I was recently on the Podcast of Tycoons of Small Biz. By no means am I a “Tycoon of Small Biz” and do not consider myself one. But when asked to speak or be interviewed, if I think my experience could help one person – I say YES! During the conversation of sharing my experiences of my many firsts that I experienced in my “Leap Year of Firsts” the hosts commented how the firsts must have taken me out of my comfort zone. I left my comfort zone many times! I was NOT comfortable flying a plane, racing a car, or performing stand-up comedy on stage. I definitely was not comfortable sleeping on the streets of center city Philadelphia on a cold December night with the homeless, going Live on QVC or walking into a religious service of a religion that I was not familiar with. I do not regret leaving the comfort zone. These experiences are some of my more memorable experiences.
When you do something for the first time it can be uncomfortable. Learning can be uncomfortable. Growth can be uncomfortable. Failure can be uncomfortable, and I failed with a number of my firsts. I failed trying to sing a Doors song in attempting to front a band. It was a train wreck. Horrible. Embarrassing. I failed in my attempts to juggle or to tie a bow tie for a first time. But they say you learn more from your failures that from your successes. I did. I believe, as my hosts reiterated, that getting out of your comfort zone forces you to learn. It promotes growth. It makes you continuously improve. It makes you live life fuller.
Will you do something today to take you out of your comfort zone? Will you take the chance? Will you do a first? Please do yourself a favor – take a step outside your comfort zone! Take the chance.
If you would like to listen to my Podcast interview, please click on the following link: Sink or Swim E140 – Business RadioX ® –