Take someone who works very hard on the details of a task, and have him talk with someone who doesn’t seem to care about details at all, and the conversation will be mind-opening. The difference in the amount of effort and thought that one person puts in to tasks, when compared with a person who puts in very little, can easily separate the two. My message here is that it is up to you about how much you put in to each activity you do.
Cooking Example
Let’s take something simple like cooking. How much effort do you put into cooking foods? There is much opportunity to take cooking very seriously, and there is also the option to basically just heat something up. To make spaghetti, you could potentially choose to follow one of these two processes:
A:
- heat water to boil
- place spaghetti inside
- wait for it to cook
- top with spaghetti sauce
- drink water as you eat
B:
- heat water to boil
- cut onions
- heat onions until they get soft
- grate Parmesan cheese
- finely cut the dark green part of green onions
- cook garlic cloves
- cook spaghetti in boiling water
- top with spaghetti sauce, garlic, cheese, onions, and green onions
- drink water as you eat
While cooking is not as serious of a task as meeting an important deadline, I would say the same person who is more likely to follow procedure B above would also be more likely to create a more advanced PowerPoint presentation than others in a group, with more value for the audience, more poignant bullet points, and more impact for the viewers to take with them. The little things that are special are all we remember, and we forget everything else.
People That Matter See Your Details
The intricacies you put in are always noticed. You don’t have to have any doubts about if someone will see the detail you have put into a creation or production of yours. Others are just like us, and if it is a detailed addition to us, it is a detailed addition to them. Unrelated to this article, that is another concept to keep in mind. Don’t doubt that others think in similar ways to you, although they may seem to express themselves a bit differently.
Your Details Are Your Specialty
Industries are based on the small details that set one item apart from another. An iPhone with a certain feature is able to outcompete another touch-screen phone that doesn’t have that feature. They both might have fifty of the same features, but the extra feature that is useful is the differentiating point in the purchase. In the same way, the detail you put in will get you noticed in no time.
Added Intricacy Represents You Better
The detail you put in also says a lot about you. While a person who is able to put in lots of detail can hold back at times, a person who is not advanced enough for a high level of detail has to stick to keeping everything simple. Other people take note of this. If you are always putting out the simplest creations or effort, people will start to think you don’t have the knowhow and self-discipline to go further.
As a closing point, it is to your advantage to sometimes really dig for information, and be intricate in your cooking, writing, studying, speaking, dentistry, research, etc. Show people you can put out effort or creations with all the bells and whistles, unless you can’t, which means you should disregard this article(you can though).
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
and maybe a little basil, chilli and capers in the sauce as well
Nice post Armen!
In regards to your iPhone example – I don’t think its about features. What sets an iPhone apart from other phones isn’t the features but the attention the details . Apple are the very best at small intricate details.
Therefore, I believe its not just about the quantity of details you put in that people appreciate but the quality.
My startup for example, is often compared to a competitor that has many more features than us. What out users like are the lack of features we have but the attention to detail that has been put into the user experience.
Anthony Feint´s last blog ..How to Take a Caffeine Nap
Hi Anthony.
Those are all good things to add in.
That is true about the iPhone example. I’m not sure why I left the details concept there but that is another key point. They are very in tune with details, especially design details.
It is cool to have your own startup example to relate to this. It fits exactly as your attention to details gives you an upper hand for those who are key on those.
Twitter: Armen
Hey Armen,
Not sure if what you wrote conflicts with the popular Pareto’s Law (80/20 Rule) where we’re told to concentrate on what brings the biggest benefit while letting the smaller details and tasks go. However, it’s often in the details and small things where the joys of life can be found, isn’t it? So,I think we have to be careful in choosing our times when we concentrate on all the details.
Viva l’Armen!
Gordie´s last blog ..How To Stop People From Driving You Crazy.
Hi Gordie.
It sure does conflict with Pareto’s Law in some respects, but it works if it is applied for spend 80% working on the details, and 20% working on the general setup. Details are the separation point in my message here, although some folks could go the other way and put their time into more items, with less detail in each, and have it work out for them that way.
Twitter: Armen
I am highly superficial in some tasks, so I know what you mean. I tend to lose track if I think too much on the details, so when I need to do that, I break down those steps on paper. I agree with the fact that details make the difference, so for everyone like me, use a support like paper if needed, but don’t give up
Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..A Tremendous Money Saver – Wait 48 Hours Before Buying Anything
Hi Oscar.
That makes sense about the details being able to take up a lot of energy or focus. Switching to paper for those items is a smart move. Paper and pen is a source of solutions.
Twitter: Armen
Armen, from a snow-clad Mount Fuji, thanks for this appetizing post. I also enjoyed the comments and agree that little details make a very big difference, both in meaning and in results. And as to timing, well, that may reveal whether you end up with “God is in the details” or the “Devil is in the details.” Thanks again from the mountains in Japan.
Catrien Ross´s last blog ..Catrien Ross on Leaping Beyond Your Comfort Zone to a Greater Self
Hi Catrien.
Hello to you in the mountains. I like how you introduce your comment with that. You are up in the snowy regions, and that is an uplifting place to start from.
