{"id":10288,"date":"2018-01-29T08:50:37","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T13:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alifeofproductivity.com\/?p=10288"},"modified":"2022-09-01T05:10:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T05:10:00","slug":"mind-process-not-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrisbailey.com\/mind-process-not-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Mind the process, not the results"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Takeaway: <\/b>Focus on the process when intention setting\u2014the actions you need to get what you want. For example, “finish TPS report” might turn into “write TPS report for 45 uninterrupted minutes.”<\/p>\n

Estimated Reading Time:<\/b> 2 minutes, 26s.<\/div><\/div>
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\nRegular readers of this blog are probably familiar with the Rule of 3<\/a>. It\u2019s where, at the start of each day, you decide the three things you want to have accomplished by day’s end. It’s my favorite productivity tactic, and the benefits of implementing it are profound.<\/p>\n

I recently discovered a way to level up even further with this rule: by focusing on the process<\/em> of achieving my daily goals, rather than the end results.<\/strong> Let me explain.<\/p>\n

Let’s say you want to write a non-fiction book. The process of writing a book is simple: once you’ve settled on a structure that will house your thoughts, you sit down, day after day, putting words to the page and filling in that framework. It’s a messy, complicated process that’s relatively simple in execution when you put in the time and attention.<\/p>\n

Let’s pretend that, in the middle of writing this book, one of your three daily intentions is to “finish chapter 3.”<\/p>\n

The problem with this intention is that it isn’t actionable\u2014it doesn’t have metaphorical handles you can grip. The same goes with other generic goals, such as “lose five pounds this month” and “train for a marathon.” These goals are better than nothing, but they don\u2019t define any course of action.<\/p>\n

Process goals, on the other hand, do. A “process goal” is when you set out a pathway to achieve what you want. <\/strong>Goals of this kind are what you should<\/em> be focusing on.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n