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Gen-Y Perspective: A Process-Oriented Mindset Can Change Your Life

Career — 28 June 2010

After 17 years of being taught by somebody else Cameron is pumped about exploring the world of knowledge on his own terms. A consumption whore at heart, he is transitioning to becoming a producer at his blog Econ Apps, where he applies the wonders of economics to life.

I get frustrated at times with the creative process. I wish creating wasn’t such a struggle and would just come easier than it does at times. Sometimes I feel like giving up on a project because sucking at something is never a fun thing, when you know what a great result looks like.

For me the frustration comes from my impatience. I want to reach my full potential soon…like right NOW. I want to meet my goals of making useful products that will create passive income, having a blog with hundreds of subscribers, and not have to really worry about money all the time. I just want these things, and more, now. I’m excited to meet my future.

But of course I can’t instantly be a “huge success”.  This requires practice, persistence, help from others and so many other things.

The process of evolving into the person you want to be, the work you want to create and the life you want takes time and is the source of much frustration when we over-analyze and become too critical of ourselves.

The Problem

Society is so focused on results: getting things done (we have a book for this), checking tasks off our to-do lists, always moving to the next thing. We are a results-oriented culture.

Take sports and specifically the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament as an example. Over 60 university basketball teams play in a tournament where there can only be one winner. Only one team will achieve the ultimate result. Because of this fact no team is satisfied with its success in the tournament unless they win the whole thing. The process of that it took to even get a chance to play in the tournament is not seen as important at all. It’s all about the end goal of being a champion. Even if a very low seed makes it to the semi-finals or finals, they will be crushed if they don’t win the whole thing.

The evidence of our results-oriented culture is clear in job descriptions as well. For most job descriptions “result-oriented” is on the list of desirable traits requested by employers (I would know since I’m a recent graduate and looking for work). This request is very reasonable: employers need stuff to get done so they can make money. I totally get it, I’m not bashing the significance of being results-oriented.

My problem with the result-oriented mindset is that it ignores the importance of learning from the process of getting results.

The Solution

A process-oriented mindset would bring many benefits to the workplace, education and life in general. By being conscious of the process it takes to meet an end result you acquire many benefits that are overlooked when results are valued above all else.

One such benefit is learning. When you are in the moment and trying to understand the process you are undertaking, you learn what works and what doesn’t work. Thus, when you are back at square one trying to do something new, you will have a thorough understanding of how to get results faster and with less pain. At this point, learning and doing new things becomes an enjoyable process.

The other benefit is simple yet profound. When you are actively aware of the creating and working process, you slow down and notice the small intricacies of life that we often overlook because we are too busy to see. Being process-oriented forces you to take a good look at your life and work. If you hate the process of your job, personal project or life you will most likely change it. Where as if you are strictly results-oriented you ignore how unhappy you are and try to just get by. If you love the process it takes to get your results, well then, keep it up you are probably producing better work as well!

The last benefit is increased motivation. When you focus on the process, you notice the small results achieved on the way to the ultimate goal. Chris Brogan calls these “little victories.” Celebrating little victories is incredibly important to stay the course and not give up on an ambitious project. By being process-oriented you will be more likely to notice those little victories and sustain the motivation to finish and ship.

So I challenge you to focus on the process and see how it changes your life. I still battle with the process all the time. My frustration does get the best of me some days. I am making progress though. But, I believe the people who love life and are remarkable, truly enjoy the processes they take to get whatever result they are trying to achieve.

Please share examples of how you can become more process-oriented in your life and work, and how it will effect the end result.

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  • http://cameronplommer.com/2010/06/projects-i-am-working-on/ Cameron Plommer » Blog Archive » Projects I Am Working On

    [...] interested in.  I am a monthly contributor to Untemplater and have written single posts for Gen-Y Journey, iGrad’s blog and Escaping The 9 to [...]

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    Ahhh I get the difference now, between results-oriented and process-oriented. I think I do part of both, so I'm probably well balanced or something like that. I'm definitely results-oriented in that I hope to be judged by the results that I can produce and I have goals that I hope to achieve at some point in the future (aka results that I hope to achieve). But at the same time I'll never let a poor process get in the way of my life. Part of my goal for life is to enjoy the journey, and if I'm not enjoying the journey then it's not worth the results, right?

  • http://www.genyjourney.com Tyler Durbin

    I agree, Carlee!

    While I'll never ignore goals or results, the process is very important to me. I recently left a job that I was very very very very unhappy with (and yes, I feel bad for feeling that way because I was lucky to have a job). I was making money but I really didn't enjoy the paychecks because the process of earning that money wasn't enjoying the journey.

