Results Vs. Process
When the focus is on enjoying the process of doing something rather than the actual results itself, the results turn out to be better. I have noticed that in myself and others. From my childhood days and even when I was in my early years of PhD, the focus was on results. I wanted to come first in class or a competition, write a paer about “how this technique kicks ass (result)”, etc when the actual goal should have been to learn something and enjoy it. Result driven approach used to put so much pressure on me. I always was thinking about the final outcome and if it did not come that way, it would make me feel very bad. Along the way, I discovered that the actual happiness is not in the result but in the process. That is the reason, to this day and to the amusement of my wife, I say that I only value my PhD for what it has taught me, not for the degree itself.
What are results? Most part of this approach (excluding the elitist few) is driven towards showing others what we are capable of. In that process, we put unnecessary and unrealistic pressure on ourselves. When this factor goes out of our lives, we start living the life we want to happily and passionately towards what we believe in. This is a small point but makes a huge difference.
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Yes indeed.. I agree very much with you.. It really takes the enjoyment out of the process, if one is result driven. I guess, society and family also plays a part in this. Indian society, where competition is omnipresent, conditions oneself to think this way. I believe that though “results” are a good motivator for a short term, it cannot sustain the motivation for a longer duration.
Greetings,
Your like came up as connected with my latest post (“Type Trek: ENFP!”), and I thought I’d look up what you wrote.
http://rakkav.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/type-trek-enfp/
I must say that I DON’T agree with you…for good, solid, empirical reasons. Some personalities are naturally geared toward enjoying the results and some are naturally geared toward enjoying the process. There’s nothing wrong with either approach; what’s wrong is a personal or cultural bias toward one or the other.
Apparently both American and Indian societies overall are results focused. But results focus is only “elitist” in the eyes of those who overemphasize process focus, and even then only when certain people with results focus are in charge. The reverse would be true in a community where process focus was given undue weight and when certain people with such a focus were put in charge.
You’re obviously a personality that enjoys the process. In terms of interaction style, that makes you either Chart-the-Course or else Get-Things-Going (like me). [These are Linda V. Berens' terms, used in her model.] But there are two other interaction styles that are focused on results or outcome, and they are in no way either superior or inferior to what you prefer. They’re just different. You might as well argue that a foot is somehow bad just because it’s not a hand.
Perhaps a peek at one of Dr. Berens’ illustrations might pique your interest (it comes from a workbook sold by her Interstrength Associates and others):
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb291/johanan_rakkav/LCG%20-%20LCGSingles/?action=view¤t=05_4_x-styles.jpg
Respectfully submitted,
John Wheeler (“Johanan Rakkav”)
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Well, I respect your opinion to the point that you have to see the end goal. However, I don’t think that the end goal is the one that should drive you.
Thanks!