The Real Benefit of Achievement
The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination. ~Don Williams Jr.
Have you ever worked really hard to achieve something, only to reach your end goal and then felt … well, a little underwhelmed?
What happened to that sense of accomplishment you had been working toward? Why weren’t you able to really appreciate all your hard work and accomplishment?
Many of us grew up with the mindset instilled by our parents that life is all about the end result – get good grades, get a job, pay your bills, save money. So typically we look at the achievement of goals based on particular “events” … lose 20 pounds, get a promotion, run a full marathon, buy your first house.
Yet often, even when we achieve some level of success, it is short lived because over the years life becomes about always being on the move, always with an eye toward the next goal. In fact it’s not uncommon to fall into a post-achievement state of depression, better known as … is this all there is?!
The real benefit of achievement is how you grow in the process
Let’s say you start at Point A and your goal is to get to Point B … simplistic I know, but bear with me. In the planning process you discover that you’re going to have to learn new skills and take certain actions to reach your goal. As you journey toward the “event” of successfully arriving at Point B, the things you learn, the new skills you acquire, the new experiences and feelings all become a part of who you are and will stay with you forever.
If you look at the path of life for most people, you’ll find that about 95% is spent on the journey toward achieving goals, and only 5% in the actual results, if that much. And if you’re not celebrating your results, you’re most likely not celebrating the journey. Even if you are celebrating the results, if you think about the whole process and only looking for joy in the end results, that means you’re only joyful 5% of your life. Bummer!
Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. ~Greg Anderson
Understanding the various ways achieving your goals will allow you to grow, to become more along your journey is crucial. It has the potential to affect everything you experience when you are starting out as well as during the time you are working on your goal, and especially how you feel about the person you are becoming in the process.
This is pure joy, and the real benefit of achievement.
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Mahalo!
I need to apologize because I keep calling you CJ….whoops maybe you should write an article on Memory Care.
I will do better.
Barbara
Barbara Harnsberger recently posted..MLM Fire Formula for Success” ….Inferno Secrets
Ha! No problem Barbara … but I appreciate the article topic idea
Hello CJ,
Another amazing post from you. Your quote…Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. ~ is so true for all of us. Think of all the remarkable things that happen to us on our journey in this life.
We can be an inspiration to so many people along the way!
Keep up this wonderful work!
Barbara Harnsberger
Barbara Harnsberger recently posted..MLM Fire Formula for Success” ….Inferno Secrets
Twitter: stevetheowl12
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Great post, Marty! You are so right about this one. It seems like this is one of those things where balance plays a vital role. We have to look into the future in order to achieve goals, but we have to look at the present in order to have any fulfillment in the journey. I certainly wouldn’t want to be like the billionaire who made more money than most of us could spend in one year, who when asked how much money was enough, said, “Just a little more.”
Steve Nicholas recently posted..Authentic Tithing
Twitter: hollyfulfordjef
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If only I had learned so much of this earlier in life!! I often think how much I have missed out on my not enjoying it… or not being “consciously aware” to enjoy it! I now focus on enjoying each and every step along the way and do my best to be joyful. The moments of pure joy feel so good, and it is cool sometimes to just get out of all that is going on around get peaceful and breathe in the joy of the moment. Learning to realize that the ‘things’ we go through are the journey and not to be avoided or ignored, but to be experienced and ‘enjoyed’ as the whole process… ( sometimes easier said than done!!)
Holly recently posted..All Time Biggest Disadvantage to Missing a Work Out
Welcome back Holly, and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I think the whole point of growing up and wiser in life is the lessons you learn along the way. If we’re lucky, we learn something new every single day
Twitter: prfuller
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Hey Marty
Thinking back I have always enjoyed the journey.
Many times it involved hard work but I would always meet new people and experience new things.
Thanks for reminding me about that
Peter
Peter Fuller recently posted..How to Retire Early?
Hi Peter,
Thanks for returning and sharing your thoughts … always appreciated.
Twitter: afterbreakingup
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“Enjoying the journey!” One of the best advice anyone can receive, whichever journey one happens to be on. You are right in that the end result matters only if we had a good time getting to it. A reverse engineer specialist might say that unless you enjoy the journey, there might quite possibly be not real happiness at reaching our goal.
Thank you for your insight.
Keep the Smiles,
Stevie
Stevie Smith recently posted..And Then There Was Grandma
Aloha Stevie, and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts … always appreciate your insights! Hope you have a great weekend.
Hi Marty,
I love this post, its quotes and, of course, the journey and joy experienced in the many little goals on the way to a main end result; and, I love new beginnings! I can’t imagine my life without experiencing the opportunity and joy that the journey to achievement provides. I get so much pleasure and satisfaction from working towards an end, all the learning that comes along the way, the road bumps, obstacles and challenges that I get to overcome, and the excitement of another accomplishment ending so a new beginning can manifest. Good stuff!
