I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of artistry and elegance in my business. Based on some recent conversations with my friends and colleagues, it’s become evident that I’m moving to a new level in terms of the work I do- moving from the level of “what works” to a combination of “what works” AND “what is beautiful and elegant about how this works?”

The shift towards beauty and elegance reflects my growing interest in finding ways to accomplish desirable goals and to make the process of achievement as wonderful as the act of achieving them.

It’s a more refined process- one which is moving me from competence to mastery. In my viewpoint, only when you can achieve results and do them elegantly have you achieved mastery in your areas of expertise.

Although now the process feels as important as the outcome, I’ve not, historically, been this way. It’s always been about achieving this goal, and then the next one, and the next one- never giving any thought, really, to the idea that the way in which you achieve a goal can be just as important as achieving the goal.

Due to this, I think I’ve achieved some really cool things at points in my life, but never actually took the time to appreciate them because, in part, the act of achieving them was so intense and, at times, painful.

It’s the difference between being adrenalized and rushing where you could be at ease and in flow. And still end up with good results and having more fun getting there.

As I write about in my book, part of promoting your business is claiming where you are a category of one. Where do you offer a set of desirable results provided in such a way that no one else can compete?

That’s where you find your category of one.

Often, finding your category of one is one that occurs by experience. You learn a skill and then apply it. See what happens, and then improve it from there. Do this enough times, and you start to have a business system or a business process that you can sell over and over again.

However, this is no longer enough. With the rise of the Maker culture, and the ensuing focus on creating experience, it’s no longer enough to create results. Yes, that will always be important. Though, now, the greater recognition and accolades will go to the person who can create results within a container of unique experience.

What I’m trying to get to is the idea that it’s now important to consider outcome AND process. Being a trained psychologist, you would probably have expected me to realize this sooner! 🙂 In business as in psychotherapy, where you reach is truly as important as how you get there.

The process is interwoven into the outcome. The tools you begin with influence the results you end up with.

This is why many business building programs don’t actually work. It’s because they focus on the outcome more than the process. And as a result, people are left learning a lot of stuff, but not knowing how to apply it.

When you look at your own business and the services you offer clients, where can you find deeper and more meaningful ways of tapping into your own artistic elegance? Where can you provide amazing results, through a lens or process that no one else can touch?