Six Lessons I Learned When I Broke My Foot

When I broke my foot in August last year, it seemed like the timing could not have been worse.

I was three days into a new job. Apart from only having accrued about five minutes of personal leave, nobody wants to be a burden on the team when you are the new person.

As it turns out though, I needed the disruption to slow me down and remind me of some important lessons.

How it Happened

I was attending a boxing gym in my latest quest to get fit and lose weight. While doing a simple skipping exercise using a heavy rope (about 3cm in diameter), I miscued a skip and my left foot came down on the rope as it was on the downswing. I rolled my foot on the rope with my full weight on it.

A sharp stabbing pain told me instantly that my night was over.

The Full Extent of the Injury

At that stage, I thought it was just a sprain and I drove home to put ice on it. By the time I got home I couldn't put any weight on it and knew something more was up. After a seven-hour wait at the local ED, it was confirmed that I had broken the fifth metatarsal on my left foot.

I've since learned that the type of break at the base of the bone is called a Jones Fracture named after orthopaedic surgeon, Sir Robert Jones, who broke his foot own foot in that spot.

One of the 'features' of a Jones Fracture is that, because of the awkward position, it can take a particularly long time to heal.

So it's been a case of having to take it somewhat easier for a while.

What I've Learned During This Time

My initial response to this setback was that I wasn't going to let it be a setback at all. I immediately set about figuring out how I could keep doing daily exercise while managing the injury.

At this time, a very wise person said to me "I admire your determination, but you have to give these things time and let them heal."

I quickly realised they were right and that I was going to have to accept my situation and roll with it.

And so begins the lessons...

1. Be Patient

When it takes substantially longer to do normal things, such as walk up the three flights of stairs to my workplace, you learn to be patient with yourself. If you don't, you risk getting frustrated, trying to rush and quite likely coming unstuck even more spectacularly.

It's now been five months and I'm still restricted in what I can do. It's been a long recovery but in the context of a lifetime, it's a relatively short time.

The same applies to any setback in life. It's natural to want to fix things and get back on track without delay. But the reality is that sometimes you have no choice but to ride out the process.

2. Choose Kindness

While getting around in a moonboot and on crutches, many people (including complete strangers) would offer to help with all sorts of things like opening doors, carrying bags, and grabbing coffee. It was these little moments that made things so much easier at times.

On the flip side, there were still people who wouldn't even move an inch out of their way for someone who was clearly injured and not able to move freely.

I've often heard that people's true nature is revealed in how they treat people in those little 'moments of truth'. When you find yourself in such a moment and you have a choice between kindness and ignorance, choose kindness.

3. Refine Your Story

You get asked what happened...A LOT. At the same time, people don't want a lengthy account that includes every minute detail. You need to be able to explain what happened briefly while also capturing the essence of the story.

The same advice can apply for many other questions we encounter in business such as the classic "What do you do?". When you are able to convey your story in a succinct but engaging way, it becomes a powerful tool.

4. Make Time for What's Important

This was the toughest but most valuable of all.

Leading up to breaking my foot I felt like I was kicking goals big-time. Apart from work, I was exercising twice a day, plus studying, plus I had a number of personal projects I was working on.

Wow! I was so productive!

But the truth is I wasn't leaving room in my days for the most important people in my world.

The enforced slow down resulted in me ultimately having some pretty real conversations with my wife. We are better for it. In fact, we are closer now than we have been at any time in our 22 years together.

Sadly, my wife lost her mum to cancer late last year and over the past few months she has needed me more than ever. Having had those earlier conversations and got our relationship back in good shape, I am grateful that I've been able to support her much more effectively.

5. Be Present

The main reason I hurt myself was that my attention was elsewhere, not focused on the task I was performing. In retrospect, it's no surprise that I lost my rhythm, miscued, and hurt myself.

Likewise, when we fail to pay attention to our relationships, our work, or everyday tasks such as driving a car, inevitably there is going to be pain. Sometimes physical. Sometimes emotional. Sometimes both.

Be present in the moment. You'll be happier, perform better, and be safer.

6. Look for the Unexpected

Having just started a new job, I was meeting quite a few new people as well as re-establishing some old connections. I quickly found out that there's no conversation starter quite like crutches and a moonboot. So with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, I used it in a positive way, not only at networking events but on social media as well.

When you are handed an opportunity like this, don't be embarrassed to make the most of it while it lasts.

It's also a reminder that while the unique and unusual things about people aren't always as obvious a pair of crutches, if you are watching and listening for them, they can lead to great conversations.

Being More Self-Aware

For me, being forced to live life at a slower pace has actually proven to be the growth experience I was looking for. While I am now easing my way back into training and getting back to the personal projects I started last year, it is with my eyes wide open and a new-found awareness of what I am focusing on.