From Little Things Big Things Grow

Mao made it famous, but he quoted the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu when he said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
The point I think that was being made was that the biggest plans start with small steps.
I used to look at them building buildings in the city.  Often an area would be surrounded by fencing covered in cloth to keep people out.  All that was available for an onlooker was a small slot cut in the cloth.  What amazed me was how often nothing appeared for yonks.  But every time I looked through the cloth, I could see work being done on foundations.  I could tell how big a building was going to be by the work being done on the foundations.
One day small things become big things.  Yet I know between potential and fulfilment there must be a multitude of small things done right.  To me something small is not to be despised or written off, as small may be the current season but is not necessarily the only season.
I think of the likes of Microsoft.  They started in a garage and have become one of the biggest companies in the world.  Any big company started small.  So often it seems to me the longevity of something depends on small things being done right.
There are no shortcuts to quality.  In the last few years, I heard about a building in NSW that needed to be abandoned as it was cracking and was considered dangerous.  It seems to me short-cuts were taken in the hope of making a quick buck.  Yet that company to me has suffered a reputational hit it will be very difficult to disassociate with.  It would be the sort of company to avoid.
To me doing it right early matters.  Sometimes doing it right can be in the face of contemporaries seemingly knowing success.  Sometimes it is a matter of hanging in “despite” how things are - not “because” of how things are.
I think of farmers.  They ensure soil is good and watering is available and then plant.  For a while nothing appears to be happening.  Yet sight unseen something is happening.  Plants are germinating.  Seeds are growing.  Eventually a crop is produced that feeds the farmer and many others.
When nothing appears to be happening is not the time to dig up the crop.  Doing it right and patience produce a crop.
I have two mates around the same age.  Both ran their own businesses and wanted to do well early.  One has retired early and the other went bankrupt.  One did it right and one did not.  One built on quality while the other built on haste.
Vision is always good, but vision alone does not determine success.  The quality of workmanship does.  Little things can become big things, but time building it right is always time well spent.