HERE’S AN INTERESTING THOUGHT: In the mountains, the haze lies in the valley. To see further, you have to hike up.

It’s a wonderful metaphor for business.

Yes, you have to get down in the details; that’s where the progress is made. But it’s quite possible that you’re going in circles down there, so you have to pull yourself out occasionally to look at the big picture.

I was working with a client recently who remarked that the only time he REALLY takes to think about the big picture is during our sessions. As soon as he gets back to work, he’s stuck into busy activity again.

But it’s not quite that simple.

I pointed out that various exercises we do help him to take his mind out of the weeds. At the end of the week when he’s looking at his key metrics, we’ve added some elements specifically to focus attention on planning, learning, and relationship development.

When he’s looking at the actions we’ve defined, several of them help him to think about his big picture of the business. That includes some discussions he’s having with potential partners, advisers and supporters.

The fact that he spends 95% of his time in the details is just fine. But that other 5% is what keeps things headed in the right direction.

Because he’s taken himself out of the haze.

(Details obscured to respect confidentiality)