Basically, it's saying that since problems show up in things, if you try for something MORE than what you want, you increase the chance of getting what you want. If you aim for the treetop, and gravity kicks in, you won't hit the tree top. If you aim for the sky, then even with gravity, you'll likely hit the treetop you were trying to hit in the first place.
It means that if you want to be at an position in your life you have to think of a higher position than you wanted to be.