Progress is more important than Success.

We’ve been aiming at the wrong target all along. To be more successful and fulfilled, focus on getting better, not winning gold. Here’s why.

I’ve been pondering the differences between Progress and Success recently. This tension surfaced the other day when I realized that I was more excited, more energized, and more satisfied with some headway I made on a project than I likely will be when it’s completed.

It won’t surprise you to learn that there is a good evolutionary reason for this feeling: natural selection rewards us with a squirt of dopamine when we move forward in some mission, not simply when we achieve it. This makes sense, as we would never realize our goals if we only got the neuro-chemical benefit at the successful end of the process.

This “Progress Principle” is well-established in neuroscience but also the science of productivity. That’s why we’re encouraged to set milestones, celebrate small wins, and create momentum toward our objectives.

There are also profound philosophical reasons why Progress is more important than Success. This week, the following thoughts came to me in a restless night of waking and writing, epigram by epigram. Collectively, they make the case that there is more happiness in the pursuit and less fulfillment in accomplishment.

Progress is real.

Success is an illusion.

Progress transforms us into the best versions of ourselves.

Success shrinks us into the worst versions of ourselves.

Success is temporary.

Progress is timeless.

Small instances of Progress can have a disproportionately big effect.

Big instances of Success can have a surprisingly small effect.

Progress promotes Growth.

Success stops Growth.

Progress is a reward that no one can take away from you.

Success is a recognition that someone can revoke.

Progress never fails to motivate.

Success never succeeds in satisfying.

Success is momentary perfection.

Progress is perpetual improvement.

Progress is an infinite resource.

Success is a scarce resource.

Progress connects us to others.

Success separates us from others.

Humans are hardwired to pursue Progress.

Society has trained us to seek out Success.

Progress gives us meaning and purpose.

Success gives us money and status.

Progress can lead to Success.

But Success usually doesn’t lead to Progress.

Progress can matter even if it’s not measured.

Success must be measured for it to matter.

Progress is a means without an end.

Success is an end without a means.

Progress is never finished — yet that’s what makes it so fulfilling.

Success is never complete, and that’s why it’s so unsatisfying.

Progress is Promethean. Prometheus was the Greek God who gave humans the power of fire and potentiality.

Success is Sisyphean. Sisyphus was the tragic figure in Greek mythology who was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill only to have it fall down the other side for eternity.

Focusing on Progress is healthy.

Focusing on Success is not.

Progress is achievable.

Success isn’t always.

Progress is for everyone, but you’re competing with no one.

Success requires competing with everyone, but ultimately, there can be only one.

YOU get to set the rules of Progress.

SOMEONE ELSE sets the rules for Success.

Progress can be achieved in anything and still be meaningful.

Success, to be meaningful, has to be achieved in everything.

And finally …

Progress is the only real Success.

Consider asking yourself this week: what do “Progress” and “Success” mean to you, and are you pursuing the right one?

I help entrepreneurs and executives perform, transform, and flourish. To learn more about how I do that, visit www.IonValis.com