The words used are key to what we say, so 10 minutes spent on the details of writing a paragraph will be noticed by the right person.
Twitter: Armen
The spaghetti looks really nice… It’s actually one of my favorite foods… man I’m getting hungry… why am I reading this before midnight…
Anyway, I agree that I would pick B also. I think when we generalize a how-to article on something as simple as seemingly simple as making spaghetti, we will get a generic taste. When we set an unspecific goal, we will get an unspecific result. I’m sure this concept applies to other scenarios in life. When it comes to creativity, it’s the smallest details that make a difference. Great post Armen!
Hulbert´s last blog ..Are You Hungry Enough for It? – 5 Questions to Ask Yourself
Hi Hulbert.
That was my goal with the imagery. It is positive that it worked out.
What you said there about unspecific goals is valid. We then get unspecific results, and are usually disappointed with those.
Sometimes we do 10 things for a project, but the one little detail we add in afterward is what everyone focuses on.
Twitter: Armen
Great point Armen. There is something to be said about putting your heart and passion into something. The end product always comes out a little better and even though it may not always be apparent on the surface, it usually is the reason people enjoy what we created. It is about going that extra mile and really giving something all you have.
Sibyl – alternaview´s last blog ..Why it makes sense to take control and shape your personality
Hi Sibyl.
It is true that someone does notice when you put out effort in that way. The people that matter are the ones who notice.
Twitter: Armen
Hey Armen, That intricacy and attention to that detail reminds me of being in the flow. When you so engrossed in what you do, because you’re enjoying it so much!
Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..How To Inspire The World In Under 160 Characters
Hi Amit.
This is another valid point. You only get to the stage when you are focused on the details when you are really into what you are doing. Details take a lot more energy than they get credit for at first, but that is okay because they add up to add to a long-term reputation.
Twitter: Armen
Details! Ugh. I’m not a big fan of them! But there’s no helping it I guess. I try to procrastinate dealing with the details until I absolutely can’t ignore them. A lot of times it works because I work well under pressure. But sometimes I’m dissatisfied with the “hurried” results.
I should probably try the 80/20 principle Gordie mentioned in his comment above.
Twitter: mightyrasing
Hi Mighty.
Well, you could always go the route of skipping the details, and working on greater output, and that could work as well. There might be less details for people to take notice of there, but if it is better suited to your strengths, people will notice other aspects of your doing.
Twitter: Armen
I fall somewhere in the middle, but have become much more detail-oriented than I use to be. Love this: “People That Matter See Your Details”. Great point made.
Moon Hussain´s last blog ..Product Marketing and Testing Series–Part I: Creating An Effective Website for Your Product
Twitter: moon_hussain
Hi Moon.
It’s good to recognize where we are on the “attention to details” spectrum. I appreciate that about the “people that matter” point, because filtering occurs on its own, and we don’t have to try to appease everyone.
Twitter: Armen
some thoughts for building a more detail oriented world view.
1. Look at other projects that are similar to the sort of thing that you are working on and look for the little touches the other person has added. This will show you places you could add detail to your own project.
2. Don’t stop at the first revition. If you just turn something out and then walk away from it, it is a sure bet that there is more work that can be done. If you are a low detail person work past the point that you feel something is done.
If you have not guessed yet I strongly agree with what Armen has written here and think it is not just something that should be read but acted on.
Quinn´s last blog ..The empowerment of limitations
Hi Quinn.
That is a nice set of additions right there. When you analyze the little additions of others, you get great ideas. Sometimes I get good ideas for how to write better from seeing the added touches some folks put in their articles.
That point about not stopping at the first revision sure is key to putting out a real detailed work. You finish, and then add on, and then add on, and then it is something with layers of goodness.
Thanks about the support there.
Twitter: Armen
This was excellent for me because I’m ADHD and I miss details all the time.
Your statement, People that matter see your details, is an eye-opener. Oh by the way I totally dislike cooking but you’re making me hungry!
Hi Tess.
That is an interesting relation to how you miss some details. I bet some creators have wondered why you didn’t react to something they put time into.
My goal with the picture was to either make you hungry or add details to a project. Those are the only options here.
Twitter: Armen
Great article on added value Armen but well crafted away from the usual cliche of “Go the extra mile”
jonny´s last blog ..One Week Till Launch
Hey Jonny.
Thanks there about how it is a slightly different take on that concept. You won’t see me say “go the extra mile” – at least not this week. I had one article before about this similar material, and it was titled “Don’t Forget To Put The Cilantro In Your Sandwich”. It was also food related, which is interesting for me to see now.
Twitter: Armen
I agree that it is similar to Paretos law. Just put effort into things you enjoy and if you really MUST do things you hate then have your mind occupied doing something else to avoid boredom or totally concentrated on the task so boredom can’t get in.
Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com´s last blog ..Lessons From a Month of Meditation
Hi Richard.
It sure is tough to do things we hate. We can like doing something one year, and not the next, and the difference in how we feel when doing it can be huge. This is why it is important to do as much as we can of something we are interested in while we still have that interest.
Twitter: Armen