When you play a concerto with a small orchestra, you don't feel

"When you play a concerto with a small orchestra, you don't feel it is as important as Carnegie Hall. You try to work out all the little problems. Once that's all done, trust comes in." These words, spoken by the virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman, reveal a profound insight into the delicate interplay between preparation and trust in performance, not just in music, but in all areas of life. Perlman’s reflection on the act of performing, whether in a grand hall like Carnegie Hall or with a smaller ensemble, underscores a timeless truth: before trust can take root, one must first address the small challenges, the intricate details, the uncertainties that cloud our path. It is only once these are overcome that we can stand with confidence and allow trust—in our abilities, in others, and in the process—to guide us.

In the ancient world, great warriors and leaders understood the importance of preparation before they could truly achieve victory. Alexander the Great, for example, was not only a brilliant strategist but a man who knew that no battle could be won without meticulous planning. Before he ventured into the Persian Empire, Alexander ensured that his soldiers were fully equipped, their morale high, and their strategies refined. Only once the small problems—supplies, logistics, coordination—were solved, did he feel the confidence necessary to confront the larger challenges of war. Like Perlman, Alexander understood that true success came not from blindly rushing into the unknown, but from addressing the details and allowing trust in the preparation to carry them through.

Consider the example of Homer, the blind poet of ancient Greece, who crafted the epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey. His works were not born out of inspiration alone, but from a careful weaving of narrative threads, each word and each line carefully chosen. Homer’s poetry was the result of meticulous craft, where small problems—phrasing, meter, rhythm—were addressed with precision before the larger themes of heroism, loss, and love could take their place. In this way, Perlman’s words about preparation and trust resonate deeply with the way artists and thinkers of the past approached their work: the small issues had to be dealt with first, before the larger creation could flourish. Once the groundwork is laid, then trust—whether in the performance, in the audience, or in one’s own abilities—can truly emerge.

In the world of music, Ludwig van Beethoven provides a compelling example of the tension between preparation and trust. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, one of his most monumental works, did not come easily. It was the product of years of refinement, with each movement and each note meticulously worked out. Despite his deafness, Beethoven trusted his process, knowing that the challenges of composing would eventually give way to the masterpiece he envisioned. When the symphony was finally performed, it was not simply a triumph of music, but a testament to the preparation, the painstaking effort, and the trust he had in his own craft. Like Perlman, Beethoven’s trust was not blind, but built upon a foundation of careful and deliberate work.

Perlman’s statement also highlights a critical truth about the nature of trust in any collaborative endeavor. Whether in music, art, or business, it is impossible to truly trust the process or the people involved until the small, often unseen problems are addressed. Trust, in this sense, is not something that can be rushed, nor is it something that can be demanded. It is earned through action—through addressing the details, through working through the small obstacles, and only once that is done can the confidence to move forward with full belief emerge. This wisdom can be applied in all aspects of life, whether we are navigating relationships, starting a business, or striving toward a personal goal.

The lesson here is clear: prepare thoroughly, deal with the small issues that arise, and only then should you trust the process, your abilities, and those you are working with. Trust is not an abstract concept, but something that grows from the ground up. It is the fruit of labor, of attention to detail, of overcoming the obstacles that naturally arise. In practical terms, when faced with a challenge, whether big or small, take the time to address the smaller issues, the ones that seem insignificant but often carry great weight. Once these are handled, you will find that trust becomes a natural byproduct, allowing you to face the larger challenges with confidence.

In our own lives, this means we must be diligent in our work, our preparation, and our self-reflection. We must tackle the small problems first, whether in our personal relationships, our careers, or our projects. And once we have worked through these, we can allow ourselves to trust in the larger process, to step forward with faith in our abilities and in the path we have laid. Let Perlman’s wisdom guide us: the work is always in the details, and trust, when it finally arrives, will carry us to places we could not have reached without that foundational effort.