We all get caught in the minutiae. And it's not our fault. Our job, our life, even our world makes us focus on the small things. That's how we get things done. But sometimes, even if it's once a year, you need to step back, pick up your head, and see the entire picture. But for many of us, that's hard to do. Why?

We don't have the time.
We are afraid of what we will see.
We don't know how to do it.

So here are three simple ways to step back and see the BIG picture:

Take a day off from work. Look, it's mid-November. If you're like me, you have LOTS of vacation days just sitting there waiting to be used for something important. Let your boss know that you need to take a day off, don't tell your family, and go somewhere quiet (your local library is perfect — resources, tables and free wi-fi) to THINK.
Ask a friend for help. It could be your spouse, partner, colleague — anyone. If you've been having trouble actually setting aside time to do some strategic thinking, leaning on another person will ensure you will make the time. In addition, they will be an incredible sounding board to really think big. You can also help them with their big picture thinking too!
Break it up. Instead of a 'big bang' full day of strategic thinking, segment it into one-hour increments over two weeks. Get into work early (like I am doing right now - I'm sitting in a Starbucks at 5:45 AM), and start thinking BIG.