Process, Product, and Success

We had a tough schedule ahead of us--commitments that had us going from one end of the city to the other, with just a Metrocard and the hope of enough energy and enthusiasm to carry us through. And when all was said and done, we had done it, Metrocard intact (and refilled), enthusiasm and energy still there, and all getting along reasonably well. I classified it as a success--no, actually a miracle.
 
What's interesting is that our day consisted largely of things for which we won't see results for days, and for which the results might not be the ones we want.  I ought to be nervous or worried or unsatisfied, but the truth is, we were so successful in our travel and compatible while traveling that at the end of the day, I'd almost forgotten about results. At the end of the day, it was about process, not product.
 
On any given day, a good product is generally the goal. Whether it's a well-made video or a well-written essay, a good grade at school or a raise at work, the product is what we tend to see and celebrate. Yet, what's often more satisfying, and almost always more in our control, is the process. We can choose how to get from Point A to Point B. We can decide whether to be stressed or just focused. We can choose whether to work alone or to engage others in our work. We can't always say how the endeavor will turn out, but we can say a lot about how we'll feel along the way.
 
Today, I chose to focus on getting through our day with our energy and our sense of humor intact. Who knows what the coming days will bring in terms of the results of the day? For today, it was about process, not product. And in the process, I can say we enjoyed a happy, successful, productive Saturday.