Attention to details is one vital soft skill everyone ought to develop. Because if success were a commodity, one needs to pay enough attention to details in order to purchase it.

On Monday evening, I represented my department in the SUG Spelling Bee competition with over 30 departments in attendance. 

The pronouncer, a fair girl well-versed in linguistics, definitely knows her onions. She could pronounce ‘Paradigm’ and if you fail to pay enough attention, you will end up spelling ‘Paradise’. 

She spelt out the rules. Participants must spell two words out of three correctly to advance to the next round.

When It got to my turn, I nearly spelt ‘aphrodisiac’ when she pronounced ‘Knapsack’. It was after I asked for the definition that I was able to spell out the right word correctly.

Then came the second word ‘Vexation’. I quickly spelt ‘Vegetation’ without asking for a definition. I goofed big time. And that placed me at a disadvantageous position, at the mercy of one word which I must spell correctly to advance to the next round.

The third word ‘Mnemonic.’ In a bid to be assured of what I heard, I was patient to ask for the definition. The definition cleared all doubt. Then I began to spell. ‘M-N-E-M-O-N-I-C-’ , at this point my mind played a game with me. It told me to add an ‘S’. And I stupidly obliged without paying attention to details. 

That was how I spelt ‘Mnemonics’ instead of ‘Mnemonic’. This mistake immediately catapulted me out of the competition, as I was unable to spell two words correctly. It was painful. When I came off stage and realized what my mind had done, I was terribly angry at myself.

If only I had paid much attention to details, it could have made a huge difference.