A couple of days ago, my son sold a pair of shoes online. Easy enough, right? He printed a shipping label for USPS but then sent me to FedEx. A small detail, seemingly trivial. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t just about sending a package—it was about following through with precision.
This reminds me of the story of Steve Jobs. He once called a Google executive on a Sunday to point out that the “O” in their logo on the iPhone wasn’t the right shade of yellow. To most people, this would seem obsessive. But to Jobs, it mattered. Why? Because details aren’t just details—they define trust.
As leaders, business owners, or creatives, we often focus on the big picture—scaling, innovation, growth. But it’s the small, often overlooked things that shape how people perceive us. Sending a package through the wrong carrier or letting a logo color slide may seem minor, but they tell a story about the care (or lack thereof) we put into our work.
You might think your customers won’t notice. But they do. And if they don’t consciously catch it, they feel it. The details—those tiny moments where precision shows up—are what separate "good enough" from remarkable. They build trust, credibility, and confidence in what you offer.
Steve Jobs knew that even the tiniest detail—like the shade of a logo—could shift the customer experience. That’s what leaders should be aiming for: not perfection, but intentionality. Each small choice, from a shipping label to product design, sends a signal about your brand’s commitment to excellence.
So ask yourself, what small detail in your world might be slipping through the cracks? What’s your “yellow O”?
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