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Stop Hiding in The Details
It’s easy to obsess over flaws no one else will ever see—and miss the work that matters most.
Clay Garrett
October 2nd, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Morning—it’s Clay.
The human eye is amazing. It can spot the tiniest flaw, the smallest bubble in the glass. But sometimes we use that gift the wrong way—fixating on what doesn’t matter so we don’t have to face what does.
Today’s Kindling is about why we hide in the details, and how to step into the real work.🔥
The Job of the Sign
Years ago, I worked at a sign shop.
One day, I installed a set of vinyl letters on the front door of a business in a strip center. After smoothing everything out, I stood back and felt pretty proud of the work.
The owner came by, gave it a look, and agreed—it looked good.
Later, another employee came over, inspected it closely, and said, "It looks good... but there’s a bubble right here. And here. Actually, there are three or four bubbles."
I explained that the bubbles would work themselves out once the sun heated the glass. But she kept pointing them out.
Finally, the owner cut in:
"Where are you standing right now?"
She looked confused. "I'm at the door," she said.
He smiled. "Exactly. You're at the door. The sign already did its job.
If you’re standing here and we still can’t make you open the door, that's not on the sign. That’s on us."
It’s easy to fixate on the tiny flaws. To spend all your energy smoothing out bubbles no one else will ever see.
But bubbles aren’t the real problem.
The real problem is when the sign is clear, right there in front of people… and no one’s walking through the door.
We do the same thing in life. We obsess over the details, tweaking the plan, hunting for the perfect system, waiting for the right moment, because it feels safe. But the harder work is showing up for your family, following through on your promises, and putting yourself on the line.
The bubbles will fade in the sun.
What’s a detail you’ve been fixating on to avoid the real work?
Reply and let me know.
Then:
📞 Make the call.
💬 Have the conversation.”
👣 Take the step.
🔥 Do the thing.
What I’m Drinking
Cold brew is about as simple as it gets. Right now, I’m using Peet’s Big Bang Medium Roast—scooped into a mason jar, filled with water, and left to seep overnight. By morning, it’s ready to pour over ice. No gadgets. No fuss. No excuses. Just smooth coffee waiting in the fridge, so I can spend less time tinkering and more time on the work that matters.
Quote of the Week
We love to disguise imperfection with complexity.
We do this all the time—I do this all the time. Adding layers of polish, tweaking the details, convincing ourselves we’re making progress. But often it’s just a way to avoid the harder work that really matters.
For a while now, I’ve been offering Campfire Sessions—one-on-one coaching conversations built around the five pillars of Campfire Gentleman: Family, Purpose, Growth, Health, and Simplicity.
These aren’t lectures or “10x hustle” blueprints. They’re simple, practical conversations designed to help you sort out what matters, clear away the noise, and take your next step with confidence.
If you’ve been thinking, “I should do this sometime,” maybe that time is now. Pull up a chair at the fire—let’s talk.
👉 Book your Campfire Session here
Until next time—
Keep the fires burning,
— Clay
P.S. I’d rather grow Campfire Gentleman through real connections than algorithms. If something here resonated with you, forward it to one friend who might enjoy it too. That simple act helps more than you know—and keeps me off the social media hamster wheel.
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