<p>Is it the effort or the result that matters most?&nbsp; As adults and business owners, we tend to focus more on results while as parents we tend to place the emphasis on the effort as it relates to the activities of our children.</p> <p>Yesterday,&nbsp; my friend Michele Mathews <a href="http://twitter.com/tymlee">(@Tymlee</a>) sent out this funny video from YouTube. (You might want to mute your computer or turn the sound down, it is a little shrill.) </p> <p></p> <div style="display:inline;margin:0;padding:0;" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:1a8f5fe0-5f22-4dcc-bf6b-977cf6330a29" class="wlWriterSmartContent"><div>[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4agJTzVsiBE]</div></div> <p></p> <p>It can be argued that the baby is definitely making an effort - but from an adult's perspective - we might say the baby failed because the hula hoop is not spinning. </p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp; But wait - maybe we're not applying the right metric.</p> <p>Fitness experts recommend hula hoops for children and adults to improve balance (check one - the baby does not fall), for exercise (check two - that's some cardio work out on baby's part), and for enjoyment (check three for the baby - did you see that smile!)&nbsp; So even though the hoop's not spinning, three major goals were achieved.</p> <p>With my children, I have never required straight A's or that they be the star player on the team.&nbsp; Instead, all I asked is that they always did their best.&nbsp; When they did,&nbsp; they got lavish praise, just like in the video with the baby. Often the results were mixed, but it was the learning process and the effort that the measurements and praise were based on.&nbsp; In the long run, I could not be more proud of what my boys have achieved so far in their lives.</p> <p>In the workplace as a leader, I have always focused on results.&nbsp; I've even based my own business, <a href="http://www.corepurpose.com">CorePurpose</a>, on results orientation.&nbsp; It's what investors and owners are expected to do.&nbsp; But now, I am wondering if some of the things that we accomplish and learn along the journey may not&nbsp; be as important if not more important than the arbitrary and often short term metrics we set as adults and business people to measure success.&nbsp; </p> <p>Hmm, maybe, just maybe, it's time I start thinking more like a parent - all the time.</p> <p>Thanks for stopping by.&nbsp; Stay tuned...</p> <blockquote> <p>Joan Koerber-Walker</p> <div style="display:inline;margin:0;padding:0;" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6acdc2b5-f2c4-485c-9e93-9ebe0fb1aec9" class="wlWriterSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Joan%20Koerber-Walker" rel="tag">Joan Koerber-Walker</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CorePurpose" rel="tag">CorePurpose</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/parenting" rel="tag">parenting</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/business" rel="tag">business</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/results" rel="tag">results</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/measuring%20effort" rel="tag">measuring effort</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/metrics" rel="tag">metrics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/success." rel="tag">success.</a></div></blockquote>