My wife laughs at me when she spots me staring at a blank space. It invariable means I am in the planning stages of a project at home.
It appears I am just gazing into the distance but what I am actually doing is going through each step of the plan in detail in my mind.
Trying to anticipate what I will need, where I am going to start, what problems I may incur and what are the unknowns.
It serves me well also when I am planning out a client engagement. It puts me several steps ahead in the programme and I am mitigating risks along the way.
Being able to foresee problems and adjusting before they occur improves the client experience.
So next time you embark on a new venture, take a moment to stare into the distance rather than rushing in to get started.