The Process

Letter to a Friend #41- The moments between the milestones.

Dear Friend,

Recently, I listened to LeBron’s press conference, and one quote really stuck with me:

“The love of the game is still high, the love of the process is even higher.”

Someone who has accomplished virtually everything in the sport, and has been playing the same game for 23 years at the highest level, still loves the process of improving. Not the rings, not the flashy dunks, but the practices, the workouts, and the quiet micro-improvements that elevate his craft.

Many experts will say that without loving the process, you’ll never reach the pinnacle of your goal. But loving the process isn’t as straightforward it’s methodical, predictable, sometimes even boring.

I’ve seen that in people close to me. They dream about getting into top law schools and changing the world, but between them and that dream is the LSAT, which feels more like a chore than a calling. I imagine it’s hard to love something that feels like a toll to your destination.

I feel that in smaller ways, too. For me, it’s editing. Editing is critical to publishing any piece of work, but it’s also the most time-consuming, tedious part of the creative process. Sometimes, I’d rather just hit post and move on. But I’ve learned to shift how I see it and “I have to” with “I get to.” To treat it less like a hurdle and more like a chance to care for what I create.

Maybe that’s what it means to love the process. Not to romanticize every step, but to recognize the quiet pride in doing something well, even when no one’s watching.

So while I can’t say my friends will ever enjoy studying for the LSAT, I hope they find small moments of joy in the practice itself. Because the process is all we have on our way to our goals.