Don't Always Focus on the Bottom Line

In my ebook, Invest in Yourself, I speak of the need to be process oriented versus results oriented. The latter is a bottom line orientation while the former places emphasis on how you get to the end result. For example, were you ethical and moral? No minor points, indeed! You may reach the result and swell with pride but can you sleep comfortably knowing how you reached the end?


Results are certainly important. Most of us are judged by whether (or not) we bring results. Not many people get rewarded for using a great process. But good processes yield good results. Good results don't come from bad processes. Worry about results but do so through the right process.

Here is a work example-
The employee would give you the shirt off his back. The problem was he would do so at the expense of his work. He had the most disorganized desk in the department. He just seemed to have a problem staying focused and prioritized. Every time you talked to him, his negative attributes would drive you crazy to the point you were ready to give up on him and move on. Your results oriented way of thinking never allowed you to honestly consider what he did well. A process oriented view showed he was extremely customer focused more so than any one else in the department. Every thing he did was driven by a desire to make people happy and to help others in their work tasks. As a process oriented manager, you should put him in a position to maximize his skills and talents. This will almost guarantee great results from him.


Now a personal example-
Too many times, we pray for something that we need or want. It could be a new job or a great promotion. We want it so bad that we get on our knees and ask for divine help. Whether we are strong believers (or not), praying for it seems like the right thing to do. But when the result (what we asked for) does not come according to our schedule, we give up on the prayer and move on to our way of reaching the need. It is a binary response for us. Either the prayer was answered or it was not answered. But praying is a process. We should not pray only in extreme circumstances but be more consistent in our spiritual conversations. The process of praying calms us down and helps us establish a relationship with God. We still seek a result but pay more attention to the little things in life. For example, I pray often for my business. Since I stepped out on my own, the ride has been part terrifying and exhilarating. I try real hard to pray at least once a day about the contents of my heart and mind. I ask for results that are very important to me and my family. The more I exercise this process, the more I seem to notice the small victories won each day. Great emails from clients. Great lunches with current and potential clients. Multiple inquiries into my services.

A result always waits at the end and it is not always what we ask for. But a prayerful process for reaching the result is more important for us as people and professionals.



Stephen Deas

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