The Little Things Make All the Difference

In sociology there is a phenomenon known as the “broken window syndrome.” In short, a broken window that is not repaired in a neighborhood sends the message that no one is in charge and that no one cares. Soon more broken windows will follow and crime inevitably rises.

Malcolm Gladwell shares about a particular park that became infested with drug dealers in such a neighborhood. Wanting to turn things around, the members of the community decided to put the broken window theory to the test.

Along with repairing things that had been left in disarray, they began playing Beethoven and Bach through speakers that were set up in the park. In the end the drug dealers left; there was simply too much incongruence between their lifestyle and the new image of the neighborhood.

The study of the broken window phenomenon is scientific evidence of how much impact a small change can have, either for good or bad. The implications go far beyond communities and have vast undertones for personal lives and relationships.

As any home owner knows, it is important to make necessary repairs quickly. When cracks in the wall and peeling paint are left untouched we tend to not notice them after only a short time. (In fact, one recommendation of realtors is that new buyers make a list of all the things they see that need attended to when they first enter a home, otherwise they will become oblivious to the items over time.)

Here is the challenge; the things that we may no longer be conscious of are noticed by others. What we may no longer see or attend to sends a message to others around us. A little lowering of our standards here, a little compromise there adds up over time.

You see this in broken relationships where couples say, “I don’t know what happened, we must have just drifted apart.” You catch glimpses in people who have let their dreams slip away so subtlety they didn’t even know it happened.

In truth it is necessary for all of us to evaluate our lives and goals on a regular basis to ensure we tend to the broken windows and neglected pieces of ourselves.

Following are three questions to help will bring things into focus, giving you clarity about areas that may have fallen unnoticed into disrepair. Broadly speaking, at minimum we each have relationships, goals, financial decisions and spiritual aspects that we can apply these questions to. As you look at each area of life, simply ask:

1) What do I need to stop doing that is not working or taking me closer to my desired outcome?
2) What do I need to start doing that will bring my life in closer alignment with my highest values?
3) What do I need to keep doing that is producing noticeable fruit in my life, taking it to the next level?

Sir Isaac Newton once said, “I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.” It is true, we all have those moments when we question why we do the things we do or stop and wonder how things turned out the way they did.

I am confident that this simple but powerful exercise will bring some much needed clarity into areas where we may not have noticed things we needed to notice while demonstrating that it really is the little things that make all the difference.