Winning Has Never Been Enough for Me

Beyond the Scoreboard

Ok, so we live in a world that loves winners - and I’ll be first to admit, no one really remembers the team or player that should have won, but didn’t.

However, chasing the win alone has never truly satisfied me.

Whether in business, sport, or personal growth, I’ve learned that the real fulfilment comes from loving the journey, the process, and who I become along the way…not just the prize.

The Problem With Outcome-Only Thinking

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of results. Focusing solely on outcomes can be misleading. I remember when I was at HSBC, one of the mortgage sales teams hit their target by burning out their people. And there were a couple of projects at GE Capital, where I know we delivered on time, but it was riddled with shortcuts (and revisions!).

The result looks good, but the true cost is hidden.

The Power of the Process

What if you shifted our focus from the destination to the journey? I believe it's the process where the magic happens.

• In business, the most innovative companies obsess over their systems and culture, not just quarterly numbers.

• In creative work, writers and artists who commit to daily practice produce better, more authentic work than those chasing viral hits.

• And since moving to Australia, I've learned the story of Steve Bradbury, Australia’s unlikely Olympic gold medallist in speed skating. He's a sound example that although he won after everyone else crashed, it was the years of preparation and resilience that matter more than a single moment of luck (but you’d better be ready when it comes).

Athletes Know: It’s About More Than the Scoreboard

I remember winning football games by the narrowest of margins. Sure, my mum (love you) was thrilled, but I walked off the pitch unsatisfied. Why? Because our performance didn’t reflect our standards. We’d won, but not in the way we trained for - not with the teamwork, discipline, and execution we’d worked so hard to build.

For athletes, habits and standards endure, you simply need to work out how to make them shine.

Three Actionable Ways to Honour the Process (and Still Celebrate the Win)

1. Reflect on the Process After Every Win

After a much needed win, don’t just celebrate - debrief.

I’m far from being a Man U fan, but take a bit of a lesson from [current] Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim. After a 4-1 Europa League semi-final victory, he said, “If you look at both games, it was so much tougher than if you look just at the result. We have so many weaknesses... But we are fighting, and we managed to pass.”

Amorim’s honest reflection-celebrating the win but focusing on what needs work-shows how real progress is made.

What good looks like:

After your next success, gather your team and conduct a retrospective session. Ask: What did we do well? Where did we fall short? What will we do differently next time? This habit turns every win into a stepping stone for growth.

2. Set Process Goals, Not Just Outcome Goals

I was working with a senior executive who was joining a company as their new CEO. When developed his 100 day plan. Instead of looking at simply for the wins, we broke the journey into process goals: meeting every team member in the first XX weeks, identify several clients and get to meet with them - basically establishing behaviours that demonstrated her values, which we were confident would lead to success. These are steps you control, building momentum and learning that make the end result inevitable.

What good looks like:

Instead of “deliver a major project in three months,” try “hold weekly retrospectives, seek feedback after each milestone, and document lessons learned.” You’ll build a foundation for long-term success, not just a one-off achievement.

3. Celebrate Small Wins and Habits

Waiting for the big win to celebrate is a recipe for burnout. Instead, track and reward incremental progress: the new skill mastered, the tough conversation had, the consistent effort shown. These are the moments that build on your motivation.

What good looks like:

Keep a log of small wins. Share them in team meeting retrospectives - perhaps even treat yourself to a small reward when you hit a process milestone. This keeps you and your team energised and focused on growth.

Bringing It All Together

Honouring the process doesn’t mean the win doesn’t matter - it means the win is just part of a bigger story. When you focus on how you get there, every result becomes a lesson, and every lesson builds towards something lasting.

What’s your “process over outcome” story? Drop it in the comments - let me know