Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Sometimes we skim the surface to gather an overview. Sometimes we dive in deep to discover the details.

I like an overview. I like the nitty gritty details. Which do we like? On which day?

For me, the overview is easier. I learn the general idea. I tell people that “all I have” is a general idea.

Sometimes I find myself diving into the details. Once in the details, I am fine. I am working. I am accomplishing something. It is, however, that first look under the surface, that chill of death that accompanies putting a foot into the water, that is painful. I hate that. It hurts a part of me for some reason. I hurts just thinking about it.

Today is one of those days when I leave the comfort of the overview and dive into some details. I don’t anticipate it with joy. Ask me this afternoon while I am in the details. Better yet, ask me this evening after I have finished the details. Then I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I can still dive into details and find difficult, detailed answers to similar problems.

Are you a project manager? You have an overview of what is happening. Do you understand any of the details? Do you remember when you were a “worker bee” thrashing through the details all day every day? Some of us became project managers because we didn’t like the details. Some of us became project managers because project managers were paid more money. Some of us became project managers because we became older and older people became project managers.