Why We All Need to “Trust the Process” – Some Thoughts From a Philadelphia 76ers Fan

It’s all part of the process, you just have to trust it.

As the saying goes to Philadelphia basketball fans around the world, including myself, “Trust the Process.” While it’s become cliché to say around the Philadelphia area, I tend to find a deeper meaning from the expression.

Right or wrong for the sport and NBA, what the 76ers did to rebuild their team and improve was unconventional and against the status quo.

For those of you who are not familiar, the organization over a number of years essentially tanked (i.e. lost a lot of games) in order to position themselves to acquire numerous high draft picks to build its team around, which they believed was necessary in order to sustainably compete for a championship. Before the process began, the team’s management essentially decided they could either remain average and perform well but never really be in the running to win a championship, or attempt to do something radically different to create a new identity and compete at the highest level. While the importance of building around at least one star player in order to contend for a championship was well understood, no one really agreed that it made sense to strategically tank and go on one of the worst losing streaks in NBA history to be able to select players high in the draft who could potentially become the stars they needed. Sounds risky, right?

While it hasn’t been perfect, it has seemed to work so far. The 76ers have a great core of young talent and have gone from being one of the worst teams in the NBA to the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year with even higher expectations for the upcoming season. A quite remarkable turnaround if you ask me.

So……why am I bringing this up?

Whether you agree or not with what the 76ers did and if you think it’s been successful, for me, this story brings five ideas to mind. In my opinion, these five ideas can be highly valuable as a guide for development both professionally and personally, in all situations - good times and bad.

1)    Never settling

2)   Challenging the status quo/conventional wisdom

3)    Failure can be part of the solution

4)    Uncertainty is inevitable

5)    Finding value outside your comfort zone

For the 76ers, “the process” meant overhauling and reconstructing the team through unconventional methods in order to establish their image as one of the top teams in the league. Along the way, there has been failure, uncertainty, ridicule, and discomfort without a guarantee everything would work out as planned. Similarly, for us, “the process” is determining what we would like to be, do, and have in life then figuring out what to do and how in order get there, no matter the level of difficulty. Like the 76ers, it’s the journey, along with the associated ups and downs, we take to accomplish our goals.

Now, let me expand upon these five ideas I have mentioned.

Never Settling

The 76ers ultimately decided enough was enough. They were no longer content with where they were. They weren’t going to settle anymore with being in the middle of the pack, and they were going to do something about it.                                                  

Like the 76ers, at some point many of us will come at a crossroad and have two choices: take the current, or path of least resistance, or the alternative and less certain but potentially more rewarding new path. It could involve anything from making a career change, getting in better shape, becoming a better public speaker, being more confident socially, taking a difficult class in school, or starting a business – the list is long. However, when you think about it, we are constantly at this crossroad – it’s a mindset. We can either choose to accept, or settle with, our current skill sets, knowledge, network, perspective, experiences, career status, relationships, friendships, physical health, etc., or not.

I am a glass half full type of person, so I always think there is more to do, learn, and improve upon. To me, never settling means trying to become the best version of yourself you can possibly be. It’s a constant state of improvement and a process of self-discovery, as in finding out what we are truly capable of and understanding what our motives, values, and beliefs really are. If we don’t give it a try, then how are we supposed to find out?

If you want to make a change, the choice is yours – you don’t have to settle.

Challenging the Status Quo/Conventional Wisdom

This unconventional aspect of the 76ers turnaround reminded me of a quote from a book I had recently started to read – Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World – written by Adam Grant and a New York Times bestseller. The quote is actually the first sentence of the first chapter, titled “Creative Destruction – The Risky Business of Going Against the Grain.”

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

In this context, to me being “unreasonable” implies going against and challenging the status quo, like the 76ers have done with “the process.” There’s always a consensus way of doing things, opinion, or understanding of how society and business should function, yet that doesn’t mean we have to agree. If we don’t challenge these, then how are we supposed to move forward?

In the beginning of the first chapter, Grant talks about the story behind Warby Parker, a company who upended the eyewear industry, and how in the very beginning “when they casually mentioned their idea to friends, time and again they were blasted with scorching criticism.” In addition, the founders were repeatedly told “if this were a good idea […] someone would have done it already.” Interestingly, “they called the company Warby Parker, combining the names of two characters created by the novelist Jack Kerouac, who inspired them to break free from the shackles of social pressure and embark on their adventure.” The company is now valued over a billion dollars and in 2015 received an award as the most innovative company in the world, according to Fast Company. See where I am going?

Like the founders of Warby Parker, we too don’t have to be limited or restricted by “the shackles of social pressure.” To achieve our goals and make a change, sometimes we have to make decisions that don’t conform with what society tells us is right or what we previously thought made sense. Yes, going against the grain can be more risky and uncomfortable, but don’t let that stop you. It’s all part of the process.

