The Devil is in the Details

Why Small Problems Deserve Big Attention

Edition — 003

Welcome to The Obsession, glad you’re here.

Small problems can quietly derail your business. It never happens overnight, it happens over time.

Growing up, my dad used to say something to me all the time: “The devil is in the details.”
It’s one of those phrases that didn’t fully click until I was older.

I grew up playing golf, a game built entirely on details. When I went to the range, I didn’t just drop a ball and start swinging. I placed the ball by hand. I stepped back. I walked up like I was standing in the middle of a fairway. I went through my full routine every single time.

It was exhausting. It was slow. And it felt overly detailed.

But I was always reminded: the devil is in the details.

At the time, it didn’t seem like missing one small step in practice would matter much. And most of the time, it didn’t. The problem showed up on game day. When the pressure was on. When one missed step turned into another… and then another.

That’s when I realized why the routine mattered.

Practicing like I was in the fairway created a process I could rely on. A habit. Something automatic. I no longer had to think through each step, I could focus on competing. The routine existed to protect me from small, avoidable mistakes.

I have found business works the same way.

If I asked you to list everything you do in your business, it would probably be a long list. And with a list that long, it becomes almost impossible to track performance or identify what’s actually holding you back.

When I work with business owners, we usually start by breaking everything down into four buckets: Client Service, New Business, Product or Service Management, and Business Development.

This is the beginning of building something that’s repeatable, trackable, and eventually scalable. Just like a swing routine, a clear process helps you avoid the small problems that quietly keep you from hitting your goals.

What confuses me is how often I hear: “I’ll clean this up once the business is bigger.”

Why wait until things are more complicated?

Right now is the most time you’ll ever have.
Right now is the easiest moment to set expectations.
Right now is the best time to build the foundation that supports where you want to go.

The Weekly 3

1. One Question I Asked Myself

What are small, unchecked issues quietly slowing me down?

2. One Idea That Shifted Me

Process isn’t restrictive, it’s what gives you freedom when it matters most.

3. One Challenge to Take Into Your Week

Take 15 minutes this week and write down how your business actually works. If you can’t explain your process on paper, that’s your starting point.