When the Means Become the Goal

We get busy, we refine our processes, we plan and strategize, but we lose sight of the bigger picture.

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Have you ever noticed how we sometimes get so caught up in how we’re doing something that we forget why we’re doing it in the first place? This happens everywhere — from art and productivity to leadership and beyond. A tool, process, or method meant to achieve something bigger can gradually take over, becoming the main focus instead of a step toward the real goal.

Think about art. Once upon a time, it was a way to serve religion, tell moral stories, or inspire social change. But over time, people started saying, “Art doesn’t need to serve anything — it can exist for its own sake.” That’s when art stopped being a means to an end and became the end itself. It’s a fascinating shift, but it’s also something we see in modern workplaces, personal development trends, and even how we approach productivity. When the process takes over, we lose the plot — and it’s worth exploring why this happens and how we can find our way back.

Art for Art’s Sake

In the 19th century, the idea of “art for art’s sake” became a big deal. Artists and writers started arguing that art…