How can you apply intent effectively in a situation of competing intents if you can't even handle your own intent internally. So basically intent is formed and you apply energy to it over and over again until it is unyielding, until it is in fact already a part of your reality. Start out, with words in your head, begin with something small and apply intent. I was a precocious child I guess. Keep in mind that this stuff all started when I was much younger, in a way this was only a progression.
Many people practice intent through affirmations.
Yes, affirmations aren't a bad thing in general, but people still need to do the basic work. This is what I see all the time, people want the results, but they don't want to pick up those rocks . Oh, that is definitely true, they have to apply the will. But then, in essence you grandfather added energy to the intent already within you. Think about it though, he used the very nature of what I was at the time to create a learning situation.