Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” This video is part three in our five part series titled Five Steps to Greatness. Principle number three is major on the minors.
Foxes love grapes. An adult fox is about knee-high,and when they are walking around in a vineyard, they eat the actual grapes. They don’t do any damage to the vine, itself, and so the grapes can always grow back. But it’s different for the little baby foxes. Their little mouths are much closer to the ground, so they nibble away at the base of the vine. Thus, they cause damage to the root system, long-term damage.
It’s the little things that can make all the difference in sports, in life, and even in business. For example, baseball: it’s often called the game of inches. A batted ball that lands a few inches fair or foul can determine which team wins or loses the game.
It’s no different in the marketplace. It’s the little things that make all the difference. Every day we have hundreds, even thousands, of small decisions to make. In reality, most of them are rather meaningless in the long-run. But there are many small things that if not handled correctly cause permanent damage. A little decision to not address that underperforming employee, or perhaps ignoring an unhappy customer by not addressing their concern right away. The longer we wait to handle these things, the greater the consequences.
So remember, it’s important to pay attention to the little details of doing your work with excellence and top-notch professionalism. To truly set yourself apart and experience true success, major on the minors. When you do this, you’ll be applying the truth at work.