'Don't sweat the small stuff' is usually bad advice

  • Published
  • By Col. Larry Strube
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM --  We often admire those around us who have the uncanny ability see the "big picture." These are the people who, amid all the chaos, can keep focused on the larger task at hand and not get sidetracked by all the details.

At the same time, we tend to look at people who emphasize the small details as nitpickers, micromanagers, or worse.

Our culture is full of phrases that describe someone caught up in the details, like someone who "can't see the forest for the trees." But from my point of view, being a detail person is critical to the success of everything we do.

Who would want to go fly in an aircraft where the mechanic didn't worry about ensuring the engine was maintained to extremely tight specifications? Or what if the software engineer didn't test and retest the computer code critical to the onboard navigation systems?

Would you visit a doctor who prescribed medications and didn't worry about drug interactions because he or she didn't think it was important to keep up with the latest details published by pharmaceutical companies? Ever consider pulling your car out of a side street without looking both directions?

I hope in all these examples your answer would be "no." Why? In each example, the problem was the details were ignored.

One of our Air Force core values, excellence in all we do, hits the nail right on the head. If we do everything, large or small, to the best of our ability, then successful mission accomplishment is practically guaranteed.

The details are the building blocks for success. Like a builder, if you don't spend the time putting in a strong foundation, the finished product may look good but it will never stand up during bad weather. In this case, ignoring the details can have a catastrophic impact.

If a commitment to excellence is not part of your daily routine, you'll never get to the "big picture." You must spend the time and effort taking care of the "small stuff."

Mastering the small stuff allows Tiger Woods to hit a golf ball 300 yards. It enables Barry Bonds to consistently send baseballs sailing over outfield walls. It allows a pilot to put a bomb right on target during a high speed bombing run. Taking care of the small stuff guarantees two aircraft don't collide with each other while air refueling.

We marvel at the skill involved in all these tasks without giving a second thought to all the small details that must be mastered for each of these events to be successful.

In the military, consistently taking care of the small stuff has a name: discipline. It's wearing your uniform properly, complying with regulations, and not being satisfied with the job until you've done your very best.

Discipline and details go hand in hand. Without discipline and attention to details, we're setting ourselves up for failure. We'll never be able to admire the big picture because the building blocks or details don't get done.

We'll constantly fall short of our goals because the small things or details will trip us up. It doesn't matter if you're working alone or with a team, paying attention to the small stuff is always important.

So what's the secret to successful mission accomplishment? It's a commitment to excellence that starts with the basic building blocks of any task. It's taking care of the details as part of your every day routine.

It shouldn't be something you do after the fact in an attempt to find mistakes. If you didn't care enough to do it right the first time, the odds are certainly against you finding your mistakes the second time around.

Next time someone tells you "don't sweat the small stuff," take the time to explain to them how the "small stuff" makes the "big stuff" happen.