Intentional - by Chris Bailey (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A powerful guide to turning ambition into action--by focusing not on willpower but on what matters most."--Charles Duhigg, author of Supercommunicators and The Power of Habit

Setting goals is easy. Following through on them? A whole lot harder.

It turns out, the secret to finishing what you start isn't sheer willpower or the latest productivity hack. It's becoming more intentional.

With Intentional, bestselling author Chris Bailey distills a decade of deep research on productivity to deliver a profound, practical, and counterintuitive road map to getting things done. Forget extensive to-do lists and a never-ending workload. To reach your goals, you must structure your daily actions around what's most important to you--and let go of the rest. This way, getting things done becomes second nature.

Integrating the science of desire, values, and procrastination with the wisdom of Buddhist monks, Bailey lays out step-by-step strategies for intentional accomplishment, covering how to:

- Structure short-term goals to increase the likelihood of completion
- Make unappealing, boring, or frustrating tasks more attractive
- Lower the chance of procrastinating on long-term goals
- Create a system for tracking progress
- Know when a goal isn't for you--and when it's time to let it go

What matters most to you? Intentional shows that the answer has the power to unlock not just greater productivity but a deeper and more satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Review Quotes

Praise for Intentional

"Chris Bailey tackles a critical aspect of personal transformation that's too often overlooked. An important new contribution to the genre!"
--Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author of Slow Productivity

"Mr. Bailey is a gentle guide, frequently reassuring readers that his advice is uncomplicated and painless to implement. . . Sensible--and well-intentioned."
--Wall Street Journal

"A more humane way to make progress."
--Oprah Daily

"With warmth, humility, and solid science, Chris Bailey shows why our goals so often slip away--and how intention, values, and attention are the real drivers of meaningful progress. This is not a book about hustle; it's a thoughtful, practical guide to aligning what you do with who you are. If you've ever wondered why your best intentions don't always become reality, this book gives you both clarity and a way forward."
--Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Wont Get You There

"A powerful guide to turning ambition into action--by focusing not on willpower, but on what matters most."
--Charles Duhigg, author of Supercommunicators

"Intentional is a must-read! Bailey does a masterful job providing a road map for anyone who has ever wanted to reach a goal and be confident of how they got there."
--Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play

"In a world obsessed with more, Chris Bailey reminds us that success is not about doing everything, but about doing the right things with purpose. This isn't just a book about productivity--it's a blueprint for living a more meaningful life."
--Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential

"In Intentional, Chris Bailey offers a clear, engaging guide to following through with purpose--whether you're tackling everyday tasks or striving for deeper fulfillment."
--Katy Milkman, PhD, author of How to Change

"[Intentional] offers both scientific insight and everyday strategies for becoming more intentional in work and life."
--Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of Tiny Experiments

"A masterclass in harnessing intention to drive action--practical, insightful, and deeply human. Read this book, and you'll never struggle to achieve your goals again."
--Dr. Joseph Jebelli, author of The Brain at Rest

"In Intentional, Bailey shows how deciding in advance, designing your environment, and removing ambiguity can transform how you act every day. A smart, actionable book for people ready to follow through."
--Nir Eyal, bestselling author of Indistractable and Beyond Belief

"Desires are one thing. Making them happen is another. Fortunately, Chris is here with gentle and insightful tips to help you achieve what you set out to accomplish. Highly recommended for anyone who has big goals and wants the best possible chance of making them come true."
--Laura Vanderkam, author of Tranquility by Tuesday

"Intentional shines a light on the hidden architecture of follow-through, offering rituals and simple practices that align today's choices with long-term meaning. When you can finish what you start, your work and life feel more purposeful."
--Tiago Forte, author of Building a Second Brain

About the Author

Chris Bailey is an author and lecturer who explores the science behind living a more productive and intentional life. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject and has garnered coverage in media as diverse as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, HuffPost, New York magazine, Harvard Business Review, TED, Fast Company, and Lifehacker. He is the bestselling author of The Productivity Project, Hyperfocus, and How to Calm Your Mind, and his books have been published in forty-two languages. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.