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Attention to Detail September 11, 2001, I was in the chemistry lab at Springville High School. We had the Beaner & Ken morning radio show playing on 107.7 the X when our class heard of the first plane hitting the towers in New York. With everything going on that day we were released from school early and the rest of my day, like so many others, was spent glued to the news. I will sadly never forget that day. Fast forward a few years later, I, like many other Americans, made the decision to join the military. I arrived for boot camp with the US Navy in August of 2004. From day one, and throughout my years in the military, one of the most emphasized phrases driven home to us was “Attention to Detail”. It was built into every aspect of our lives, from simply shining our boots, to how you wore your uniform, to eventually being responsible for welding on superheated steam lines or 3,100 psi hydraulic piping for a nuclear aircraft carrier. The importance of good attention to detail had to be habitual. It could mean the difference in a sloppy appearance or work habits, to life altering consequences. In construction, good attention to detail can mean the difference in quality of a product, safety of employees or the overall success of the project. The importance of attention to detail in an industry with hundreds, if not thousands of little details is paramount. The details can mean the difference in making a profit or not, dimensions working out or being wrong, or forgetting to return a call that would make or break a schedule. We are so consumed with distractions in our daily lives it is easy to let things slip. I have read several books & articles on the importance of attention to detail, and how to improve it. None have ever been so impactful as the way we were taught in the military. Anyone can be better at the attention to detail by following these rules: Get better sleep, situational awareness, and prioritize things you need to get done. I want to challenge all of our employee’s here at Garrison Steel with the simplest way to improve your attention to detail: GET MORE SLEEP! Get in bed a little earlier, put the cellphone down, even if it’s only 1 or 1/2 hour extra sleep; you will be more attentive, more alert and more prepared for a hard day’s work. You’ll have less trouble reading those drawings, getting beams up in the air, a steadier hand while welding or in making the tough calls throughout the work day. This challenge requires no talent, no skill, just the will. I want everyone here to get better at the little things, in turn, the big things will also become easier. At Garrison Steel we strive every day to be better than the day before, doing our best to pay attention to the little things and be the solution in the steel industry.
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