Loren
Welcome back Loren,
So glad you enjoyed the article! I always appreciate your comments and insights – hope you have a terrific weekend …
Twitter: _MandySwift_
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Hi Marty, as always, another timely reminder. I love the way you put this – so much so that I had to rephrase it and post it to my facebook page!! ‘Bummer’ indeed if we celebrate the results not the journey
Mandy Swift recently posted..Online Branding Strategies – Why Do You Need A Brand?
Hey Mandy, welcome back. So glad you enjoyed my article and delighted to hear you’ve adapted a portion for your Facebook page
Always appreciate your comments and insights! Hope you have a terrific weekend …
Twitter: monadvexp
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Marty, I think that the journey is so important because so many people do not take the first step.
Well, they might take the first but they do not follow through with what they get so enthusiastic about to start with. Maybe for them just taking that second and then third step would be a real benefit of achievement.
After the first few steps, the way often become a bit clearer.
Trevor Barrett recently posted..3 Tips To Help If You Lost Your Job
Welcome back Trevor, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. You are so right about the first blush of starting something new, and I agree those first few steps are cruical. Where I believe celebrating the whole journey is important is that often getting to the ultimate destination takes far longer than we imagine it will … we’ve all heard stories and even parables about people who’ve been on a journey only to quit just short of success. Sometimes, those last few steps are just as important as the first …
Twitter: angela_paige
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Great Post Marty! One of my favorite quotes is by Jim Rohn and he says it this way, “The major value in life is not what you get. The major value in life is what you become.” I think it is so true that in getting to our achievements that we grow in the process and that is so much more valuable than what we get as the result. Thanks for sharing this!
Angela recently posted..Time to Figure Out Your To Don’t List
Welcome back Angela, and thanks for sharing your thoughts … I’m a long time fan of Jim Rohn and have several CDs with his presentations. I love the quote you used and so appropriate. Aloha!
Twitter: Yourinda
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Hi Marty,
once again I enjoyed your food for thought post.
You are so right, it is about the journey and growing in the process.
For me when I write an article, I love the thought of people enjoying reading it and getting value from what I wrote. That is part of my sense of achievement.
Our lives can be full, but unfulfilling or we can enjoy the journey.
Your article has provided that for me.
Thank you!
Love and Joy
from
Yorinda
Yorinda recently posted..What is the Meaning of Freedom?
Welcome back Yorinda,
I’m so happy you enjoyed my article … I can tell you put a lot of love into your own blog and enjoy each and every visit.
Marquita,
this is a wonderful time we live in. That journey is a lifestyle for me. Everyday I wake up a praise God. I get into worshiping his glory and prayer. That is the first hour of everyday I can wake-up. So I am in a blessed state of mind.
I go through the day smiling, even if I am in pain. I look forward to the days adventure and challenge myself to seek one person to serve from the heart. I make it usually before lunch time.
I have been there with the setting goals but not taking my whole days doing goal related focus. I must enjoy hours of pleasure and travel. Even if that traveling in my mind as I open a good book and melt away.
My business only is allowed some hours during the day at some point. I must admit that I am constantly busy enjoying each day to the fullest. I never had to dwell on over worked and meeting deadlines. Being prepared has it’s advantages and pleasure with leveraging time.
It can get beyond our control, that goal setting thing in business. That is when it is being developed at the early stages. Very time consuming. That is why I agree that all should really evaluate what is important when setting those goals. Always reminding to leave time for fun and family on a daily basis. You don’t want your whole live pass you by.
Marquita, always a sunny pleasure when I return to your blog. Great topic and I look forward to your next one. Keep us on our toes!
William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Awe
Welcome back William … always enjoy and value your comments. Thanks once again for the inspiration
Hi Marty,
Another kick-butt post! I’ve often heard that I should ‘enjoy the journey’ but your post sheds new light on why there is so much value in the ‘becoming’. It’s also such an interesting idea about why we sometimes feel let down when we have achieved a major milestone. The ‘what’s next’ is our desire to grow and become more. Love that! Thanks for sharing it.
Be well, Allegra
Allegra Sinclair recently posted..The Tug of Career Transition
Welcome back Allegra! Always enjoy and appreciate your comments and I’m delighted you found value in my article. Aloha!
Hi Marty,
I think our society is too much focused on the goals rather then the journey. Companies are some of the biggest culprits, at the annual review it mostly about the end goal and I have been in many performance reviews and the journey of each individual is jut not celebrated. This leads to people not recognising their journey with lots of underwhelming feelings at the end.
I am enjoying the series.
Thanks,
Nik
Nik recently posted..5,000 UK and Ireland jobs at risk as MBNA credit card division up for sale | Business | guardian.co.uk
Hey Nik, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! I couldn’t agree more with your comment about “companies” … in fact the last company job I had was a perfect example. There was always pressure to achieve quotas and move on to the next goal, and the next and the next. I actually received checks in the mail for incentives I’d earned months prior and had to backtrack to try and figure out what they were for! Not a terrific way to live, but then that’s why I’m no longer there