Trust the Process

The name Sam Hinkie may not mean much to you, but you may be familiar with an expression he helped contribute to pop culture, one that you may even use today. Hired as the General Manager (GM) of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team in 2013, Hinkie quickly caught a lot of flak among the league and the team’s fanbase for some of his questionable business decisions. The year prior to hiring Hinkie, the 76ers just missed making the playoffs by only one spot, yet in the first three years under his leadership, the team finished as one of the worst in the league.

GM Hinkie was criticized for trading away some of the team’s core talent for draft picks or to free up cap space, which caused the team’s short-term success to plummet. But through it all, Hinkie had a plan. He was reorchestrating the team’s roster with young talent, which needed time to develop. In the midst of all the criticism and frustration during the early years, Hinkie was constantly reminding the team and the fanbase to be patient and to TRUST THE PROCESS. This manta became a battle cry of sorts for the franchise as, eventually, the 76ers began winning and became one of the top teams in the league.

While this manta didn’t originate with Sam Hinkie, the “trust the process” saying was certainly popularized during his tenure as a GM. In fact, the team’s star player, Joel Embiid, was even given the nickname “The Process” because of his vocal defense of Hinkie’s strategy. We still hear this expression today, whether it’s on a sports team, in the classroom or at work. It’s a reminder for us to persevere when we’re in the midst of challenges, to not give up when things go bad and to focus on long-term success over short-term gains. There’s certainly a lot of merit to this credo. It’s something we can all benefit from to keep us going. But there’s a flip side to this as well.

What if the process is flawed?

If that’s the case, when a process stops working, it’s time to find a new process.

As humans, we all share a desire to live a satisfying life. However, there are many different processes we follow to achieve it. In today’s world, some may think that significance comes from status, wealth, power, security or life experiences. We think that steps to gaining a bigger net worth, a greater social media presence, a better work title, a bigger home, a better body or a unique lifestyle is the process for “a wonderful life.” While these processes can deliver short-term gratification, they will leave you wanting in the long run.

The Bible teaches us a different process to a meaningful life. It’s one of selflessness, humility, modesty, compassion and generosity. These lifestyle processes seem backward or upside down, but those who have followed them can testify that they bring more fulfillment than any other one that’s out there.

We cannot live to our greatest satisfaction and potential if we don’t trust the RIGHT process. Take a moment today to reflect on what process you’ve been following and whether it’s yielding the results best for you and the people around you. Maybe it’s time to change your process. Maybe, right now, during this holiday season—the most generous time of the year—it’s time to try a new process, one of more selflessness, compassion and generosity!