Leaving Your Comfort Zone

This is one super slick blog...

Times are changing!! We all should get out of our comfort zone. But really, what does it take to do it when we're all facing uncertain times and financial doom and gloom??

It's certainly is a pointed topic for both now and in the future:-)

So glad I stumbled upon this post and your site. "Out of my comfort zone" has become my mantra. In fact, "learning social media, out of my job and comfort zone" is what I use as the subhead on my blog.

I started 2010 in despair, having lost my longtime job as a corporate communicator (and related identity) and turning 60. Then I began my deep dive into learning and applying social media, reawakening a passion for life that is now taking me in exciting new directions. I'm now engaged half-time to set up and be the voice of a Canadian business across several social media channels. Doing this on a shoestring means I have to learn and use the tools myself. That can drain my battery like nothing else! But the successes are so sweet. Taking this risk has also led to a renewed faith in people. I've discovered so many great and giving souls through these channels.

I'm a big fan of SYTYCD. I actually watched the episode you talked about twice, staying up till 2 a.m. so I could experience it again! I love being part of and celebrating the dancers' journeys, albeit remotely.

Hello Danny. A great analogy as always :).

We all to remain aware of the fact that most of the time we do operate in our comfort zone so that we can encourage ourselves to get out of it an push the boundary.

Not as easy as it sounds though. I suspect i am not alone in the fact that when I know I need to go beyond what I'm doing that I don't know where to start. It's not just simply a question of saying "I must move beyond my comfort zone" - putting it into practice is what counts. For me, this is where getting a good mentor or two on board can really help.

Thanks for sharing dude.

Danny, another problem with comfort zones is that sometimes we don't know when to get out of them.. It is like the definition of insanity..."You keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result". I think this has been particularly true with the economy. We were all livin it up about 3 -4 years ago and then the shit hit the fan and all those things we were doing that were great were not so great but we kept doing them because it worked at the time. I know we have had to rethink our business several time to adjust to what the market will bare.

Great post.

Great post Danny...the video of Alex dancing really knocked your point out of the park.

The comfort zone is one of the most dangerous zones to allow yourself to be in for long. Comfort creates laziness. Comfort creates 'sameness'. Comfort keeps you where you are.

I find myself in many of my different comfort zones often and have to force myself to push out of those zones.

Thanks for the reminder to keep trying and pushing.

For me, the challenge is even knowing when you're in the box.

I came across this touching story which illustrates this point. Sometimes when we're in a certain structure for so long, you can't even see the walls any more:
http://businessesgrow.com/2010/04/11/how-do-you-push-yourself-out-of-your-social-media-cage/

Danny,
Great analogy! It brings to mind exactly what some of us are attempting to instill into our clients regarding Social Media. They have managed to gravitate toward every stumbling block they can conceive which keeps them in their "comfort zone". I like to refer to the 3 E's....Energy, Excitement, Enthusiasm...when talking about pushing yourself to the next level. Can't beat it!!

I actually saw this performance (as my wife and I watch So You Think You Can Dance) and we were both blown away. I was working out on the deck and my wife exclaimed through the open window, "You have to come see this!"

I thought it was awesome and then she said "He's a BALLET dancer!" I thought it was even more awesome!

This is one reason I enjoy watching this show, as there's something to really learn and experience from it. Yes, it can be trashy reality television at times. But it's also art.

I'm not a dancer. I don't know shit at dancing. And yet, every week, I'm in AWE of these people who make it happen so naturally.

Danny,
Outstanding message and well taken! Even more inspiring with the video. I actually got goosebumps when I saw him nail the routine.

I've taken some big risks in the past few messages with my personal brand (but more to be taken) and it's really resonated not only within ME but with my readers.

I get what you're saying and it's timely for me.

Thanks!

My wife makes me watch this show (read: I secretly LOVE this show) and am often amazed when dancers go completely out of their training and kill it. It really does show that when talent meets drive, potential is nearly unlimited. Thanks for the video, I missed this one! What humans can do is truly astounding sometimes, thanks for the mid-day amazement!

This is one super slick blog...

Times are changing!! We all should get out of our comfort zone. But really, what does it take to do it when we're all facing uncertain times and financial doom and gloom??

It's certainly is a pointed topic for both now and in the future:-)

So glad I stumbled upon this post and your site. "Out of my comfort zone" has become my mantra. In fact, "learning social media, out of my job and comfort zone" is what I use as the subhead on my blog.

I started 2010 in despair, having lost my longtime job as a corporate communicator (and related identity) and turning 60. Then I began my deep dive into learning and applying social media, reawakening a passion for life that is now taking me in exciting new directions. I'm now engaged half-time to set up and be the voice of a Canadian business across several social media channels. Doing this on a shoestring means I have to learn and use the tools myself. That can drain my battery like nothing else! But the successes are so sweet. Taking this risk has also led to a renewed faith in people. I've discovered so many great and giving souls through these channels.

I'm a big fan of SYTYCD. I actually watched the episode you talked about twice, staying up till 2 a.m. so I could experience it again! I love being part of and celebrating the dancers' journeys, albeit remotely.

