The Process Beats the Product – That’s a promise

For many years I had a poster on my wall that read: It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

And I can not tell you how whole-heartedly I disagreed with this poster. It just did not make sense to me. Not even vaguely. I always followed the philosophy that if you were not going to be the best and get the best result, then there was no point even setting out on the journey or participating at all. Oh –  how wrong I was and on so many levels. And then suddenly, one day, I just got it. It was like a light bulb went off in my little head and it all made sense. And this would undoubtedly be one of the most important realisations I have ever made.

I think it came through already having a successful business and the ability to somewhat rest on my proverbial laurels, if I wanted to and just carry on growing that business. I didn’t have to start a business. All the hard work had been done. I could just chill out so to speak and manage what was already set up and functioning perfectly well in my world. I had what I had dreamed of and what I had worked so hard for:

A business that I created from scratch.

A business that I loved.

A business that had – and still does have – enormous room for growth.

But within me there was this undeniable urge to do something more. Create something new. Try a new path. Do something  more. Be something more. Explore new options. Spread a new message. Help people feel not just good – but great about themselves and their lives. And within 12 – 18 months A Bridge To You was born.

What I learned finally through this process was exactly what that poster had been trying to tell me for years:

It is the journey – not the destination.

It is the process – not the product.

It is the creativity – not the creation.

Like most things in my life, I find that personal experience is the real key to my learning. I am a hands on sort of person. I can theorise about something until the cows come home, but it is not until I experience a practical application of the concepts learned that the meaning really sinks in.

So what I discovered with the establishing of A Bridge To You was that it was not at all about the final product. It was about the process. The sharing of information. The writing of these words. The creative process. The knowing that I could create something out of nothing. Travelling a new path and facing all the difficulties and challenges along the way. Putting myself out there and taking a risk. Being true to who I am in a 100% authentic way.

As with Tapatak Oz, it all started with a thought.

Nothing more – just a thought.

An idea

An inspiration

An ideology

I still find it amazing to think that something really can come from nothing.

But the thought became a series of post it notes on a desk, and then an entire notebook, and then a raft of  notebooks and then a series of actions, and this series of actions became the dream and before you know it – there I was – I had arrived at the destination I had set out to reach.

So why then, having reached the destination do we so often start planning for the next trip?

The answer is just so simple.

Because life is about the journey – not the destination.

It is about the empowerment you feel by trying something new

It is about the lessons you learn along the way

It is about the knowledge that life experience gives you

It is about the trials and tribulations that any trip brings

It is about the journey and the things that can only be learned experientially

The sense of peace and contentment that now fills me, knowing that I will never reach a final destination is profound and awe-inspiring.

It fills me with inspiration and the energy to carry on each and every day, knowing that the journey is never done. I am not so panic stricken with the thought I had when younger, that I had to reach this mythical final life destination. There is no longer the scary thought that this is all or nothing. That this it it.I now know that there are many roads to travel and this is just one of them.

The truth is – there is no final destination.

A truly blessed life is one of constant journeys and a never ending list of destinations.

It is the getting there, that is all the fun.

It is the changing of course. It is the planning and productivity. It is the getting there, as opposed to the “here I am”.

I feel that this is such a important lesson and message to share. And in fact, I wish I had realised this so much earlier.

My life would have had far less angst along the way.

But there you go.

That in and of itself is the point.

You have to live it, experience it and know it from the very centre of your being to really get it.

It’s not the destination – it’s the journey

It’s not the product – it’s the process

It’s not the creation – it’s the creativity

Never have truer words been spoken

And on that note I shall leave you to plan your next journey, without the expectation and stress of thinking that it should be your last.

We are a never ending process in the tapestry of life – so relax and enjoy that process

 - Christine -