Goal vs. Process

In preparing for a job interview today, I came across an interesting article about goal-oriented vs. process-oriented work.  Here's an excerpt:

"For goal-oriented people, growth is sometimes incidental; they grow only because their goal requires them to. Process-oriented people, on the other hand, attain goals because their process will take them in that direction anyway. For them, growth is not incidental, it is necessary, and goals are eventual. Because of this difference, the goal-oriented person will not necessarily be able to look past the goal to the next goal until they get there. The process-oriented person will instead already be thinking about future goals, since everything they do is focused to the process of improving; goals just give them a direction in which to move. To the goal-oriented person, goals are end points. To the process-oriented person, they’re simply mile markers."  (http://www.gnorb.net/ - 5 March 2007 post)

This reminded me of one of my very first blog entries back on September 28, 2010.  At that time, I was thinking of cooking as producing an end product - a dish or a meal.  It struck me that by paying more attention to the process - rather than just getting food on the table - I might enjoy the experience more.  I might even become a better cook.

I'm going back to my Twelve Month Plan to see how much I'm focused on goals and how much on process.

Stay tuned.