--- title: "Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment" description: "Discover how over-focusing on major life achievements can harm relationships and personal fulfillment, and learn to embrace the value of everyday moments." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ], "jobTitle": "Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Blue Goat Cyber", "url": "https://bluegoatcyber.com/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#website", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Discover how over-focusing on major life achievements can harm relationships and personal fulfillment, and learn to embrace the value of everyday moments.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/df486cb9-fcd7-4351-be7f-b5b5826d1237/focusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-04-28T05:07:43+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:34:19.396Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/focusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the core idea behind \"Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Macro and micro are descriptors we use to demonstrate the difference between something large or great and something small. In this instance, the macro" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is this post for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Honestly, anyone who suspects the real life is happening in the ordinary hours, not the milestones. If you want a listicle, this is not that. If you want the honest version of what I have actually lived and worked through, keep reading." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I actually apply this, not just nod along?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pick the single line in the post that made you flinch or look away, and change one thing in your week because of it. One choice this week beats a whole framework you never touch." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [](/) [About](/about)[Speaking](/speaking)[Cybersecurity](/cybersecurity)[Programs](/programs)[Books](/books)[Media](/media) Writing Search Ctrl K[Connect](/connect) [The In-Between](/blog/category/the-in-between) # Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment April 28, 2024 2 min read 537 words I think about macro and micro as two different ways to look at my life. Macro is the big stuff, the milestones, the finish lines. Micro is everything else, all the small moments that make up a day. For a long time, I only cared about the macro. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/09211b3c-b149-42b9-9d70-736b5c913d35/038c600f6155.jpg) The takeaways 1. 01 Macro is the big stuff, the milestones, the finish lines. What to do next Pick one conversation you have been putting off where macro is the real subject, and have it before the week ends. 2. 02 Micro is everything else, all the small moments that make up a day. What to do next Choose one small action tied to micro you can do in the next 24 hours that your future self would thank you for. 3. 03 For a long time, I only cared about the macro. 4. 04 Obsessing over the macro means you miss being present. I think about macro and micro as two different ways to look at my life. Macro is the big stuff, the milestones, the finish lines. Micro is everything else, all the small moments that make up a day. For a long time, I only cared about the macro. I thought that was all that mattered. But I was wrong. Obsessing over the macro means you miss being present. You miss the beauty of the moments you're actually living. I was a hard charger, always chasing the next big thing. I achieved a lot, but my life felt empty. I realized I'd let too many micro-moments slip by, and I knew I had to change. I wrote about that whole transformation in my book, _[The In-Between: Life in the Micro](https://www.amazon.com/Between-Life-Micro-Christian-Espinosa/dp/B0CP9WT8J7)_. ## A Macro-Minded Life Damages Relationships In the past, my focus was always on the macro, on reaching some objective. I was self-centered, seeing any obstacle as just an inconvenience. I wanted outcomes; I didn't care about connections. Because of that, I sacrificed important relationships. One instance of this that I describe in my book was reuniting with my partner in Denmark during the pandemic. There were issues with my paperwork and visa. Fixing this problem consumed me, and the micro was lost. The whole reason I was there was to be with her, but I ignored this when circumstances changed. The macro-obsession caused me to lose touch with the moment, eventually ending with a breakup. I hit rock bottom, but there was some good that came out of it. I decided that I no longer wanted to lose out on the in-between. Before I began the path toward change, I started to see more evidence of choosing the macro over the micro. This mindset kept me inside my safe bubble state, and then I had the chance to really reflect during a health crisis. ## Reflecting on the Past of Macro vs. Micro During my recovery, I couldn’t be active and busy, which was foreign to me. I had a lot of time to think and process things from years prior. I thought of my grandpa and his last days. Because I was too worried about the macro, I didn’t say the things I really wanted to in those days. It was a deep regret. Looking back on it years later, I finally realized why I reacted as I did. ## Embracing the Micro During my reflection and rock-bottom moments, I vowed not to let the macro be in control. I wanted to embrace the micro and never lose relationships or interactions again. It’s not an easy transition, and I’m far from perfect. I relinquished the bubble state so I could cultivate awareness and authenticity. It was an important step that allowed me to venture into the in-between with a new perspective. You can read more about the macro and micro in my book. Kindle![](https://fls-na.amazon.com/1/batch/1/OP/ATVPDKIKX0DER:134-0273079-5560065:HZ9G9JGCDZ27DGS2G9JF$uedata=s:%2Fuedata%2Fuedata%3Fstaticb%26id%3DHZ9G9JGCDZ27DGS2G9JF:0) ![Book cover](/__l5e/assets-v1/123e3cbe-6e4d-4e21-83a8-66ff111f0489/0bcd489cbc3d.jpg) Get bookRead sample Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment - Christian Espinosa"? ### Who is this post for? ### How do I actually apply this, not just nod along? ### Work with me I help founders and cybersecurity leaders build teams that ship, not teams that stall. If that's the problem you're trying to solve, let's talk. [Start a conversation](/contact) Share this essay [X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffocusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment&text=Focusing%20on%20the%20Macro%20at%20the%20Expense%20of%20the%20Moment) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffocusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffocusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment) [Email](mailto:?subject=Focusing%20on%20the%20Macro%20at%20the%20Expense%20of%20the%20Moment&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffocusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment)Copy link ![Christian Espinosa, headshot](/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg) About the author [Christian Espinosa](/about) · Founder & CEO, Blue Goat Cyber Christian is the founder and CEO of Blue Goat Cyber, a medical device cybersecurity firm. He's an Air Force Academy graduate, 24x Ironman, climber of two of the Seven Summits, and the author of The Smartest Person in the Room and The In-Between: Life in the Micro. Keep reading - [ ### The Accident That Taught Me to Live in the In-Between | Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/the-accident-that-taught-me-to-live-in-the-in-between) - [ ### Micro-Moments Center on the Present - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/micro-moments-center-on-the-present) - [ ### Trauma Creates a Wall to Micro-Moments - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/trauma-creates-a-wall-to-micro-moments) [← Previous essay Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/fixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state)[Next essay → Indecision and Regret: The Inner Monologue - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/indecision-and-regret-the-inner-monologue) Related, Cybersecurity ### Need medical-device or offensive security expertise? Blue Goat Cyber, Christian's firm, runs FDA-aligned premarket submissions, penetration testing, and SBOM/SOUP analysis for medtech and high-stakes industries. [Explore Blue Goat Cyber](/cybersecurity) Christian Espinosa Bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Founding CEO of [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com/). Helping technical leaders develop the soft skills that turn brilliance into impact. 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