One of the coolest things I’ve noticed while working with founders at WTFund isn’t their fancy pitch decks, their jargon-packed buzzwords, or even their sheer audacity (though the audacity definitely help). It’s this incredible ability to master what I call the "zoom lens." The best founders can seamlessly switch between micro and macro perspectives—like clockwork. They’ll be obsessing over user retention stats in the morning and by lunch, they’re talking about how their startup is going to reshape an entire industry. And here’s the kicker: this isn’t some magical, innate gift. It’s a skill. One anyone can learn.
Let’s unpack this.
The Micro
This is where the grind lives. It’s the space where founders win (or lose) every single day. The micro is all about those little details that make or break things. Founders who are dialed into the micro know their metrics better than anyone else. They know exactly how many users opened their app last night, how long they stayed, and which features hooked them. They can tell you how much revenue that new feature drove—down to the rupee.
Here’s an example: one founder I was working with was building a marketplace for second-hand furniture. They were obsessed with reducing delivery times because they realized that’s what kept customers coming back. They spent weeks redesigning their logistics, down to rerouting delivery trucks and consolidating warehouses. Result? Repeat orders shot up by 40%. That’s what micro-level focus looks like—an almost obsessive attention to detail but with big results.
Another founder running an edtech platform spent hours combing through feedback forms to find a single common theme: students didn’t like the UI of the live classroom feature. Instead of delegating it to a product designer, they worked alongside the team to implement quick fixes and test user satisfaction. The next week, engagement rates doubled.
But there’s a trap here. Get too stuck in the micro, and you’re basically a hamster on a wheel—busy but not necessarily moving forward.
The Macro
Now let’s zoom out. The macro is the big picture. It’s where the visionaries thrive—spotting market trends, predicting shifts in user behavior, and crafting a story that makes investors and customers sit up and listen. Founders with solid macro-thinking skills know how to sell their vision, and their excitement is infectious. They make you want to be part of the ride.
One fintech founder comes to mind. They weren’t just building a personal finance app—they were selling the dream of financial independence for underserved communities. Their pitch wasn’t just about their product; it was about systemic change and making financial equity a reality. That vision helped them land a $5M seed round and secure 10 enterprise clients before launch.
But here’s the thing: live in the macro too long, and you’re just dreaming. Big ideas are great, but they need a foundation to stand on.
The Real Magic? Switching.
The magic lies in the ability to flip between these perspectives seamlessly. The best founders I know treat it like a dance. In the morning, they’re obsessing over how a tiny onboarding tweak can boost signups. By the afternoon, they’re pitching a future where their company changes how an entire industry operates.
Take a founder building a mental health platform. They started their day in the trenches, testing fixes for a clunky onboarding process that was frustrating new users. By midday, they were speaking at a global conference, rallying support for a vision where mental health care is as accessible as buying groceries. That effortless shift from sweating the details to championing a mission? That’s the zoom lens at work.
Here’s the best part: this isn’t something you’re born with. Sure, some people find it easier, but like any skill, it can be learned. It’s about building muscle memory—learning when to narrow your focus and when to zoom out. And the more you practice, the better you get.
How to Start if You’re an Operator
Not a founder? No problem. If you’re an operator or individual contributor (IC), mastering this skill can still give your career a massive boost. Here’s how:
Understand the "Why" Behind Your Work: Don’t just complete tasks—ask how they fit into the broader goals of your team or organization. For example, if you’re designing a UI element, think about how it improves user engagement or retention, and how that ties to the company’s growth metrics.
Shadow Leaders: Spend time observing your managers or leaders during meetings. Pay attention to how they frame discussions—when they dive into details and when they zoom out to discuss strategy. Learn to recognize those transitions.
Own Metrics and Narratives: Even at an IC level, take ownership of key metrics and be prepared to explain how your work impacts them. Pair this with the ability to articulate how those metrics connect to larger organizational goals. For instance, "This marketing campaign drove a 12% uptick in leads, contributing to our target of 30% ARR growth this year."
