Spotting the Invisible: How to Identify Hidden Patterns That Hold You Back
Ann Franzese Bourne
Helping high-achieving business owners scale smarter—through strategy, leadership, and systems that create freedom.
What if the biggest thing standing between you and the business (and life) you want... is something you can’t even see? That’s the reality for most business owners. It’s not just the market, your team, or the economy slowing you down.
Often, it’s the patterns beneath the surface—the ones you don’t even realize are driving your decisions and actions—that hold you back the most. These patterns are like invisible currents. They quietly shape the way you lead, manage, and operate. Some propel you forward. Others pull you under. But here’s the challenge: The patterns doing the most damage are usually the hardest to see.
So, how do you start spotting what’s been invisible? And once you see it—how do you know whether it’s helping or hurting you?
Step 1: Pause and Zoom Out
Most hidden patterns stay hidden because you’re moving too fast to notice them. When you’re constantly in “go mode,” it’s easy to mistake activity for progress—even if you’re running in circles.
Start by creating space to step back and reflect:
- Block time each week to assess how things are going.
- Ask yourself: - “Where am I feeling stuck or frustrated?”
- “What feels harder than it should?”
- “What’s not working—no matter how hard I push?”
Patterns often reveal themselves in the friction. If something is consistently draining your energy, wasting time, or holding your team back—it’s not just a one-off problem. It’s a pattern.
Step 2: Look at the Results
Patterns leave clues. And the most obvious clue is your results.
Review key areas of your business:
- Revenue growth
- Team performance
- Client relationships
- Cash flow
- Your own energy and time
Ask:
- “Where am I getting great results?”
- “Where am I consistently falling short?”
- “Where do I keep hitting the same wall?”
When you see a gap between what you want and what you’re getting—that’s where a pattern is likely running the show.
Step 3: Ask the People You Trust
We all have blind spots. Sometimes, the patterns we can’t see are painfully obvious to others.
Ask trusted team members, mentors, or a coach:
- “What patterns do you see in how I lead?”
-“Where do you see me getting stuck—over and over?”
- “What’s the thing I’m not seeing that could change everything?”
The truth you resist is often the key to your next level.
Step 4: Track Your Emotional Hotspots
Emotions are pattern detectors. When you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or stuck, there’s usually a pattern beneath the feeling. Notice when you:
- Feel anxious about a decision.
-Avoid a difficult conversation.
- Say “yes” when you wish you said “no.”
- Feel drained after certain meetings or tasks. Feelings are not the enemy—they’re the flashlight. Follow them to the pattern.
Step 5: Experiment—Test Small Shifts
Once you spot a pattern, don’t try to overhaul everything overnight. Start small. If you tend to say yes to everything, experiment with saying no once this week. If you jump in to fix every problem, try pausing and letting your team solve it. If you avoid financial reviews, schedule 15 minutes to check your numbers. Patterns are like grooves in the snow—they’re easy to stay in. But the path to freedom starts when you carve a new line.
Final Reflection
Patterns protect us—until they limit us. The key is to keep asking: “Is this pattern still serving me... or is it time to upgrade it?”
Every time you spot a limiting pattern and shift it, you unlock:
- Greater ease.
- Clearer decisions.
- Stronger leadership.
- Sustainable growth. The business that runs like a machine... is built by a leader who sees what others miss.
Ready to Go Deeper?
The Pattern Audit Workbook is designed to help you uncover the patterns driving your business and leadership—so you can shift the ones holding you back. It’s free—and it’s the perfect next step if you’re serious about moving from unconscious patterns to intentional growth.
System & Soul Coach | Elevating Leadership & Team Development | When teams stumble, let's ensure your vision delivers the clarity to build brand equity.
7moThis is a powerful practice to identify our personal habits and change the negative with small and incremental steps - I love the practice or KAIZEN and do my best to incorporate small steps towards improvements. Thank you for the reminder Ann Franzese Bourne...I need to reflect on the past week and see how to improve upon my activities.
I help you write the book the world needs. | USA Today Bestselling Author | Writing Mentor | Psychologist
7moInsightful post Ann Franzese Bourne. We need to identify our roadblocks in order work around them.
Contract Sales & Revenue Leader | Fractional CMO/CRO | Luxury & High-Value Sales Growth | Team Builder & Strategist
7moI'm a big fan of running experiments in these situations, Ann Franzese Bourne. It feels lighter than a full implementation plan - experiments are more like Seth Godin's approach, "This might work, it might not." It's a test. Of course, the other steps are necessary to identify where we want the experiment to focus.
I solve financial mysteries and bring clarity to business owners | Fractional CFO | Board Director | Financial Strategies
7moAnn Franzese Bourne, this is a thought-provoking perspective on how invisible patterns can hold us back. It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and overlook the deeper currents shaping our decisions. I especially like the focus on pausing to reflect and experimenting with small shifts to break free from limiting patterns. These small, intentional changes can make a huge difference in how we lead and grow our businesses.
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7moLove this helpful resources and your insights, Ann Franzese Bourne. A good reminder to slow down and pay attention to what might be happening under the surface.