There’s No Perfect Process

No matter what a supposed expert says or writes, the only best process to achieve what you want in life and to become the person you want to be is the one that works for you, and that process can change over time.

Productivity. Goals. Achievement. Self-improvement. Success. Those objectives have been hammered into me throughout my life. Starting at a young age, directly or indirectly, I was cajoled to worship at the altar of those ambitions. The results have not always been good.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for people aiming for something in life and working toward it. If something brings you joy or is strategic in creating a better life for you, I’m all for it. As musician and artist Laurie Anderson said last night during a concert I attended, life is about having a good time. I contend it’s a good time to become better versions of ourselves and to help others do the same.

But the hyperfocus on lofty achievements, especially those fueled by variations of external rewards and keeping up with the Joneses, is not a recipe for happiness.

One of the things productivity and improvement experts (I use that word loosely in many cases) put forth to their audiences is some sort of “system” or “process.” Here’s one that’s offered consistently by such experts talking about achieving a goal.