“Duty is ours; results are God’s.”
– John Quincy Adams
I’ll never forget the day I first heard that quote. I was sitting on the beach listening to a podcast.
It was a bright, sunny day outside, but internally, all I saw was darkness. I was worried about hitting a financial goal I’d set and stressed from trying to pack too much work into my days.
The result I wanted seemed impossible.
As I listened to the podcast, I realized I’d been focusing on the wrong thing for years — my net income from my business.
Now, I’m not saying it’s unimportant. Not at all.
But, when you focus only on the outcome, you often lose the ability to achieve it.
Doesn’t make sense right away, does it?
What I realized while listening to the podcast was I needed to do the things that would generate the result I wanted. And, if I focused on the process, the result would follow.
It was the ultimate stress-reliever.
I could just do the things I knew would build my business, and not worry about the result.
I could trust the process.
Let’s look at three examples of common goals and how shifting from worrying about the outcome to committing to a proven process can help you meet your goals with less stress.
Goal: Landing Clients
When you need clients, it’s easy to worry about landing them. But, how successful will you be if you wake up every morning and say, “I’ve got to get a client today,” but don’t have a system to market your services?
There are many ways to land clients … from cold calling to content marketing. They all work — as long as you commit to the daily tasks of the process.
That’s why Joshua Boswell says the best method of landing clients … is the one you’ll do.
Steve Maurer has had success landing clients using LinkedIn. But, he doesn’t sit staring at his computer, hoping someone will contact him.
No, he keeps his profile current, works on making connections with prospects, and adds value to conversations in his niche. Day after day.
He trusts the process.
Goal: Effective Copy
At a Bootcamp a few years ago, Carline Anglade-Cole asked her client to give her the results from her latest campaign live on stage.
The result was … it wasn’t a winner.
Her immediate reaction was to think she was a terrible copywriter. For at least a few minutes, she believed it.
No one else in the room did though — including her client.
We all believe she knows how to write a strong headline and engaging copy and create an effective order device. Her client knows that, over time, Carline will have more winners than losers.
Why?
Because she follows a proven process that produces excellent copy.
Think about it — even the best headline doesn’t convince every single reader to keep reading.
The most successful copy isn’t even read by most of the people who receive it.
But, over time, engaging copy that integrates proven fundamentals gets results.
Carline knows she’ll have another winner, because she knows she can trust the process.
Goal: Better Health
Have you ever wanted to lose weight, improve your health or be more fit?
There’s only one way to accomplish the goal — follow a proven system that involves changing what you eat and how much you exercise.
Just like landing clients, there are many ways to lose weight and get fit. And, they all have one thing in common — you have to consistently do the right things.
You can’t wake up each day and say, “I want to be 20 pounds lighter; maybe I’ll go buy some healthy food.”
It doesn’t work. I know … I’ve tried it.
Instead, you have to have a well-defined plan. A step-by-step process you follow each and every day.
You have to trust the process.
As you look forward to the next year, consider the duties you can do each day that will lead you to the results you want.
Your goal defines your process. Your process becomes your focus.
Execute the steps of your process each day, relentlessly and confidently.
The results will come. You’ll achieve your goals. And, you’ll skip all the stress.
You can trust the process.