Learn to Communicate Context: Practice explaining the significance of your work to different audiences. This not only sharpens your perspective but also helps build confidence in presenting ideas.
Practice with Projects: Volunteer for cross-functional projects. These naturally require you to think both granularly (to execute) and broadly (to align with multiple stakeholders).
Why This Matters for Business Narratives
Switching between micro and macro doesn’t just help you get stuff done. It’s the foundation for another essential skill: crafting and sustaining a killer business narrative. In today’s world, companies don’t just sell products—they sell stories. And those stories have to connect the day-to-day grind with the big picture.
Think about Airbnb. Their macro narrative was about "belonging anywhere," but their micro-actions—photographing hosts’ homes, streamlining booking flows, and creating trust through reviews—made that dream tangible. It wasn’t just marketing fluff; it was real, and people felt it.
A strong narrative requires constant maintenance. Founders who can zoom in and out are better at tweaking their stories to match market realities. Maybe new data shows something isn’t resonating. Maybe customer behavior shifts. The ability to reconcile the grand vision with what’s actually happening ensures that the narrative stays relevant and powerful.
Long-Term Benefits of Mastering the Zoom Lens
Being able to toggle between micro and macro doesn’t just make you a better founder or operator—it sets you up for long-term success. Leaders who master this skill often:
Build trust across teams by speaking both "detail" and "vision" fluently.
Spot early opportunities or risks others might miss.
Scale their leadership style as their responsibilities grow.
Take Satya Nadella at Microsoft. His ability to understand the company’s granular challenges (like culture shifts) while steering its cloud-first strategy was pivotal in turning the company around. That’s zoom lens leadership in action.
Practical Ways to Build the Skill
If you’re serious about mastering the zoom lens, here’s how to get started:
Practice Context Switching: Set aside time to consciously shift between tasks that require micro and macro thinking. For instance, spend your morning analyzing specific metrics and your afternoon brainstorming big-picture strategies. Use timers or dedicated blocks in your calendar to train your brain to switch gears.
Ask Better Questions: When you’re stuck in the micro, ask yourself, “How does this impact the bigger picture?” When you’re lost in the macro, ask, “What’s one small thing I can do today to get closer to this vision?” Keep a running list of these questions to help you reframe your perspective.
Read Broadly and Deeply: Dive into industry reports for the macro perspective, but don’t ignore the how-to guides and case studies that provide micro-level insights. For instance, read books like "Measure What Matters" for macro thinking and "Atomic Habits" for micro-level execution.
Get Feedback from Opposites: Surround yourself with people who excel at the perspective you’re weaker in. If you’re a macro thinker, partner with someone who loves diving into the details, and vice versa. One founder I know regularly hosts feedback sessions with their COO, who’s a micro-detail wizard, to balance their big-picture tendencies.
Keep a Reflection Journal: At the end of each week, reflect on where you spent most of your mental energy. Were you too zoomed in? Too zoomed out? Adjust accordingly. Write down what worked and what didn’t to create a feedback loop for improvement.
Simulate Real-World Scenarios: Practice switching by role-playing different scenarios. For example, pretend you’re pitching to an investor in one meeting and debugging a product issue in the next. The more you simulate, the easier it becomes to adapt in real-time.
The Big Picture
Being able to zoom in and out isn’t just a founder skill—it’s a life skill. It’s the difference between being reactive and being intentional. When you can see both the forest and the trees, you’re better equipped to handle whatever storm comes your way.
One founder I know almost folded during a market downturn. By zooming in, they identified a unit economics problem. By zooming out, they saw an opportunity to pivot to an adjacent market. That pivot didn’t just save their company—it doubled their growth in 18 months.
So, whether you’re a founder, an operator, or just someone who wants to level up, start practicing now. The zoom lens isn’t magic. It’s a skill. And it’s yours for the taking.
this was so insightful & helpful. bang on with the pointers and the the content, explanation and everything. thank you!!