Do we want the process, or just the result?

When we look at someone else’s life and think – I want that – do we stop to consider if we want how they got it?

Gary Vee is a beautiful example. I love what Gary Vee preaches about working hard, being patient and hustling like crazy, but also, I don’t want Gary Vee’s lifestyle. Nope, I’m not willing to put in the work it takes to put out 60 pieces of content a DAY, like he advises.

“99% of people aren’t willing to put in the work it takes to be a billionaire!”

That’s meant to make us feel motivated to be in the 1%. But I’ll proudly admit I’m part of the 99% who don’t want to put in the work it takes to be a billionaire. I can think of a lifetime of priorities more important to me than becoming a billionaire. Sure – if, like Oprah or J.K. Rowling, I became a billionaire by accident, it would be a different story. But I’m not setting “a billion dollars” as one of my goals. Screw that. I don’t want the process.

When we set goals, we have to think about the process. For example, if your goal is to be a New York Times Best Seller, take a look at your perfect (or at least, enjoyable) day. If it doesn’t include sitting and writing for hours on end, maybe an NYTBS isn’t really want you want. This also happens to be the way I figured out I didn’t want to be a fashion designer (it turns out I just wanted to wear cool clothes).

If we love the process, we’ll be happy whether we achieve our goals or not. Choose the process, not the result.