All of these are side effects. Little remnants we leave behind on our path to mastery. At least, that’s what they should be.
A true body builder doesn’t measure her biceps every day. Whether it grows to 35 cm in a year or 41 cm in a decade doesn’t matter. She simply builds her body, day-in and day-out.
When a writer thinks of a book as the peak of the mountain, he might cramp up and twist the work. But if it’s just another project, another form of practice, he can dedicate himself to it fully and let the results be what they may.
You can’t see how good a tennis player’s swing is when you look at her. But if you go to the court each week, you can count the baskets of balls she empties. As those baskets pile up, so do her skills.
Life is better when we play from abundance. Pretend your time is infinite, and give everything to the process.