Failure Can Be Part of the Solution

For the 76ers, strategically failing (losing a lot of games) was necessary in order to accomplish their goal of being able to select high draft picks. While I of course do not think the intent behind the 76ers failing to achieve their goal is applicable to our own personal development and goal-setting, I do believe the story provides an opportunity to bring to light important points regarding the concept of failing.

Remember when I said “the process” is determining what we would like to be, do, and have in life then figuring out what to do and how in order get there? Since this path of getting there, or the what to do and how, is not laid out in front of us, we initially do what we think is best. As we proceed, mistakes happen, setbacks occur, and roadblocks are encountered – it’s natural. We don’t want them to happen, but sometimes they cannot be avoided.

However, as we learn, adapt, and improve from these failures, the path becomes clearer. So, unless we have perfect foresight and know what needs to be done and how, these failures ultimately help shape us into becoming the person we want to be and help us better understand the steps that need to be taken. Failure is an opportunity for progress, self-discovery, and development, so in a sense, without failing, we are unable to find out what we are truly made of.

It’s important to be fully committed to success and to give it our best effort, but it’s also important to not be afraid to fail, yet it’s the latter part that seems to get less attention.

Not to bring in Philadelphia sports again, but look at Nick Foles, the NFL backup quarterback turned Super Bowl Champion and MVP last season for the Philadelphia Eagles. He wrote a book about his experience that also landed on the New York Times best seller list. Nick titled the book “Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds.” In a widely shared interview after the Super Bowl victory and after a reporter asked him what he wanted fans to take away from his journey, he stated:

"I think the big thing is don't be afraid to fail…Failure is a part of life. That's a part of building character and growing. Like, without failure, who would you be? I wouldn't be up here if I hadn't fallen thousands of times, made mistakes. We all are human. We all have weaknesses…I think when you look at a struggle in your life, just know that that's just an opportunity for your character to grow. And that's really just been the message. Simple, like if something is going on in your life and you're struggling, embrace it. Because you're growing."

Uncertainty is Inevitable

Despite all the changes the 76ers made, there was no guarantee it would work and turn out the way they wanted.

When attempting to reach a goal and make a change in our life, we are stepping towards a less familiar place. There typically is no guide showing us how everything will play out; the uncertainty is unavoidable. However, once we accept this, it provides us better clarity and enables us to move forward and be our true self.

Part of “the process” is navigating through this uncertainty, which shouldn’t deter us from reaching for our goals.

I recently attended an event and ended up chatting with the person sitting next to me after it was over. After a long and successful career, she discussed how she was considering retiring but wasn’t sure yet if it was the right decision and what she would even do once retired. Without hesitation, I asked “have you heard of the 76ers and trusting the process?” She said no, so I went on to explain the story. My key point to her was the uncertainty she was describing was inevitable and that it was just part of the process. Rather than feel uncomfortable with this uncertainty, she should accept it and move on, and that she will find a way to make it work out. She then thanked me and proceeded to say how it was very helpful and that it was something she needed to hear.

Finding Value Outside your Comfort Zone

There is nothing wrong with staying on the current path. Like the 76ers, they could have kept on trying to win a NBA championship the way they had been doing. It might have worked out, we’ll never know.

Or they could have tried a new, different path – one they had never been on before.

Like the 76ers, when we decide to embark on the “alternative” path to reach our goal, we are essentially stepping outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes we get used to who we are and where we are going, and find comfort in knowing that. Of course, this is perfectly fine if we are truly content, satisfied, and happy. But if not, when we decide to break out of the current “status quo”, it inevitably invites a feeling of discomfort.

The path is less familiar, others may disagree, the likelihood for mistakes is higher, and the probability of success is unclear. However, as I have previously highlighted, there is tremendous value to be discovered while navigating through this journey. Only when we are tested, challenged, and knocked down are we able to discover our true self and abilities. If we don’t step outside our comfort zone, then how are we going to be tested and challenged?

By writing this, I am in fact stepping outside of my own comfort zone. I’ve never done anything like this and I don’t know how it will be perceived, but I think it can be helpful and have learned a lot by forcing myself to organize and articulate my thoughts. As the saying goes, we never know what we can do unless we give it a try.

Conclusion

In summary, I hope this message can be helpful or used as motivation for anyone looking to find their place or take that next big step no matter the circumstance or situation. Making a dramatic change, growing, and stepping outside of your comfort zone, both professionally and personally, can be difficult. For some, the ensuing struggle, uncertainty, and sense of unease is understandably hard to handle. Like winning a NBA championship, it’s not supposed to be easy.

However, my point is we should accept and realize that this is “all part of the process.” Success isn’t always linear. With patience, persistence, determination, discipline, and the right mindset (being positive, understanding there will be ups and downs) – anything is possible, no matter what anyone else says.

While nothing is guaranteed, having faith is your best shot and can go a long way. No matter the outcome, you will have learned more about yourself than you would have otherwise.

Trust me, “Trust the Process.” Don’t fight it, embrace it.