Comments on: Balance fearlessness with attention to detail http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:18:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Allison http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-221574 Allison Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:32:50 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-221574 Some people can painlessly look at something for details, and the most important ones will still go by unseen! At that point, it is not carelessness, it is a skill that they do not possess. I think anyone can be detail-oriented, but it depends on what their personalities can focus on! For example, I am an interior designer who is incredibly passionate and somewhat knowledgeable in the field, but flawed in creating construction documents, product specifications, etc. I have tried countless times to scour a plan for noteworthy details, and will miss 75% of them. I can, however, look at a billing process and make it more efficient within minutes of reviewing it. I can convert measurements instantly. I can learn a computer program in a day. And I can sketch like mad. What I am trying to say is, we each need to find a job with the right *kind* of details to attend to. If a project/task requires detail work outside of your skill set, ask someone for help! Some people can painlessly look at something for details, and the most important ones will still go by unseen! At that point, it is not carelessness, it is a skill that they do not possess. I think anyone can be detail-oriented, but it depends on what their personalities can focus on!

For example, I am an interior designer who is incredibly passionate and somewhat knowledgeable in the field, but flawed in creating construction documents, product specifications, etc. I have tried countless times to scour a plan for noteworthy details, and will miss 75% of them.

I can, however, look at a billing process and make it more efficient within minutes of reviewing it. I can convert measurements instantly. I can learn a computer program in a day. And I can sketch like mad.

What I am trying to say is, we each need to find a job with the right *kind* of details to attend to. If a project/task requires detail work outside of your skill set, ask someone for help!

]]> By: Are You A Perfectionist ? - Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-217264 Are You A Perfectionist ? - Pressure Washing and Contractor Cleaning Forums - The Grime Scene Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:22:24 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-217264 [...] is OK. Believe it or not, in most cases 70 percent perfect is fine for what we do. The trick is to balance fearlessness with attention to detail and understand when you need to concentrate on each. 2. You do better work if you aren't worried [...] [...] is OK. Believe it or not, in most cases 70 percent perfect is fine for what we do. The trick is to balance fearlessness with attention to detail and understand when you need to concentrate on each. 2. You do better work if you aren't worried [...]

]]> By: janessafle http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-209188 janessafle Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:05:55 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-209188 web added united reviews response web added united reviews response

]]> By: aesoburned http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-209186 aesoburned Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:01:57 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-209186 actual number articles era study source society actual number articles era study source society

]]> By: paulocchee http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-209185 paulocchee Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:59:39 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-209185 mitigating link data globally percent alternatives future power mitigating link data globally percent alternatives future power

]]> By: Irina I http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-187167 Irina I Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:31:11 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-187167 Penelope, I just went on a binge reading of your old posts and I just cannot not admit that you're absolutely right here. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and looks like I'm going to have to actually sit down and process those thoughts (instead of surfing the Internet). Thank you for this one and the one that says that you have to<a href="http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/07/12/4-ways-to-make-more-time/" rel="nofollow">suck it up and do priority 1 list items and not priority 8</a>, even thought they are so seductive in how easy they are. Penelope, I just went on a binge reading of your old posts and I just cannot not admit that you're absolutely right here. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and looks like I'm going to have to actually sit down and process those thoughts (instead of surfing the Internet).

Thank you for this one and the one that says that you have tosuck it up and do priority 1 list items and not priority 8, even thought they are so seductive in how easy they are.

]]> By: saad http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-181822 saad Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:16:59 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-181822 frequent visitor, first time posting. i'm really glad you note that 70% is okay IN MOST CASES. imagine receiving oral sex only 70% of the way to orgasm. awful, no? frequent visitor, first time posting. i'm really glad you note that 70% is okay IN MOST CASES. imagine receiving oral sex only 70% of the way to orgasm. awful, no?

]]> By: Shannon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-172411 Shannon Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:33:45 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-172411 I just want to say how excited I am to read an article that mirrors my own thoughts on perfectionism. In my extreme detail oriented days, no one could beat me on perfectionism. I was also terrified of screwing up, and developed an eating disorder. I've stopped having to be right about everything, I've stopped being an awesome speller, and I'm fixing to stop working in a business that lives and dies by quarter inches (construction). It's completely contrary to my personality, and the perfectionism/forcing myself into details was killing me. And to Anshuman, if you are an engineer (especially with an MBA), you might not think of yourself as a detail-oriented person, but I guarantee you are. The people you're comparing yourself to are probably OCD level detail oriented. I work with people that I'm positive there's medication that could make them easier to communicate with. Anyway, great post. I just want to say how excited I am to read an article that mirrors my own thoughts on perfectionism. In my extreme detail oriented days, no one could beat me on perfectionism. I was also terrified of screwing up, and developed an eating disorder.

I've stopped having to be right about everything, I've stopped being an awesome speller, and I'm fixing to stop working in a business that lives and dies by quarter inches (construction). It's completely contrary to my personality, and the perfectionism/forcing myself into details was killing me.

And to Anshuman, if you are an engineer (especially with an MBA), you might not think of yourself as a detail-oriented person, but I guarantee you are. The people you're comparing yourself to are probably OCD level detail oriented. I work with people that I'm positive there's medication that could make them easier to communicate with.

Anyway, great post.

]]> By: My Blog » Blog Archive » Breaking the Perfection Habit http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-169568 My Blog » Blog Archive » Breaking the Perfection Habit Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:31:36 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-169568 [...] it or not, in most cases 70 percent perfect is fine for what we do. The trick is to balance fearlessness with attention to detail and understand when you need to concentrate on [...] [...] it or not, in most cases 70 percent perfect is fine for what we do. The trick is to balance fearlessness with attention to detail and understand when you need to concentrate on [...]

]]> By: Paula http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/comment-page-1/#comment-126769 Paula Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:49:06 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2003/04/07/balance-fearlessness-with-attention-to-detail/#comment-126769 "Detail oriented" is a common phrase on resumes, but it isn't a common trait, and that's a pity. For every big-picture, fast-action person, there needs to be at least one detail-oriented person to proofread their (sometimes brilliant) writing, remind them of their appointments, and tell them they have spinach on their teeth before they go to the press conference. Businesses, and indeed the world, need both types of people, and people who can switch from one mode to the other. "Detail oriented" is a common phrase on resumes, but it isn't a common trait, and that's a pity. For every big-picture, fast-action person, there needs to be at least one detail-oriented person to proofread their (sometimes brilliant) writing, remind them of their appointments, and tell them they have spinach on their teeth before they go to the press conference. Businesses, and indeed the world, need both types of people, and people who can switch from one mode to the other.

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