After the Fall-Episode 7: Stop Chasing Results. Start Building the Process, and Master Your Focus

By Upendra Mishra

Welcome to Episode 7.

Today, I want to talk about something that changed the course of Owen’s life in After the Fall — and, in many ways, changed mine as well.

Once Owen set his goal — truly set it — there was no turning back. But what made this time different was not the size of the goal. It was his clarity. His resolve. His understanding that once the goal is set, your job is no longer to obsess over the outcome… your job is to honor the process.

That realization didn’t come easily.

Like many of us, Owen once believed success was about results — about winning, achieving, reaching the destination. But through failure, trial, embarrassment, and refinement, he learned something deeper: results are not directly in our control. The only thing we truly control is our effort — our daily action.

When he focused on results, he became anxious. Attached. Distracted.

When he focused on the process — the work itself — he found freedom.

I remember writing about the time Owen began learning vocal music at an older age. At first, even simple notes felt foreign. Confusing. Out of reach. But he kept showing up. Day after day. Year after year.

And then one day, almost without realizing it, the notes were no longer something he chased. They lived within him. Effortless. Natural. Like breath.

That is the power of the process.

There’s a beautiful line from the song “Que Sera, Sera” — whatever will be, will be. Many people interpret that as surrender. But Owen understood something different.

Surrender does not mean inaction. It means releasing control over outcomes while remaining relentless in effort.

Trust the process. Do the work. Let go of the rest.

Years ago, at a business conference, a speaker asked a fascinating question: When it comes to success or failure, what percentage depends on people — and what percentage depends on process?

After some guesses from the audience, the speaker gave his answer:

93% process. 7% people.

That struck me.

People are emotional. Distracted. Reactive. But a strong process? It is impartial. It exposes flaws. It corrects inefficiencies. It produces results if you honor it.

Success is not about being extraordinary. It’s about mastering the system that produces extraordinary results.

This principle isn’t new.

In the Mahabharata, Dronacharya asks his students to aim at the eye of a wooden bird. When asked what they see, most describe the tree, the sky, the bird.

But Arjuna says, “I see only the eye.”

That is focus.

Not multitasking. Not scattered energy. Not divided attention.

Just the eye.

But even Arjuna faltered. After the death of his son Abhimanyu, he vowed to kill Jayadratha before sunset. His mind split — part on revenge, part on the setting sun.

Krishna warned him: when focus divides, energy scatters.

The lesson is timeless — emotional turbulence can weaken us… or it can sharpen us.

Parashurama once told Karna: use your anger, your turbulence, your pain as your weapon.

Obstacles are not barriers. They are fuel — if channeled properly.

There’s also a Zen story I love.

A student asks a master how long enlightenment will take. “Ten years,” the master replies.

The student says he will work twice as hard.

“Then twenty years,” the master responds.

Why?

Because when one eye is fixed on the destination, only one eye remains to see the path.

We delay progress when we obsess over arrival.

The path is the progress.

Owen finally understood this. He stopped chasing victory. He stopped measuring success by applause or milestones.

Instead, he measured it by consistency.

By discipline.

By showing up.

And something beautiful happened — the results began to exceed his expectations.

Because when you commit fully to the process, the process transforms you.

And that transformation is the real success.

So today, I leave you with this:

Set your goal.

Make it unshakable.

Then release your attachment to the outcome.

Focus on the work.

Honor the system.

Guard your attention like Arjuna guarded his aim.

And trust that, in time, the results will follow — often in ways greater than you imagined.

Thank you for joining me for Episode 7.

Until next time — stay focused, stay steady, and trust the process.