How have you stretched your comfort zone?

mapmaker.curtrosengren.com

I remember a job search in my mid-20's where I was faced with the prospect of contacting someone I didn't know and asking for some of their time to talk about my search. It was waaaay outside my comfort zone. I looked at the phone, and then at their contact information. And then at the phone. And then at the contact information.

Eventually I made the call, but I felt like I was imposing. I had nothing to offer this person - why would they want to talk to me?

That scenario sticks in my mind because contacting people I didn't know and jumping into their lives eventually became my m.o. The connections that has allowed me to make and the relationships it has allowed me to build have played a key role in just about everything I've been able to do in my career.

And it all started by nudging the perimeter of my comfort zone a little farther out, little by little, bit by bit.

I think that "little by little" part is hugely important. Consistently, persistently pushing at the perimeter in small ways will ultimately add up to massive expansion.

I love what Carla over at zena musings does. Each week she asks herself, "How did you reach outside your comfort zone this week?" Making it a regular part of your week-in-review raises your awareness, not just for what happened last week, but for how you might reach outside next week.

Without paying attention to it, it's easy to slide from one week to another coasting on the comfort of the known. Making it your goal to include a little adventure in the discomfort zone every week will prompt you to ask, "What can I do this week?"

So, how did you reach outside your comfort zone this week? (seems like this would make a good question meme, don't you think?)

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Brought to you by Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM

 

Comments

[Tim]

Curt:

I enjoyed your story about the phone call you dreaded making and how these contacts you've made have helped you.

I'm in that situation now. I had a frustrating week in my job search last week because I didn't see many online help wanted ads. Then it hit me that I need to work on building my network and calling people rather than the passive thing and just waiting to respond to ads. I did some informational interviewing several years ago and I remember how these contacts snowballed into more contacts. I need to do this again and fortunately I have quite a few people on my list to call. It is time for me to be more aggressive on my search and "make things happen."

I also think that stretching our comfort zones is so important and as we get older it gets more difficult.

Tim

[Don]

This is truly an excellent point. I'm in a new job now (about 3 months) and a great many things have been outside my comfort zone. I haven't taken the opportunity, however, to reflect on how this has made me grow. I'll certainly incorporate the "How did you reach outside your comfort zone?" question in my weekly reviews. Thanks for the post!

[Alan Pritt]

Again, mid-twenties, job searching, having to make calls I'm not comfortable with.

But I already know what it's like to expand my comfort zone. I used to be afraid of making routine calls to do such things as pay bills or make general enquiries. Before that I even found calling friends a scary prospect. Now I don't think about it; I just do it.

Probably few were ever as bad as I was, but I do believe I've almost caught up with the majority and will soon begin to overtake.

Actually I have to. If I don't I'll always wonder what could have been.