  • TheSavvyGRAD

    Great post!!! I have learned a lot about accomplishing goals through long distance running. Probably the most powerful thing I have learned is that it's not how fast you go as long as you are still moving. With this in mind it is easies to sit back and enjoy the journey.

  • http://www.beatschindler.com/beattitude-the-gorilla-test/ Beattitude. Harness the Power Within. Personal Growth.

    Beattitude – The Gorilla Test…

    I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…

  • Ali Kirby

    I love this article. Those of us with quanitative goals are all about results.

  • http://www.sophiebcarter.blogspot.com Sophiebcarter

    well done again Cameron! I read Chris Brogan as well, and am familiar with the little victories concept. I also work in learning and development, so you're preaching to the converted with the 'process is learning' argument. nonetheless I'm glad you said it, because not enough people realise the value of the process and whinge and moan about the ordeal, when actually they're rubbishing the part that is going to give them some awesome experience.

  • http://howtobeextraordinary.com/2010/08/a-process-oriented-mindset-can-change-your-life-the-extraordinary-stamp-of-approval/ A Process-Oriented Mindset Can Change Your Life: The Extraordinary Stamp of Approval | How To Be Extraordinary

    [...] A Process-Oriented Mindset Can Change Your Life [...]

  • http://dmipr.com/ Donovan Moore

    Good reminder, be the ball Noonan.

  • http://HowtoBeExtraordinary.com Cameron Plommer

    A little process-oriented thinking would make those results even better.

  • http://HowtoBeExtraordinary.com Cameron Plommer

    All the great stories of our lives come from the process, not the result.

    Thanks for the comment Sophie.

  • http://HowtoBeExtraordinary.com Cameron Plommer

    Great analogy. Love that!

  • http://howtobeextraordinary.com/2010/09/false-starts-tinkering-and-creative-destruction/ False Starts, Tinkering and Creative Destruction | How To Be Extraordinary

    [...] starts, tinkering, Creative Destruction, it all sucks when we are in the process.  It’s much easier to ignore the tough questions about your life.  But if you are reading [...]

  • Twsisson

    Cameron, You have great insight! We are close to releasing a whole revolutionary educational system based on process-oriented learning. It is designed so you can discover your passion while making a difference in the world. Youth and adults.go online to find and join projects that interest them. Cross-mentoring occurs within the team as they plan, find solutions, implement tasks, to create a model of what they want to give to their community or the world. Yes, it is still result-oriented but not overbearing on the team members since most of the monitoring metrics are done in software.

  • http://twitter.com/lola_montanes Lola Montanes

    Becoming process-oriented in life is explained as follows – Do your duty and be detached from its outcome, do not be driven by the ends, but cherish the process of getting there. Simply put, a man’s gotta do, what a man’s gotta do. Or in other words, do your s***, and screw what everyone else thinks!!

  • http://cameronplommer.com/2010/09/false-starts-tinkering-and-creative-destruction/ False Starts, Tinkering and Creative Destruction | Cameron Plommer

    [...] starts, tinkering, Creative Destruction, it all sucks when we are in the process.  It’s much easier to ignore the tough questions about your life.  But if you are reading [...]

  • http://www.nikitatmitchell.com Nikita T. Mitchell

    This is such a great point, especially when you consider the law of inertia. Sometimes we may slow down on our journey but if we still keep moving we’re more likely to keep pushing long-term toward our goals!

  • http://www.GenYSuccessZone.com Tinker Barnett

    Thank you, so good to hear from a Gen Y about long-term adaptation to the work experience!
    I use the Chopra method for enjoying life AND getting results; in part, the secret to success is to have firm intention & desire with detachment from the end results. So, planning, working hard, doing what I gotta do with a solid conviction that my intention will come to pass is the key. Many times the right person or event propels my business forward in a serendipitous way. However, other rules apply like giving, good karma choices and finding your unique gift for the world.

  • http://www.GenYSuccessZone.com Tinker Barnett

    Thank you, so good to hear from a Gen Y about long-term adaptation to the work experience!
    I use the Chopra method for enjoying life AND getting results; in part, the secret to success is to have firm intention & desire with detachment from the end results. So, planning, working hard, doing what I gotta do with a solid conviction that my intention will come to pass is the key. Many times the right person or event propels my business forward in a serendipitous way. However, other rules apply like giving, good karma choices and finding your unique gift for the world.

  • http://cameronplommer.com/2010/08/a-process-oriented-mindset-can-change-your-life-the-extraordinary-stamp-of-approval/ A Process-Oriented Mindset Can Change Your Life: The Extraordinary Stamp of Approval | Doing Work by Cameron Plommer

    [...] A Process-Oriented Mindset Can Change Your Life [...]