When I was first apprenticing under a successful DJ at the tender age of 21, sitting in the studio writing music for 12 hours a day, I remember a lesson that stuck with me from then until now: details matter.

What struck me watching this professional at work, was how much time he spent on seemingly insignificant things. He could spend hours agonizing over the tiniest cross-fades on an audio track, stuff that I was 100% sure most people couldn’t even hear. It wasn’t about good enough, it was about chasing “perfection”. I learned that a thousand little details are what separate something great from something mediocre—the big picture is seldom the deal-breaker.

These days, I believe that every form of expression is music, whether it’s art, a website, a speech, a piece of content, you name it. And so many times in our lives, small-minded people will push back against the details: Who cares if this text is 10 pixels too far to the right? Who cares if this video is 10% too dark? Who cares if this audio is a little muddy, or a little harsh? Who cares? Why bother? Is the juice even worth the squeeze?

But in all forms of human output and expression, the details aren’t just details. They are everything. They are the difference between good and great. Always.