Recently, I was going through one of my drawers (you know, the one where you store the stuff you don’t want to throw out) and found my Girl Scout sash. As I took a short stroll down memory lane, I remembered reading through the Girl Scout manual and trying to figure out how I could get the most badges with the least amount of work. Well, I learned very quickly that, although there were a few badges that didn’t require much work, they all required completing several small steps before the badge was awarded. The small steps focused on planning, diligence, and attention to detail. Consequently, I was awarded the badges only when I mastered (and completed) the required steps in the proper order.
DETAILS MATTER
Fast forward a few (OK, a lot) of years, where I now own a business which requires me to design and create products that are appealing and exciting. I have to admit that there have been times when I’ve been so concerned with completing the end-product, that I have skipped or not paid attention to the small details. When this has happened, my final project did not reflect the quality and workmanship that I wanted to give to my customers. Recovering from this inattention to detail cost more time and effort as the inferior product was trashed, and everything had to be re-done. Take time to initially work out the details and you’ll see superior results and better time management.
LITTLE THINGS ADD UP
My Girl Scout experience taught me that putting in the work to plan and master the small steps will lead to new and larger experiences. Today, as I create products, I’m focusing on the following little things,
Understand:
1. Who are my customers,
2. What do my customers want, and
3. How I can satisfy customer needs
within the parameters of the IYS brand
These 3 points may seem small, but they are important in creating a quality handcrafted product.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding. -Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Here’s an example of how paying attention to detail and focusing on the little things resulted in a quality product.
It’s Your Season!! — Enjoy, Appreciate, Thrive