Countless job ads ask for applicants who are detail oriented. Because it’s used so much, in my opinion, “detail oriented” has become just another piece of resume word vomit.

Moreover, I don’t think it’s enough to be detail oriented. Sure it’s important to take the time to learn which details to look for, thus “orienting” yourself toward “detail” in the abstract, but I think the higher skill is the ability to make solid decisions from the details you see.

We often spend a lot of energy on the big picture decisions—which products to develop, which campaigns to create, but I think the sum of our little decisions can be just as important.