Action Trumps Intention

Action Trumps Intention

I enjoy periodically getting lost in my thoughts. Over the years, I have learned that it helps my problem-solving and creativity skills. Getting lost in thought without translating those thoughts into intentions and, eventually, actions to accomplish those goals wastes valuable time. That said, I have spent considerable time thinking about Partner For Water and how we can best optimize our work to maximize impact. A cornerstone concept I have settled on is the “action trumps intention.” 

Intention only implies the desire to achieve a goal; action, on the other hand, is the process of achieving that goal. The famous proverb often attributed to Ben Franklin, “Well done is better than well said,” concisely makes this point. Over the years, I have observed that many people talk about doing exceptional things, but only a few do those things. 

After completing our 45th and 46th water projects (which will bring clean water to over 5500 people daily) this past month, I reflected on all that Partners For Water has accomplished over the last seven years. We have now invested $206,373.00 into water projects that serve over 41,000 people every day in Nigeria. We initially started with a seed investment of $8,750 and a desire to serve a few people in a singular community by facilitating a water project. That initial investment has significantly grown over the last 7 years, and so has our desire to effect change in the world. 

We now intend to positively affect the physical and mental wellness of as many people as possible through the facilitation and provision of clean water. We plan on effecting positive change on a large scale in Nigeria (whose population happens to be the fastest-growing of any other country in the world) and beyond. As more time has passed and more partners continue to come on board, our capacity has increased. 

Facilitating Water Projects Beyond Nigeria

Over the past year, several organizations have contacted us to inquire about bringing a water project to their region. Although we have not yet proceeded with any of these projects, we are not opposed to doing work beyond Nigeria. While we seek to confirm multiple essential factors, three are critical. These are:

1. Dependable, professional, competent, and ethical local partners.

2. Demonstrated need.

3. Opportunities for multiplicative effects. Priority is given to projects likely to serve multiple communities to maximize impact. 

We must engage and partner with a local NGO (Non-Government Organization) that speaks the local language and is well-versed in local customs. We are not a Western organization that takes a paternalistic approach to the projects we endeavor; our approach is quite the opposite. We partner with and empower our partners to be our boots on the ground and our voice to the people. We cannot confidently do this without dependable, professional, competent, and ethical partners. In light of this, relationships and trust are of paramount importance.

JT