Where the Horse Fits in Your Process
Without an Engine, You’re a Sucker With a Dream
Yesterday I talked about the importance of committing to a process.
I need to expand on that for two reasons:
- It’s admittedly vague.
- I’m not a self-help author pitching random advice at well-known insecurities.
The issue with self-help is that it targets insecurities. Then, it prescribes band-aid tactics that don’t address core problems.
Even worse, it does this while reinforcing inferiorities.
Now, let me make this clear. I’m no self-help author and this isn’t about me. I’m sharing my own process, and that sharing is about you.
What I mean is, as I learn and advance my career, I need to share what’s working. If I don’t, I’m no better than that guy in the office laughing at new employees trying to find their way.
I hate that guy.
So, without further ado, let’s get specific.
Do you even have a process?
Yes, you do.
I don’t know what you’re interested in or what you’re trying to do. If you’re like me, you’re a writer. But, I know what I’m about to tell you has universal application.
At least, I’m yet to find a place where this doesn’t apply. If you find one, you’ll want to get out ASA Possible.
When I talk about ‘process,’ what I’m really talking about is your creativity.
Creativity is a word often reserved for the artistic world but it belongs everywhere.
Yes, a great writer is creative. So is a great accountant, lawyer, financial advisor, or an impactful teacher.
To be great at what you do you must use some level of creativity. The people that don’t are stifling potential.
A cart with no engine
The mistake many people make is in replacing creativity with tactics.
The main problem with tactics? They remove humanity from the process.
Tactics are things like:
Use this Wordpress theme to get more attention on your website
Follow this salescript to get more clients
Pause after an important part of your speech to add emphasis
It’s not that tactics aren’t helpful or important. They just don’t go first.
Focusing on tactics before mastering your process is worse than putting the cart before the horse. It is more like putting the horse ON the cart.
By forgetting your creative process you remove the engine from your practice.
There is one other vague reference I would like to address. That is “the work in front of you.”
This goes hand-in-hand with your creative process and is well worth expanding on… but not today.
One thing at a time… I’ve got my own process to go through over here.
In the meantime, if you don’t know what your “process” is, don’t worry. Clarifying “the work in front of you” will definitely help bring some definition.
Until then,
M.J. ‘put the horse where it belongs’ Hutchison
