Z is for Zooming in & Zooming out

In life, we’re constantly in a state of ebb and flow between the intricate details of a situation and the broadest picture context. 

Take a work project for example. At times, we need to zoom in to understand the complexities and minutiae of every situation, project planning to every single day and accounting for every single £1. But if we stay in that detail we can get stuck, caught up in a tunnel-vision that can hinder creativity. 

So, to be strategic, we zoom back out to take a look at the overall picture and remind ourselves ‘what’s the point of all this; what are we really trying to do here/ change here/ create here?’

From my experience, a dynamic state of zooming in, then back out, then back in, then back out, well frankly it’s a powerful mix and is absolutely necessary to get the best out of most situations. 

I use the technique when I’m editing other people’s work, or when I’m planning a big project of my own or even when I’m thinking about potential life changes or decisions. To be able to step back and take stock of where you are allows you to “see the wood for the trees” again and to gain a broader perspective. But if you spent all your time up in the clouds, you’d never get anything done and you’d constantly live in a world of dreams. 

This challenge has provided another core example of the ‘Zoom in, Zoom out’ technique at its best. Every day, with every blog, and every new topic to find to write about, I’ve been drilling right down into the nitty gritty details. What’s a good length? What am I trying to say here? Would that word or this word work better in this sentence? Which picture captures the essence of the point I’m making here?

And now it’s over and I’m on the final post I’m zooming right back out to wonder: what’s this challenge really been about for me? What will I do with the results? And what could I move onto next? In particular, have I learnt anything about myself, the blogging world and my writing style that will be valuable to build on?

As ever, the answer is undoubtedly yes. 

So watch this space to find out how.