Completing my do to lists provides great satisfaction. I enjoy getting my check lists done.

However, this keeps me in a state of focusing on the completion of a task and goal, which often results in me missing out on the joy that can be found in the process.

In my hustle to get things done, I unknowingly cheat myself out of the interactions, experiences, and opportunities the actual process of completion creates.

I miss opportunities. Much like driving to a destination, our navigation seeks to get us there quickly, and as a result, we pass by various sites and back road experiences along the way.

Thus, the rub. Is it best to hurry to get to where we’re going, or invest the time to enjoy the journey? Is there a balance that can be created in today’s hustle and bustle world?

I was recently speaking with my boss, who I truly respect and enjoy working for. I mentioned how we still have a long way to go in completing a specific task and perhaps my frustration could be sensed by him. For his reply was, “what if you get things perfect – what would you do then”?

In his wisdom, he was explaining the process was the work and the progress was part of our goal. For we may never reach perfection.

My lesson learned was to always be striving for improvement – but to expect the frustrations and irritations to come as part of the work.

I don’t know if he meant all that with his statement, but it is how I received and processed it, and it was helpful insight to my personality.

I like to see positive results quickly – and even though I hate to admit it, it’s due to pride.

Pride, fear, and insecurity can often drive us to deliver faster and to do it better than anyone else can. For this in some way helps us believe we are showing others and ourselves how good we are.

Fear and pride as drivers work so well that many coaches and companies work to breed and foster them in their teams and organizations to achieve results. However, any successes these tactics may achieve often prove to be short lived. This may be fine for those seeking quick bursts in order to drive their own careers, but often leaves devastation in the wake for others to clean up. We see this all the time in business – and seem to accept it as business as usual – but this doesn’t have to be and the trend is beginning to shift.

For those seeking consistency and long term quality in their organizations and teams, better strategies than fear, insecurity, and pride exist. For example, formulating and rewarding things like teamwork, collaboration, quality, and integrity are just a few.

Ultimately, genuine humility and confidence empowers us with the freedom to enjoy the process of a task and to complete it well.

I once heard it said that the interruptions in our work, are our work.

So we best get used to it, accept it, and learn to enjoy the ride. For life is short and if we keep rushing through it, we might just miss the best parts of it.