I was 11 or 12 years old at my first quarter horse show.
I had been showing horses for a couple of years by that point, but this was a whole new level and a whole new ball game.
I didn’t know what I didn’t know… I don’t think I even realized how much I stood out as a beginner. I just thought it was so awesome I was allowed to go.
I remember the judge coming up to my horse (I was showing a palomino horse named Dutchie at that point) and inspecting her face. It was an odd thing to do and the only time I ever saw it in all of my years of showing.
It became a defining moment for me.
I stood on my tiptoes and looked at my horse the way she did. Then I peeked over at the other kids horses.
Their horses were groomed so beautifully. The judge was looking at how well (or in my case not well) the hair in her ears and on her face had been trimmed.
That was the moment I learned the power of detailed preparation.
Being prepared and caring about the small details is something within our control and makes a huge difference in the game of life.
It separates the amateur from the professionals.
It is what sets you up for success.
Not only does it make a good first impression, but usually leaves a lasting impression as it only happens at the high levels of operations.
Not everyone is willing to put in the work.
If you skip it, your only hope is for a perfect performance, which is too much pressure and almost never happens.
Detailed preparation is one of the small details that separates the champions from the rest of the pack.
It is these details that I’m looking for when I’m learning something new. I ask myself what small details do I have control over and I can have prepared before I show up?
When I get the opportunity I ask myself what are the successful ones doing behind the scenes that I might be missing?
After that day, I never stepped foot at a show again without my horse groomed to perfection from her nose to her tail.