As goal-oriented people, we have a laser focus on achieving what we set out to achieve. What I have come to realize is the laser focus on the result could very well be the thing holding you back from reaching it. In this post, I want to share another uncommon mindset with you. The pursuit of your goals, it’s actually the focus on the journey—not the destination—that holds the key to success.
Here is the truth: the obsession with the outcome can cause unnecessary friction, leading to stress, discouragement, and a lack of motivation. It can even derail your progress.
Instant Gratification vs. Long-Term Success
In today’s world, instant gratification is everywhere. Social media, marketing campaigns, and even the apps we use are designed to give us quick hits of dopamine, rewarding us immediately for our efforts. This constant desire for instant results can be a double-edged sword when it comes to achieving long-term goals.
We see others who have succeeded—whether it’s landing a major client, publishing a book, or hitting a sales target—and we compare our journey to theirs. We see only the tip of the iceberg: the outcome, the success. But what we don’t see are the years of hard work, setbacks, and persistence that led to those achievements. My mentor, Jack Canfield (New York Times Bestselling author of Chicken Soup for the Soul), faced 144 rejections before his book series became a global phenomenon. Yet, it’s easy to compare ourselves to the result and feel disheartened when we don’t see immediate success or becoming a #1 best seller on day 1.
Why the Fixation on Results is Holding You Back
When we focus too much on the result, we lose sight of the small, consistent actions required to get there. For instance, writing for 15 minutes a day may not feel like much. But when you step back and look at your progress over time, you’ll realize that each step adds up to something significant. Mr. Canfield was able to succeed because, in the face of 144 rejections, he daily reached out to 5 publishers and focused on that process instead of the end result. The daily actions are what create the foundation for the bigger success. But if you only focus on the result, you might feel like you’re not getting anywhere and become discouraged.
When you obsess over results, you build unnecessary friction, worry, and other feelings that will hold you back from putting your best foot forward. The path to success is full of small steps, and if we get frustrated with the lack of immediate payoff, we risk giving up altogether.
Shifting Your Perspective: Celebrate the Small Wins
To achieve your goal, you need to shift your focus from the outcome to the process itself. Start by celebrating each small step, even if it doesn’t feel like much at the time. It’s the little actions—writing a chapter, making a sales call, or finishing a workout—that add up and move you closer to your goal.
This mindset shift helps you stay motivated and prevents burnout. When you stop obsessing over the results, you free yourself from the weight of unrealistic expectations and the constant pressure to “arrive” at your destination. And when you celebrate the small victories, you’ll experience the “dopamine hit” of accomplishment that fuels your motivation and encourages you to keep going.
How Do You Stay Motivated When Results Feel Far Away?
Another big challenge in goal-setting is managing the gap between where you are and where you want to be. This gap can create a sense of impatience and frustration which causes us to feel like we are not getting anywhere. This is the other side of the challenge of accomplishing anything meaningful. Before we compared ourselves to others, now we are just looking at our seeming lack of progress.
When you focus on the process, you’ll start to see improvements that might have been invisible before. Maybe your business isn’t yet seeing huge revenue growth, but your email list is growing, or you’re getting more engagement on social media. Those are signs of progress! It is crucial that we slow down and reflect. Look at how far you’ve come. Take time to celebrate that and acknowledge your efforts.
A New Perspective on Success
Success is not just about the result. It’s about the effort, the growth, and the transformation that happens in the process. Even the times we don’t reach our goals, the growth and learning can never be taken away. It’s about showing up every day, even when you’re unsure of the outcome. When you stop worrying about “how” it’s going to happen. Focus on what you can control. Your actions, your mindset, and your progress.
If you want to achieve your goal, focus on the small steps. In that focus and your desire for the outcome, you will eventually get there because you’ve been showing up and taking consistent, meaningful action.
It’s easy to get discouraged when the results aren’t immediate, but it’s important to remember that success comes from consistency. Next time you feel discouraged, take a moment to look at how far you’ve come, celebrate your small wins, and focus on the journey ahead. The results will follow.