Why I Believe Picasso's Approach to Action Over Results is the Key to Success
Action is the foundational key to all success.
Pablo Picasso
When you think about success, you might often focus on the end result. You celebrate the masterpiece, the bestseller, the groundbreaking invention. But what about the process that led to these achievements? What about the countless hours of work, the numerous failed attempts, the relentless pursuit of a vision?
The Picasso Perspective
Picasso was a prolific artist, creating over 50,000 artworks in his lifetime, including paintings, drawings, ceramics, textiles, and sculptures. Yet, only a fraction of these are considered masterpieces. Does that mean the rest were failures? Not at all. Each piece was a step in Picasso’s creative journey, a testament to his relentless action and exploration.
I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
Pablo Picasso
The Power of Action
Results are simply the outcome of the action. They are the visible, tangible evidence of the work you’ve done. But they are not the only measure of success. The real value lies in the action- the learning, growth, and experience gained along the way.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
Pablo Picasso
When you focus solely on results, you risk overlooking the importance of the process. You may become so fixated on achieving a specific outcome that you neglect the journey, the exploration, and the discovery. But you truly grow and evolve in these moments of action.
Embracing the Journey
So, how can you shift your focus from results to action? Here are a few strategies:
- Set process goals: Instead of setting goals based on outcomes, set goals based on actions. For example, instead of aiming to lose a certain amount of weight, aim to exercise a certain number of times per week.
- Celebrate progress: Recognize and celebrate each step forward, no matter how small. Every action, every effort, brings you closer to your goal.
- Learn from failure: Don’t view failure as a setback but a learning opportunity. Each failure brings valuable insights that can guide your future actions.
- Stay curious: Keep exploring, experimenting, and pushing your boundaries. As Picasso demonstrated, creativity thrives on action and exploration.
Every act of creation is first an act of destruction
Pablo Picasso
Results may measure success. They are not the be-all and end-all. The real value lies in action, the journey, and the relentless pursuit of growth and learning. So, let’s take a leaf out of Picasso’s book and focus less on the masterpiece and more on the creation process. Embrace the process, the action, and the journey and see where it leads you.