A few weeks ago, I found myself in a situation I never saw coming—sitting on the floor with my foot bent in ways it definitely shouldn't be. I was going down just two stairs to a lower-level room when my ankle folded, and I came crashing down on top of it. The pain was overwhelming and intense, the tears started flowing immediately, and, there I laid still trying to convince myself it was just a sprain. Spoiler alert—it wasn’t.
Now, I’m juggling life as a full-time working mom of two energetic little ones, all while hobbling around in a clunky boot that’s apparently trying to rob me of my dignity (they actually make me sleep in it!). I am two weeks into a six week long recovery period that includes crutches, a ridiculous knee scooter, and absolutely no weight bearing. But despite the chaos (and the very real pain of a broken foot), this experience has taught me some profound lessons I couldn’t ignore. And, as I reflected, I realized these lessons stretch far beyond personal life and straight into the world of business.
While I don’t wish a broken bone on anyone, I do hope you can take advantage of what I have learned from being sidelined. When we’re forced to slow down, it can reveal inefficiencies and spark necessary changes, ultimately leading to better outcomes, whether in personal life or at your law firm. Here are the key takeaways I’ve limped away with—and trust me, they apply just as much to running a business as they do to nursing a fractured limb back to health.
You know what happens when you rush down stairs without paying attention? You break your foot. You know what happens when you rush through decisions in business? Mistakes. Big ones.
Our society has glorified "busy" to the point where it’s almost a requirement of the modern working world. But when you're running on autopilot, you're bound to miss crucial details. In the same way I misjudged that step, legal professionals and business leaders often misjudge situations because they’re trying to tackle too much at once.
Had I slowed down—just for a second—I'd likely be walking fine today. Similarly, leaders who slow down and take the time to think critically, analyze data, and assess risks often find themselves building stronger, more resilient businesses.
Healing a broken bone isn’t something you can just speed through (believe me, I’ve tried). It takes time, consistency, and patience. The same is true in business. If you’re working to restructure your law firm’s intake team or implement a new case management system, you won’t see results overnight. But when you commit to the process and give it the time it deserves, you’ll notice the results are richer and more impactful.
Patience isn’t passive—it’s an active choice to trust the process and stay the course, even when the results aren’t immediate. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through both my injury and my role at Vista, it’s that patience isn't just a virtue—it’s a strategy for navigating challenges. Whether it’s recovering step by step or working towards long-term goals with a team, patience teaches us resilience, focus, and the importance of showing up every day, even when progress feels slow.
Breaking your foot is humbling. Suddenly, tasks as simple as making coffee or driving to the office become monumental, or in some cases, insurmountable challenges. And yet, the world doesn’t stop for me to heal.
This reminded me of a powerful lesson I often see in the legal field—you have to extend grace. This might look like understanding when a team member is balancing a heavy caseload or giving yourself permission to take five minutes to breathe when things feel overwhelming.
We all have moments where we fall short—literally and figuratively. Maybe it's a missed deadline, an awkward conversation, or a personal goal that feels just out of reach. These moments can weigh on us, but grace allows us to keep moving forward without the crushing burden of perfectionism. It's a reminder that progress, not perfection, is what truly matters and that every step, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.
With my foot in a boot, the temptation to push through and "get back to normal" has been overwhelming. But I’ve also learned that skimping on the recovery process is a recipe for disaster. Without proper rest and physical therapy, I’d risk long-term damage.
The same holds true for big business decisions or projects. Rushing through solving a problem—whether it’s building a comprehensive report set or onboarding new hires—often results in half-baked solutions that fall apart later. Taking the time to do things right ensures long-term success. It’s not always the “faster” route, but it’s the route that’s worth it.
If you're determined (read: stubborn), you don’t like hearing phrases like "take care of yourself" or "rest up." These are hard words to internalize when you have two kids running circles around you and a job you love. However, when I actually stopped to listen to my doctor’s advice, the real progress began.
How often do we, as professionals, hear feedback without truly listening to it? Whether it’s a team member suggesting a new process, a client voicing their needs, or a colleague offering constructive criticism, active listening is crucial to addressing challenges effectively. It’s not just about hearing the words—it’s about understanding the message, the intent, and the context behind them. When we stop, fully engage, and absorb what’s being shared, we create space for collaboration, innovation, and meaningful action. Only then can we respond thoughtfully and take steps that lead to real progress.
Two stairs. That’s all it took to upend my life. It was a reminder that small hurdles—a tech glitch, a miscommunication, a slight delay—can sometimes create monumental challenges.
This is especially true for personal injury attorneys managing large caseloads or COOs trying to balance shifting team dynamics in a constantly evolving workplace. Those small hurdles—whether it's a missed deadline, communication breakdown, or a sudden staffing issue—can escalate quickly if not addressed in time.
Taking the time to identify and solve these challenges early is one of the most effective ways to ensure your practice or business runs smoothly, avoiding unnecessary stress and maintaining productivity. By proactively addressing potential pain points, you can foster a more efficient, resilient, and adaptable environment for your team.
When you’re sidelined with a broken foot, you quickly learn how important it is to rely on others. My partner has stepped up in incredible ways, taking on more than his fair share of parenting duties. My own Vista team has shown up with kindness and encouragement, allowing me to thrive professionally despite a temporary setback.
This rings true for businesses, too. A strong, cohesive team isn't just a nice-to-have—it’s essential to survival and success. When each team member is engaged, empowered, and aligned, there’s no hurdle too big to overcome.
And just like how I couldn’t heal my broken foot on my own, no business can thrive without the contributions and support of its team members. By valuing and investing in your team, you’re creating a foundation for long-term growth and sustainability. Don’t focus solely on individual successes—think about the collective journey towards achieving both personal and professional goals.
Breaking my foot felt like a major inconvenience at first, throwing my daily routine into chaos. As a parent of two toddlers, my mornings were already hectic, and slowing down has felt frustrating and unproductive. But as I adjust to my new pace, I realize it is exactly what I needed.
This has given me time to reflect on how wild our mornings had become, and it has inspired me to make a change. I created a simple morning checklist that hangs on the refrigerator to keep us on track, reducing the stress of getting everyone out the door. When a task is completed, it gets a check mark. I don’t know about you, but that little check mark is super motivating for me! This experience has reminded me of a metaphor that our CEO, Tim always uses when explaining “the dip” to law firms. He tells the firm that you can’t keep driving with a flat tire without causing serious damage—you have to pull over, fix the problem, and then continue your journey.
The same is true for a plaintiff law firms. When firms become overwhelmed by caseloads or inefficiencies, taking time to evaluate workflows and processes can reveal opportunities for improvement, benefiting both the team and the clients. Sometimes, slowing down really is the fastest way to move forward.
While I wouldn’t recommend breaking a bone as part of your personal growth strategy (seriously, 0/10 experience), I do recommend reflecting on the moments in your life that force you to slow down, adapt, and reframe your perspective.
As I sit here with my boot propped up and the hum of my laptop in the background, I realize just how much this experience has reinforced lessons we apply every day at Vista. From patience to teamwork to facing challenges head-on, these principles resonate far beyond personal injury law firms—they’re universal truths for any leader or business professional.
If you're ready to tackle your business challenges with a fresh perspective and a dedicated team, Vista is here to help. Because whether it’s a broken foot or a broken workflow, there’s always a way forward.
Here’s to walking steadily.
