Tightrope:

— -- I have often heard it said, "Don't sweat the small stuff." And there is a book with that title. And in many ways I agree. After all, who wants to be bothered with supposedly small details filling up their precious time? However, I don't think this saying applies to functioning in business.

I am reminded of a time when my assistant Tina and I were getting ready for my departure to a conference. I asked her if everything was set and in place, and she responded with, "Everything is finished except for a few minor details."

I chuckled and told her that if a few "minor" details were still undone then we can't say that everything is finished. A few "minor" details left undone or forgotten could create a major disaster. Often the power behind success is paying attention to "minor"details.

I offered examples of what I meant. I started by reminding her of the day that I entered the office and found several large plants and two vases of flowers drooped over and dying from thirst. Somebody had forgotten the detail of watering them. By the time the water arrived it was too late to revive one of the potted plants and both vases of flowers.

Another one: Annette works in sales for a financial company. During a regular Monday morning sales meeting the manager laid out new plans to boost sales. Most of the sales staff was unhappy with their boss's recommendations, but of course no one said anything. The manager said that an e-mail recapping his plans would be sent to each member of the team as well as all senior level managers and even the CEO. "The e-mail will put everyone in the company on alert that the sales department will meet goal by the fourth quarter," he told his team.

The manager's assistant who was instructed to send the e-mail was also a good friend to Annette. When Annette received the e-mail her displeasure of the previous day's meeting resurfaced. Recognizing her friend had sent the e-mail Annette immediately replied to it, expressing her feelings on what an idiot the boss was along with a number of other unmentionable things. In her haste to get the e-mail back to her friend, Annette inadvertently clicked "reply to all" instead of just "reply."