Ever heard of that old adage, “The devil is in the details?” It’s one of those vintage idioms that folks use but there’s really good reason that it’s lasted this long. It’s the little things that fill up the gap between good and great. Whether you’re running a business, working to achieve a personal goal, or just keeping life out of feeling like never-ending whack-a-mole, taking care of the little things can make big impacts.

The Small Stuff Adds Up

Big wins never happen by accident. They’re created through a series of little, thoughtful actions. Think of an elite athlete. They do not roll out of bed one morning and medal at the Olympics. They’re mindful of what’s going into their body, how much they’re doing, how much rest—every minute is honed. The same is applicable to business. The businesses that succeed are the ones that make every minute better, right through to how they’re handling e-mails or how they’re designing products. Success is never built through big, sweeping gestures but through minute, thoughtful actions built on top of each other.

People Notice The Little Things

If you’ve had dinner out at a nice restaurant, you know that what makes a good meal great is more than what’s on your plate. It’s atmosphere, how your napkin is arranged on your lap when you leave your chair, how flavors on your tongue hit that perfect spot. It’s that same notion that can apply to every situation. Business? A well-written e-mail that added a touch of personal care or keeping your word without regret makes you noticed.

Attention To Detail Avoid Trouble

Skipping the little things can cost big money. A one-digit miscalculation on that financial report, forgetting that one step on that contract, or forgetting to double-check that important e-mail can make disasters that were wholly unnecessary. It’s why engineers scrutinize measurements so closely, and pilots follow strict checklists. A minute miscalculation can mean giant consequences. The same goes for daily life.

Excellence Is All About The Details

Anyone can meet minimum requirements. It is what makes individuals doing that little extra exceptional. The great artists, authors, composers, and entrepreneurs do not only rely on talent. They tinker, polish, and nitpick on minute aspects of what they do. The same applies to machines. Shops like https://armesprecision.com/machine-shop-lynchburg-va/, make every minute part fit together flawlessly—because that fraction of a millimeter can destroy or save a project. The same is applicable to anything that you’d like to master.

How to Train Yourself to Pay Attention to Details

Some people have a natural talent for details, but if that is not your talent, it’s ok. It is a skill that can be acquired. Start by taking your time. Rushing is a guaranteed way of forgetting important details. Double-check everything, including e-mails, slideshows, or even cell phone notes.

Another trick? Step into the mind of someone who lives on details. Consider how a chef plates a dish, how a tailor hems a suit, or how an editor polishes up a manuscript. Their success hinges on picking up on things others might never have noticed.

Small Changes, Big Results

At the end of the day, detailing is never really about obsessiveness or keeping your process up by obsessively pursuing perfection. It’s caring that little bit extra that others do not care that much about. It’s doing that little extra that makes people believe you, people respect you, people remember you.

It’s all up to you. Unlike talent or good luck or anything that’s outside of your control, your observational power and tuning of the finer things is something that can be built on a daily basis.