The work or the outcome?

The work or the outcome? Which is more important? THIS POST from Seth Godin got me thinking.

We focus on the outcome – what we want our client, partner, friend, child to do – to our cost. The cost is not doing our best work, not doing the right thing.

If we start with the outcome we want, we convince ourselves of the actions required to get it. We then believe those actions will get us what we want.

But could the outcome we want might be misguided? What about all the other possible outcomes? How do we know that none of them are at least as good, or better? 

And what about the contortions we must go through, that might be against our better judgement, to get the outcome that might not even be the best one?

That feels like the potential for exhausting thinking and wasted energy. Which surely takes us further away from doing our best work.

How about this as alternative?

Simply do the thing that feels like the right thing and accept the outcome for what it is. That involves one easy, clear step at a time, no more, no less.

My guess is that will reduce your stress levels and improves your outcomes.

If we focus on what we are doing, with no particular outcome in mind, we will do it better.

It works in business, intimate relationships and even with your kids!

And, as ever, remember if this does not work you can always go back to the way you have always done it. But do not expect a different outcome!