Coffee, Booze, and Sex: Is it the journey or the destination?

A little lighthearted Friday post, let's think about the classic idea of "enjoying the ride" (a favorite TTL [1] topic). Also known as "Stop and smell the roses" and "process vs. product," this one got me thinking of some fun variations. Of course the basic idea is sound: If we fixate on the end of a journey/process/path, we miss out on most of the living along the way. Cheers!

Let's start with coffee. Process or product? Process if you're an aficionado (test: grind it yourself), and product if you're simply after the caffeine high (test: instant). Related: My favorite, chocolate. For me, both process (it tastes, as our Laotian friend says "yum") and product because I feel a nice sense of contentment [2] after taking the stuff. I'd be remiss if I skipped alcohol. I enjoy the stuff, but I can't tolerate it (destabilizes my mood - see below), so for me it's the process because it leads to product (along with social value), but then I regret the process due to cost (being irritable the next day). You?

How about books? For me, one definition of fiction [3] is that it's the process, not the product. However, you'll agree that great fiction involves both. (Or maybe just the latter, but I avoid those.) For me non-fiction is primarily product, though again, well written ones are a treat to read. The same applies to movies, lectures - any information source, I suppose. Question: What about art?

Continuing: Dental work. My personal health crises revolve around this, and I've thought long and hard about the topic. (Personal note: I have a moderate mood disorder that includes obsessing as a component. This is partially why I am so motivated to self experiment.) Clearly this is more about product than process, although I've become creative about enjoying the process. Working with competent and friendly people helps a lot, as does a deep talent for black humor.

Here's a stimulating one: Sex! Hmmm. As a man, I tend to value process over product ;-) Then again, what is the product? A good friend suggests climax, though my initial thought was "babies." You tell me. (Related: A 2x2: Fun to watch vs. Fun to do. Ponder and report back.)

How about work? The best situation is clearly having both. Question: What about when neither are present? What kind of job would that be? Examples?

Finally, having a body. Another TTL thing I say is that having a body is an experiment. We are born with no user's manual, we have to make it up as we go (a good general test of whether you're doing one), it is constantly changing, and we have limits on our control. It is my favorite one so far.

How about yours? What process vs. product examples do you think about?

References

• [1] Our Think, Try, Learn work continues, with exciting results and directions happening. Edison v1.0 is designed and waiting on our brilliant volunteers to free up some valuable time to bring it into being. Perhaps as a sign of the project coming more fully into being, I've created ... wait for it ... t-shirts! In The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm Tom Kelley argues that they're an important part of team-building, so I'm trying it out. Hey - an experiment!
• [2] And no, it does not have caffeine in it. It contains theobromine, a relative of caffeine that, for me, doesn't over-stimulate and keep me awake at night.
• [3] Another definition of fiction is "Does not require note-taking" :-) A little more at How To Read A Lot Of Books In A Short Time.