currently ranked #20 in the world, Kyrgios is “the most talented player since Roger jumped on the scene,” according to a former coach of Roger Federer, the 19-time major champion. Yet Kyrgios, plagued by a balky shoulder and attitudinal issues (i.e., a smashed racket), lost in the opening round, matching his performance at another of this year’s majors, Wimbledon. Coming off a recent win over world #1 (and eventual 2017 US Open champion) Rafael Nadal, this had to be a disappointing result.

Before the tournament, The New Yorker profiled Kyrgios. In reading it, Krygios’ commitment, much less his love for tennis, appears uncertain. At 22 years old, it might be that he’s more interested in the perks (e.g., excellent pay, sponsorships, international travel, etc.) of professional tennis. While love might not be required, an unyielding dedication to the game seems a necessary component. So it begs the question: Is it Krygios’ intention to compete for and win tournaments consistently, including major championships like the US Open? Or is he satisfied to compete on occasion while relishing the perks? To me, it’s an open question.

To be sure, in speaking with the press after his loss in New York, Kyrgios confessed: “I keep letting people down. I don’t know.” Perhaps clarity will come for him, but for now, Kyrgios could do worse than study those who’ve achieved much after first establishing a clear intention for themselves.

The Benefits of A Clear Intention

I must admit: My feelings on intention have been influenced by a podcast I’ve recently discovered. Called What It Takes, the podcast tells the stories of exceptional people by using their own words. As a fan of history and biographies, I’ve found the episodes to be an intimate window into excellence, perseverance, and of course, intention.

Consider Admiral William H. McRaven (ret.), now the chancellor of the University of Texas System. As the head of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), McRaven planned and led many successful missions into often harrowing and uncertain conditions. In his recollections, McRaven followed a key principle: Convey mission intent to all team members. A failure to do so—even if just a single team member was unclear—meant that the chances of success would fall, perhaps precipitously.

Prior to joining the Navy, McRaven majored in journalism. This field of study allowed him to hone his communication skills, both oral and written, which he used to great effect in his military career. McRaven’s distinguished record speaks for itself, and to me, his commitment to communicating intent well played a key role in establishing such a track record.

Similarly, after working in kitchens across the world, Thomas Keller knew he was a talented chef who could prepare delicious food. However, he had failed, quite prominently, as the head of two restaurants in New York and in Florida. In debt and disappointed, Keller decided to make clear his intention: Redeem his reputation. As fate would have it, a friend referred him to the owners of a California restaurant who were looking to retire. Raising sufficient funds took over a year, but in 1994, Keller opened the redone restaurant. Its name? The French Laundry. And under Keller’s leadership, it became (and remains) one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world, underscoring the power of a clear, potent intention.

I only wanted to be a writer. (John McPhee)

Intention Can Even Survive Rejection

I’ve written before about John McPhee, the famed nonfiction writer and teacher at Princeton. Even though he’s now in his 80’s, he remains clear on what his longstanding professional intention has been. “From the age of 8, I only wanted to be a writer.” Intention in place, McPhee worked toward that goal, aiming as well to see his work appear in The New Yorker. But the magazine rejected his submissions for fifteen years. (That’s not a typo.) Fortunately for his legion of readers, McPhee persisted with his writing career, finally seeing his words published in the magazine in 1963 (he joined the magazine two years later). But for someone who’s achieved so much (a Pulitzer Prize, the George Polk Career Award, 25+ published books, etc.), McPhee’s story begs the question: Would he have achieved so much or overcome so many rejection slips if his intention was less clear or meant something less?

Gentlemen, what are your intentions? (Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell)

The Key Question  

Launched in April 1970, the intent of the Apollo 13 mission was to land on the moon. While in space, Hanks/Lovell and his fellow astronauts faced a series of harrowing issues. In the movie, a fissure that threatens the mission appears among the astronauts, which leads Hanks to ask that fateful question of intent. In other words, are you truly committed to the mission or is something else occupying your focus? To succeed and survive, the Apollo 13 astronauts needed to be singularly focused and recognizing that, Hanks’ character intervened.

For those who haven’t seen the movie or read the actual details about the mission, I won’t share any more details other than to write that clarifying intention proved pivotal.

Intent and Proper Planning Work Well Together

To be clear, clarifying intention won’t bring about instant success or results. After all, you don’t just fall out of bed and wake-up in the C-suite, on the bestseller list or in a sport’s Hall of Fame (if you have, then this post is not for you). For many, real achievement requires, among others, daily investment, proper planning and resources, good fortune, and of course, the fortitude to overcome episodes of rejection. But to get to that point, and to maximize your chances and your potential, a clear intention must come first. Otherwise, you’ll be less focused on what you’re aiming for, undermining your eventual results.

As you strive, why not ask yourself: What’s my true intention–for today, tomorrow, and the rest of my life? The answer might just clarify where you really want to go and help you achieve even more.

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In your experiences, do you believe that a clear intention must come before preparation? Is intention necessary to be as successful as you want to be? And what is your true professional intention today?

I welcome your comments and your feedback, as well as the opportunity to connect and to learn from you. Thank you for reading.