Danny,

Sure Alex Wong is a ballet dancer but he is a dancer. He knows how to move his body so it's a stretch that becomes possible. The thing with getting out of our comfort zone is we make it seem so foreign. Many of our stretches simply take our current skills and apply them in a different environment or with different methods. As Alex Wong knows he can use his body to move to music, we can trust that we already know how to do what seems risky.

Hello Danny. A great analogy as always :).

We all to remain aware of the fact that most of the time we do operate in our comfort zone so that we can encourage ourselves to get out of it an push the boundary.

Not as easy as it sounds though. I suspect i am not alone in the fact that when I know I need to go beyond what I'm doing that I don't know where to start. It's not just simply a question of saying "I must move beyond my comfort zone" - putting it into practice is what counts. For me, this is where getting a good mentor or two on board can really help.

Thanks for sharing dude.

While it's hard to get outside of our comfort zones doing so always helps us grow (both our business and as individuals). One of my biggest fears has always been public speaking but the more I do it the more confident I become in all parts of my life. Added bonus this leads me to get out of my comfort zone even more.

Yep, that was pretty cool Danny! Who wants to continue to be comfortable... time to break the dancin shoes out :p

Danny, another problem with comfort zones is that sometimes we don't know when to get out of them.. It is like the definition of insanity..."You keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result". I think this has been particularly true with the economy. We were all livin it up about 3 -4 years ago and then the shit hit the fan and all those things we were doing that were great were not so great but we kept doing them because it worked at the time. I know we have had to rethink our business several time to adjust to what the market will bare.

Great post.

Great post Danny...the video of Alex dancing really knocked your point out of the park.

The comfort zone is one of the most dangerous zones to allow yourself to be in for long. Comfort creates laziness. Comfort creates 'sameness'. Comfort keeps you where you are.

I find myself in many of my different comfort zones often and have to force myself to push out of those zones.

Thanks for the reminder to keep trying and pushing.

This is not a show I watch, but I'm so glad you shared it. Wow! Comfort zones are nice. We all have them. But we have a choice--stay in your comfort zone and be content or take a risk, step out of that zone and be happy. There's a big difference there that only those who dare to step out of their comfort zone realize.

This is spot on Danny!

This raises a question for me. I understand brands become satisfied or comfortable with the success they have reached so they do what they can to just maintain it; but if it's just constantly being maintained and the brand stays at the same level is it still success? I think the success is when you reach that point.

For me, personally, I think to be successful you have to always be wanting to sail those uncharted waters and be uncomfortable. There will always be a bend in the road, but the road still goes on (song lyric, lol). This is what defines success.

For the brands that just maintain this level to remain at a comfortable level, props to them, they're doing what they want to be doing. They're content.

I wrote about this exact topic for my personal brand here: http://ericungs.com/2009/12/01/are-you-uncomfortable-with-your-personal-brand/

I love chatting about this. I think it's important to feel uncomfortable.

Thanks Danny, for the write-up and video - haven't seen it until now.

@EricUngs

For me, the challenge is even knowing when you're in the box.

I came across this touching story which illustrates this point. Sometimes when we're in a certain structure for so long, you can't even see the walls any more:
http://businessesgrow.com/2010/04/11/how-do-you-push-yourself-out-of-your-social-media-cage/

If I didn't read your blog post and just saw him dancing I'll be "what? he's a ballet dancing? no way!" he nailed it!

Danny,
Great analogy! It brings to mind exactly what some of us are attempting to instill into our clients regarding Social Media. They have managed to gravitate toward every stumbling block they can conceive which keeps them in their "comfort zone". I like to refer to the 3 E's....Energy, Excitement, Enthusiasm...when talking about pushing yourself to the next level. Can't beat it!!

See, I told you it was awesome! Now if only I could get you to watch the Bachelorette with me. Think of all the fun Twitter comments you'll be able to make if you're "in the know"

I actually saw this performance (as my wife and I watch So You Think You Can Dance) and we were both blown away. I was working out on the deck and my wife exclaimed through the open window, "You have to come see this!"

I thought it was awesome and then she said "He's a BALLET dancer!" I thought it was even more awesome!

This is one reason I enjoy watching this show, as there's something to really learn and experience from it. Yes, it can be trashy reality television at times. But it's also art.

I'm not a dancer. I don't know shit at dancing. And yet, every week, I'm in AWE of these people who make it happen so naturally.

Danny,
Outstanding message and well taken! Even more inspiring with the video. I actually got goosebumps when I saw him nail the routine.

I've taken some big risks in the past few messages with my personal brand (but more to be taken) and it's really resonated not only within ME but with my readers.

I get what you're saying and it's timely for me.

Thanks!

My wife makes me watch this show (read: I secretly LOVE this show) and am often amazed when dancers go completely out of their training and kill it. It really does show that when talent meets drive, potential is nearly unlimited. Thanks for the video, I missed this one! What humans can do is truly astounding sometimes, thanks for the mid-day amazement!