“A man’s accomplishments in life are the cumulative effect of his attention to detail.”
That’s a quote from John Foster Dulles, and if you don’t know him, you may be familiar with Washington Dulles airport which was named after him. Dulles was the Secretary of State under President Eisenhower in the 1950s.
To be honest, this quote has always bothered me. Why? I am not a detail-oriented person. At. All.
My wife will giggle when she watches this video because it has been a source of tension-turned-comedy over our 19+ years of marriage. She has a laser focus on details, while I tend to gloss over said details. For her, life is about the specifics, the details, the weeds. For me, the details are what get in the way of my understanding and appreciation for the big picture, the cosmic whole, this crazy lens with which I view the world.
Success isn’t only in the details, nor is it solely in the big picture.
It seems to me Dulles’ quote reflects how a lot of detail-oriented people think of themselves. And in turn, it’s also how they view the world and how they think of others. The ability to contribute, and the value you bring to a team and to humanity as a whole, is your ability to focus in on the details. This makes perfect sense assuming that’s how you are wired.
I, however, am not wired this way- I’m more of a big picture person. I see my contribution as helping people get out of the weeds- to think about the broad view, about relationships, about where we should be headed as a whole and not the specifics of how we get there. When I’m paired in a team environment with someone that’s more detail-oriented, we work really well together. I am able to help the group focus on big picture goals and objectives, and they focus on the process and the specifics of how we attain those goals. I keep us aiming in the right direction; they execute the game plan.
“The big picture pie-in-the-sky stuff is vital, but without the specifics to get you there, it’s just an idea.”
Both approaches are very valuable. However, my inability, or my natural unwillingness to focus on details has presented problems at times for sure. If you are more of a big picture person and can relate, hopefully these three tactics will help when details should be your focus.
First and foremost, it’s important to have a self-awareness that details are a challenge. You will find the most success when you leverage your strengths while addressing your weaknesses. Be aware and recognize those times when you are not focusing on the details enough.
Second, once you realize the need for details, schedule a time to focus on them. There are certainly times when you can’t gloss over the particulars- planning a wedding, developing a game plan, making a proposal. The big picture pie-in-the-sky stuff is vital, but without the specifics to get you there, it’s just an idea.
I don’t tend to schedule these “detail focus” times often because, well, I find them challenging at best. But for those projects where I really need to zero in, I make a point to plan a time to go through the specifics.
Are you more left-brained or right-brained? Both are vital for success.
Finally, surround yourself with systems, processes, routines, and especially people that will help you address this natural weakness. I have always found I need to surround myself with at least one other detail-oriented person. When I looked for a virtual assistant, I wanted someone who was hyper-organized because this is not my forte. It’s probably one of the most significant reasons why my wife and I have been happily married so long- we balance each other out.
My goal for those of you who are detail-oriented is this- remember that your attention to detail is not the only measure of success. It might be a part of how you measure your success, but remember that others are wired differently. Respect that difference.
If you are more of a big picture person, think about these three suggestions to help you overcome your weakness. Have a good self-awareness, schedule times when you really need to dig into the weeds, and surround yourself with people, processes, and routines that will help you become more successful overall.
An interesting point to note- for investors, there is a big balance between the left-brain detail-oriented investment style and the right-brain broader investment style. In one of my other videos, I discuss this whole brain investment process of balancing the left-brain detail with the right-brain big picture creative thinking.
RR#6,
Dave
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Please see the Disclaimer page for full details.