Success Is a Process, Not an Event

Success is often seen as some kind of end point, a special mythical event complete with fairy dusts and tinkle bells.

It's the idea that "When I become X, everything will be OK!" or "When I accomplish Y, I will be happy!" It's like an imaginary finish line.

But that finish line doesn't exist. It isn't real.

There is no overnight success

Consider this... what does it take for someone to become a medical doctor?

This doesn't happen overnight. There's no single event that turns someone magically into a qualified doctor.

Instead, it's the culmination of many factors: motivation, hours and hours of training, debt, sweat, sacrifices, late nights preparing for exams, frustrations, tears, etc etc.

My point is that success is not a single event. It's a process.

An event is a single occurrence. It's the belief that a particular outcome can be traced back to this one thing.

A process, on the other hand, is a series of actions and operations. It's the belief that a particular outcome is the result of cumulative effort.

Real change and progress lies in the process, not in arriving at some mythical finish line.

Stop chasing after shortcuts

Being process-oriented is difficult and requires determination, consistency and perseverance. Perhaps that's why few people want to walk that path.

"What do you mean? I have to work towards my goal? No thank you!"

Much easier to be event-oriented and think that "If I do this one thing, I'll be successful."

Want to be rich? Buy a lottery ticket, or join some get-rich-quick scheme. Want to lose weight? Take a magic pill. Want to be happy? Buy things you don't need to fill the void. Or take a magic pill.

Occasionally an event will go in your favour. It's called luck. But luck is not something that you can count on.

Processes are hard. Events seem easy, but it's an illusion. If you want to reach your goals, you have to go through the process. It's not easy, especially in this age of instant gratification. The bad news is... there is no shortcut. The good news? The sooner you start the process, the sooner you'll get there.