One of the most significant mindsets shifts for business owners, leaders, and managers is moving from a results-first mentality to a process-first approach. Many assume that results must come before the process, but in reality, prioritizing the process is what drives sustainable success.
This shift in thinking often feels counterintuitive, which is why it takes most leaders and executives a long time to fully embrace it. However, once understood, it transforms how goals are achieved.
Lessons from Wealth Creation
L. Michael Hall, Ph.D., first encountered this concept while studying wealth creation. He found its essence captured in the title of Martha Sinetar’s book, Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. When he first read that title three decades ago, he was skeptical, thinking, That’s not right; it’s just not that simple.
However, years later, after extensive study, his thinking shifted. He realized that the statement accurately summarized how wealth is created. True success does not come from chasing money directly but from following the right processes—engaging in meaningful work, adding value, and creating impact. The results naturally follow.
Health and Fitness: Another Perspective
A similar realization occurred when a knee surgery prevented him from running, leading him to focus on weightlifting as his primary form of exercise. While he had lifted weights casually since his college days, this was the first time he approached it with discipline and focus.
One day, while battling the onset of a head cold, he went to the gym intending to push through his workout goals. However, he quickly realized that his body was not in the condition to perform at its best. Instead of forcing progress, he reminded himself, Person first, goals second.
For the next five days, as his cold worsened and then improved, he put his training goals on hold. Pushing himself in that condition would have been counterproductive. The results could wait—what mattered most was maintaining his overall well-being.
Results Are Symptoms, Not the Core Focus
Does this mean that goals and results are unimportant? Absolutely not. Goals matter. However, something even more important must come first—the processes that lead to those results.
Whether in wealth creation, physical fitness, or any other endeavor, results are symptomatic of well-executed processes. They are an outcome, not the core element. If individuals focus on building the right systems, the results will take care of themselves.
Short-Term Sacrifices vs. Long-Term Gains
On that particular day at the gym, his goal was to increase his dumbbell bench press by five pounds—a milestone he had been working toward for weeks. However, attempting it while battling a cold was not a wise decision. The process—proper recovery, consistent training, and strategic progression—was far more important than achieving the result that day.
This principle applies to all areas of life. Impatiently chasing results at the expense of the process is like killing the golden goose to get more golden eggs—it backfires.
The Dangers of Being Too Results-Oriented
Being results-driven is generally a good trait. However, an excessive focus on results can lead to pushing too hard, too fast, and ultimately breaking something—whether it is one’s health, career, or relationships.
Managers often make this mistake with their teams. When they prioritize immediate results over sustainable processes, employees experience burnout, disengagement, and unintended negative consequences. Long-term success requires balancing ambition with respect for the process.
Strategic Thinking: Focus on the Process
Strategic thinking begins with defining what one wants. That is an essential starting point. However, true strategic thinking also involves identifying how those results will be achieved. This is where process comes into play.
Processes are the foundation of every success. They must be protected, refined, and treated with respect. Regardless of the field—whether in business, health, or personal development—the process is what makes achievement possible.
The Role of Process in Coaching
As a Meta-Coach, the processes by which a coach supports a client, listens attentively, asks powerful questions, and induces states of awareness are far more important than whether a specific goal is achieved in a session.
Goals will come and go, but mastering the process ensures lasting success. That is why processes are the key to expertise. They must be learned, refined, and treated as pure gold.
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Meta-Coaches] 2025 Morpheus #8 PROCESS BEFORE RESULTS by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
