Break the Loop, Build the Launchpad
I could have said what they wanted to hear.
Instead, I told the truth.
It was during a major transition: a new leadership team, a recent acquisition, and a decision on the table about how we’d handle compensation going forward.
There were two options: ours and theirs. Both had merit. One was more financially streamlined, the other more people-focused. The executive team was asked to weigh in.
One by one, each person shared their thoughts. By the time it got to me, the direction was clear. Everyone was aligned.
I had a choice. I could echo the room, show support, keep things smooth. Or I could offer a different perspective.
I chose the latter.
No one yelled. No one rolled their eyes. I wasn’t dismissed or made to feel unwelcome. I had no enemies in that room just an opinion that came from a different angle.
I spoke honestly about what I believed.
In the end, the decision didn’t go my way. And that’s okay. It turned out to be the right one for the business.
But that moment was bigger than the decision itself. It was the day I recognized one of my own loops: the habit of deferring, softening, waiting until the timing felt just right to speak. And I broke it.
I spoke up. Not to be loud. Not to be liked. But because I knew it mattered.
That’s what BREAKing the loop looks like. Quiet. Intentional. Clear.
That moment didn’t earn me a title.
But it earned me my voice.
For High Achievers Ready to Lead from a Stronger Place
You’ve done the work. The results are there. From the outside, you look like someone who’s thriving: competent, committed, capable.
But lately, something has been circling just under the surface.
You’re not stuck, but you’re not moving like you used to. Your decisions take longer. Your schedule is overloaded but not impactful. You’re showing up but not stretching forward.
Sound familiar?
This is not failure. It’s a cue. A sign that your systems, strategies, or mindset haven’t caught up to the next level you’re aiming for.
For driven professionals, that edge, the place between what worked and what’s next, is where the real growth lives.
The shift you need isn’t about doing more. It’s about seeing what’s on repeat and choosing to do it differently.
You’re Not Failing, You’re Evolving
Career momentum isn’t just about output. It’s about operating from a new level of direction.
And when you’ve been working hard, being reliable, and proving your value for years, you’ve likely built habits that have carried you far, but may now be holding you back.
Common loops high performers get stuck in:
Saying yes automatically to maintain rapport
Redoing work to meet invisible standards
Putting off strategic visibility in favour of urgent tasks
Second-guessing bold moves while waiting for the perfect moment
These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re systems that worked until now.
If you’re ready to elevate, those systems need to be disrupted and redesigned.
Step 1: Identify the Loop
Start with what feels off, not broken.
Look for moments in your week where energy dips, confidence shrinks, or momentum fades. Often, those moments point directly to a pattern.
Ask yourself:
What behaviours or habits are stealing my time or energy?
Where do I find myself repeating the same emotional loop?
What am I tolerating that I know no longer belongs in my workday?
Naming the loop creates space.
When you see it, you can step out of it.
Step 2: Choose the Disruptor
A pattern doesn’t need to be solved.
It needs to be interrupted.
This doesn’t require a life overhaul. It requires one intentional decision that challenges the old rhythm.
Try:
Replacing auto-responses like “Sure, I can take that on” with “Let me think about where that fits best.”
Starting your day with strategic intention instead of inbox reaction.
Taking 10 minutes before a big meeting to reconnect with what you want to contribute.
Small changes done consistently have a cumulative effect.
Disruption isn’t chaotic. It’s conscious.
Step 3: Build the Launchpad
When the loop is broken, your focus returns.
And that’s when you build, not from pressure, but from alignment.
That might look like:
Time-blocking high-level work instead of reacting to team fires
Delegating tasks that don’t leverage your expertise
Owning your voice in conversations that shape your future
Aligning your calendar with long-term strategy, not short-term stress
This is what strong leadership looks like.
Not more effort, but better energy investment.
Final Thought
You don’t need a new title to start leading at a higher level.
You need to spot the loops that no longer reflect who you’re becoming, and choose, even quietly, to do something different.
Your next level isn’t waiting for you to prove anything.
It’s waiting for you to disrupt what’s no longer serving you.
Break the loop. Build your launchpad. Then take off with purpose.
Ready to Break the Loop?
If you’re navigating a leadership inflection point and looking for structure, clarity, and momentum, the BREAK™ Method may be your next move.
Let’s build what comes next.