“You’ve got to think about the big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” – Alvin Toffler (and many others)
However, not always so easy in practice.
Lining Up The Little Things
Personal Thoughts on Creativity, Research and Other Matters
Steps & Leaps 
This reminds me a little of The Design Squiggle: https://thedesignsquiggle.com/