The pressure to generate outperforming returns sometimes skews a top performer’s way of thinking so that he or she cuts corners. The results can range from sloppy record keeping to real wrongdoing. Time will tell if this week’s FBI raids on several Wall Street hedge funds will lead to indictments, but it’s never a good sign when the FBI, 1)shows up at your office, and 2) starts removing files and computers.

Cutting corners to “win” is in fact not winning at all. Top investors know this, and to them winning is really about performing at their best regardless of the outcome. But in an industry where success is measured by a profit statement, does winning really matter or is it just about positive returns?

It’s the same in the world of professional sports where the game can take a backseat to producing results. Witness the steroid scandals that have affected sports across the board. The way out of this downward spiral is the same regardless of your field: Focus constantly on the actual process and place high value on the deliberate and consistent completion of the process. If you do that, then you win, as the outcome will take care of itself - regardless of the returns.