Focus on the Process — Not the Goal

John Wooden, Bill Parcells, and Vince Lombardi are all legendary coaches who shared a common belief: If you master the basics, there’s no need to worry about the score. This philosophy extends beyond sports to other areas of life, proving that focusing on fundamentals is a winning strategy. Do you focus on the process or the goal?

Mastering the fundamentals means achieving a high level of proficiency in the essential skills and knowledge necessary for a particular field or activity. As Bruce Lee, the martial artist, once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Conversely, a lack of proficiency or only a cursory understanding of the fundamentals can result in reduced credibility, poor performance, and compromised outcomes.

Fundamentals First

If mastering the basics is crucial to success it should be a priority, yet it often isn’t. Here are a few reasons why:

“I know this stuff already.” Some people think they know the basics, so there’s no need to rehash them.

“I’m beyond that.” Some people think practicing fundamentals is for inexperienced folks.

“Fundamentals are boring.” Some folks think that basics are ho-hum; they’re over it.

“I want to move on.” Some people want a challenge; fundamentals are rudimentary.

“This stuff is irritating.” Some folks have no patience. They want results.

Getting Back to Basics

If you’re like most people, you’re in a rush, pressured by deadlines, and pulled in a million directions. So, I understand why you wouldn’t want to deal with trivial stuff. But fundamentals are the basic principles, concepts, and skills that form the foundation of every subject or activity. So, if you don’t get them right, it’s going to affect everything that you do.

There are three reasons why fundamentals are critical to master. First, people expect you to get the basics right, and without practice, that won’t happen. As Michael Jordan, the legendary NBA basketball player, said, “Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.” Second, if people can’t trust you to perform the basics correctly, they certainly won’t trust you with additional responsibility. Third, just as a sturdy foundation is essential for constructing a tall building, everything you do is built upon the basics. If you advance to complex tasks without mastering the fundamentals, you’ll likely encounter difficulties.

If you want to make it big, remember to do the small things well.

Trust the Process

Our elite armed forces are so well trained that they don’t have to think about what they must do during combat; it’s instinctive. You can cultivate this same level of proficiency in your own life. Here are three key elements of success:

Focus on the process, not the outcome. The key to achieving optimal results is refining the actions that lead to them.

Pursue small improvements over big gains. Many people chase large, immediate gains and overlook the value of incremental progress. The fact is that small improvements made consistently over time will lead to significant achievements. As Confucius said, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”

Strive for daily progress. The amount you improve each day is less important than the fact that you are improving. While short-term gains may seem minimal, consistent effort will yield substantial long-term results.

If I asked you to run a marathon, you might think it’s impossible. But what if I suggested starting with a short run and adding a bit more distance each day? That sounds achievable, right? By consistently pushing yourself a little further each day, you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make over time. This same approach applies to many aspects of life. While you can’t control everything, like external events or competitors’ actions, you can always identify ways to improve how things are done, focus on making small improvements, and commit to constant growth. Imagine applying this formula to all your goals. Nothing would be beyond your reach. As Darren Hardy, the author, said, “Everything you need is already inside you. Don’t wait for others to light your fire. You have your own matches.”

Check out Frank’s latest book, BECOME: Unleash the Power of Moral Character and Be Proud of the Life You Choose