When you sit down and ponder all things business you discover that when working on a long-term project or a distant goal process is everything. Your ultimate goal is important of course but it’s loving the process that gets you there. Let me explain.
Recently, I’ve been working on a new podcast, where over the past few months I’ve been reminded of the importance of loving the process. Like business, creating a podcast is an adventure in its own right. One could say, with the risk of being berated for using one of the most overworked and cliché buzzwords of all, a “journey”.
This is because when you start you are filled with excitement and drive but pretty quickly reality sets in when you realise the task ahead is greater, more difficult and complex than you ever imagined. Then once you get your head around that and start actually doing it, new challenges begin to appear and holes in your plan show up. What you thought would take a matter of weeks ends up taking months or a lot longer, possibly months or years. As a result, you get peaked out, anxious and overwhelmed which usually makes you less effective and less productive.
The solution is to focus on the process and enjoy each step of the way. Think of it like a road trip where you have an ultimate destination. You could choose to drive like a maniac without breaks and all you do is get there tired and grumpy (if you get there at all). Or you could choose to savour the journey and enjoy of process of getting there, arriving safely, happy and refreshed.
To savour the journey is not just a joyous experience but also a productive one. Does that mean goal and deadlines aren’t important? Of course not, it’s just that once they are in place, be aware of them, check in every so often but it’s the process of doing that will get you there, so you might as well fall in love with the process. Here are some major benefits.
1. It takes the pressure off
It’s overwhelming to look at a project and all that needs to be done to succeed. If you just focus on what needs to be done now, it takes the pressure off.
2. It’s more enjoyable
When you do something you enjoy it becomes effortless and just seems to crank along. So, if you learn to enjoy the process you get in the zone and everything becomes easier.
3. It gives you small achievable steps
Loving the process lets you focus step-by-step, inch-by-inch, and so achieving your goals becomes achievable.
To savour the process is not just a joyous experience but also a productive one. If you learn to love the journey, not only will you be more productive, more focused, more effective but you’ll also enjoy yourself more.
Nigel Collin, Business Coach and author of “Game of Inches
