Karla has been in business for more than 10 years, has muscled her way to six figures and has stalled out in complacency, scrounging around this plateau alternately trying out new strategies and sitting idle. What has it gotten her? Reduced revenues and accolades, fewer clients and less impact and in her words she had slid from sharp and stylish to frumpy ~ a serious concern as she’s in the fashion and beauty industry.

Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point, talks about the Broken Windows theory (or the Power of Context): “if a window is broken and left unrepaired, people…will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge. Soon, more windows will be broken…sending a signal that anything goes”1, thus tipping things in a negative direction.

Just like my experience with the cracked windshield, I had been acting like no one cared and no one was in charge: I had been dreading getting into my car, prevented from getting my car washed for risk of further damage, not enjoying life or pursuing various business connections as I was embarrassed, and I kid you not, it led to more broken windows – the driver’s side view mirror was hit and basically destroyed.

Gladwell is saying that our environment (or the context we operate within) has a significant impact on our thinking, feelings and behaviors; and on the related outcomes tipping you into either a downward spiral or an upward spiral.

Your vision is the context that you operate within and influences your outcomes. Do you know what you want? What you’re called to? Is your vision clear? Unobstructed? Aligned with who you are?

Karla thought she knew her vision…she was pursuing a coveted position in her industry that she thought would support the lifestyle she wanted for her family. When we met for her Power Boost Intensive™ coaching day we soon uncovered that was the issue, she had been coveting a position that would meet external expectations or “shoulds”, give her external recognition but ultimately would not be the vehicle to live her dreams and leave a legacy.

A powerful and successful businesswoman, she asked: “You mean I have choices? I can really choose my own path, articulate and pursue my own definition of success?”

Yes, Ms. Karla you can. And so can you! And you must if you are to be in integrity, healthy, impactful, profitable and at peace.

Understanding that it was her current vision or context that was creating the downward spiral described earlier she was ready to uncover her unique vision and shift to a positive, upward spiral.

In that session we faced coveting head on and used it as sand in a rock tumbler to polish the core gems of who she is; smoothing and refining her values, strengths, needs and wiring until they shone. In doing so we discovered that she thinks and gives meaning to life in numbers – it is her primary language, even before words – so we went through an exercise that quantified her vision. Some people use pictures or images for their vision, some use words or audio, others use dance or a quilt, Karla uses digits.

This numeric image pointed us clearly to a very unique industry position, gave us the timeframe with milestones and one strategic initiative. Just one. Not only did Karla get clarity, she also got simplicity. This one strategic initiative gave her both short term and long term goals in her personal and professional life, dictated a system and related policies and procedures, and articulated the immediate action steps to implement. It was as if her entire business and life just unfolded and popped out onto the table in front of us. Karla walked away with an inspired, focused and comprehensive strategic plan. And I can’t emphasize enough that it was simple!

“The Broken Windows Theory or The Power of Context are one and the same. They are both based on the premise that [a downward spiral] can be reversed, tipped, by tinkering with the smallest details of the immediate environment”2. That we are “acutely sensitive to our environment”3, context or vision. Sometimes that vision gets muddy, cracked, out of alignment or even broken and a good run through the car wash, filling in a crack, getting a realignment or a replacement is all you need to get out of that downward spiral and shooting up toward the next level of integrity, income and impact.

Though the crack in my windshield was very low and outside of my line of vision, it continued to draw my attention distracting me and in general distorting my perspective and priorities. When I got a new side view mirror and windshield I had a whole new vision that, as I described above generated energy, creativity, productivity and results!

Karla is experiencing the same: she has been on an upward spiral of high energy and effectiveness since we met; thoroughly enjoying that one simple initiative and related infrastructure to engage and serve ideal clients; and is reaping the recognition and rewards of steadily and sustainably living her vision – just look at the numbers!

If you want to maximize your clarity, motivation and follow through and be loving an upward spiral in your business and life, click here to sign up for a Complimentary CORE Strategy Session and get clear on your vision and next steps.

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1 – page 141, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
2 – page 146, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
3 – page 150, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell