John Maxwell, in his The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, describes the Law of Process as “Leadership Develops Daily, Not In A Day.”
Of course, Maxwell is referring to leadership, but if you think about it, almost everything we do involves a process. Very few accomplishments of significance are created in a day, yet it seems like so many times we look for shortcuts to get done quicker.
Shortcuts can be helpful but are we compromising the quality of the product by doing so? Being more efficient is one thing but cutting out steps is another.
The process that I think is the most important is also the one I think we neglect the most. The process of developing ourselves.
I have observed that many people want to be more, do more and get more in the quickest way possible. I suppose the desire is alright on the surface but at what cost are they doing this?
With a thirty year background in construction, I feel I have a fairly good understanding of what it takes to build something. Sure we want to be more efficient and cut costs but at the end of the day, every single piece of a building needs to be constructed and in a specific order.
You can use less expensive materials and leave out some of the luxury items, but the basics all need to be installed for the building to function. How well would your building function of there were no wall outlets? How well would it work if you had water but no way to turn it on or off? Ok, silly questions, but I think you get my point.
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Here is my point, we as people are developed through a process. Life comes at us fast and I, not unlike most of us, often find myself developing only the things that are important for my current needs. So what happens when life throws something at you that you are totally unprepared for?
For us to become all that we possibly can, we must trust and honor the process. That process includes the commitment to being a life long learner and to view each new experience as a part of the journey and not just the destination.
I used to look at life as several small journeys independent of each other. I now believe that every “roadtrip” is part of the process. The question I have is “are these individual events adding to your life or taking away from it?”
Another thing I wonder about is how well I have thought out that process. I have high aspirations for who I want to become and the legacy I want to leave behind and I know that I will go through a process to get there.
The thing that I have overlooked much of my life is what that process is. Certainly we deal with the occasional unexpected, but for the most part, we are able to chart our course and go through the process that we have chosen.
So I have a couple thoughts for you to consider today: First, do you know the process you need to go through to achieve your goals and dreams? And second, are you following that process?
Carl Rogers said “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” One simple question – “You might know your destination, but are you headed in the right direction?”
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 4/23/13 photo by author
I think at times I am completely ignoring “the process”. And I’d like to believe I’m not the only one. This post definitely gives me something to think about as I plan what the rest of my life is going to be like and what I need to do to get to a point where I can enjoy my golden years.
You are definitely not the only one Angie. In fact , I would suggest you are in the majority. I have changed my view of the golden years and decided that I want to start enjoying them now. Thanks for joining in the conversation.
It reminds me of a time when a colleague and me arrived in an unknown town for a business meeting. We got in the car and I started to drive off. “Wait, wait, wait! Where are you going?” he said. I told him that I was going to our meeting, “I figured that you would direct me from the map along the way.” He asked, “which way are you turning out of the parking lot?”. Oh, well then let’s determine our direction. Great post!
Great example Brian. Had to laugh – I do the same things some times and wonder why it takes so long to get anything done. Thanks for the authenticity!
As a certified John Maxwell coach, speaker and trainer I appreciate your reference to his quote: “Leadership develops daily, not in a day.” So true. Everything is a process – one we are either aware of or developing unconsciously – but for those of us life-long learners, the process is what makes personal and professional development so fun. Thanks for a great post and reminder!
Thanks Evelyn. Great to see a fellow Maxwell coach jump into the mix. I appreciate your reference to fun – that’s what it should be. Appreciate the support!
Hi Barry, I totally agree with your point that just about everything we do involves a process. With that comes the pain and that is where many of us do get side tracked…wanting the best possible outcome but just can’t be bothered with the process much less the pain.
Great point about pain Yvonne. I have learned as a Deeper Path coach (see more at http://www.deeperpathbook.com) that pain numbs are potential. Not having the right process will produce pain and will numb our potential. Thanks for bringing this up.
Love the title of your post (since my biz name is The Write Direction).
“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” That’s a quote someone gave me in the form of a magnet so I see it daily.
I’m revisiting some of my goals and agree, there is a process to achieving them. One step at a time.
Thanks.
~Debra
Good for you Debra. I think a regular review of our goals will be very beneficial in keeping our journey headed in “the right direction.”
Oops! Guess it was the subject line of your Google post (not the title) that caught my eye and mentioned “the right direction.”
🙂
Ha! Good to know people notice that too!