Want to get out of your comfort zone? Well, it’s not always natural or easy to be creative and get out of the comfort areas as a business owner due to fear of risk-taking, desire for perfection and clinging on to old ways of doing things. So how do you ignite your creative self and foster that in your team? It can be achieved.
Here’s how entrepreneurs and business owners get out of their comfort zone.
#1- Order something new off the menu
The next time you have a coffee run or grab takeout, try a beverage or snack/appetizer you've always been curious about but never actually ordered before. See if you like it. If you do, that's awesome! If not, you can always return to your trusty order. Ordering something new allows you to shake up your routine and discover new things you may like that you might not have previously thought to try on for size.
Thanks to Deborah Sweeney, MyCorporation!
#2- Realize you’re one
When you find yourself playing it safe or convincing yourself that maybe you’ll throw your hat into the ring for the next opportunity instead of the one right in front of you, it’s time to admit you may be in that comfort zone rut. Examine your beliefs about why you’re not taking the risk or challenging yourself. Is there truly a reason to not put yourself out there, or is it just a habit because it feels safe? What are your limiting beliefs about your own value or worth? Replacing those thoughts with affirmations or seeking out encouragement from colleagues can serve as a fantastic interruption to the pattern of playing it safe and staying small.
Thanks to BenahParker, Level 42 Consulting!
#3- Create content under a personal brand
This makes you vulnerable, and vulnerability pushes people outside of their comfort zones. I've done this for years by creating content several times per week on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. What used to seem daunting is now a walk in the park. The key is to push harder, take a leap where you once tip-toed, and be willing to learn from the feedback of others.
Thanks to Bobby Macey, Macey Media!
#4- Engage in a mindfulness practice
This can aid in slowing down the racing thoughts that often accompany taking a chance on a new venture. When you engage in a practice such as meditation, yoga, or journaling, you give yourself a chance to explore the underlying reasons why you haven’t moved forward and achieved the level of success you were destined for. Once you are aware of the thoughts and feelings holding you back, then you can address them head on and overcome them.
Thanks to Sarah Lyall-Neal
#5- Get used to being uncomfortable
This is a natural feeling that you have whenever you are learning something new or venturing into the unknown. Also, they call it growing pains for a reason, stretching and challenging yourself isn't always a pleasurable experience. I would love to leave with one of my favorite quotes: Fear is a mile high, a mile wide, and paper-thin. The true mark of a courageous person isn't that she doesn't feel any fear, it's that she moves forward despite that fear.
Thanks to Kaila Yu, NomList!
#6- Take risks
People are afraid of getting out of their comfort zone simply because this is where it feels familiar and this is where they feel protected, safe, and secure. Remember that your comfort zone is where you might feel safe and secure, but staying here would mean you are stagnant and it won't get you anywhere. The best way to get out of here is to take risks that will help you grow and be a better you.
Thanks to Lewis Keegan, SkillScouter!
#7- Start small and build up
Plan small steps. For example, when learning a language try using a few new sentences with someone of the target language. One of our students, a non-native English speaker, started with casual conversations with his baker. By the end of the year he was giving presentations in English and had passed his test. In summary, build up to larger discomfort and bigger challenges. When we stretch and rip our muscles they grow, the same applies to when we are out of our comfort zone.
Thanks to Ben Worthington, IELTSPodcast!
#8- Understand it
Your comfort zone is there because it is a safe space that you created to protect you from a thief in your life. Acknowledging and understanding is your best exit strategy. Next time you find yourself overthinking, procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed, grab a pad and pen. Ask yourself the following: What would you do if nothing were stopping you? Get clear on where your mind goes if anything is possible. Next, imagine that you are doing that thing that you just wrote down. What are the worst case scenarios in regard to outcomes? Write them down. Finally, stand in front of the mirror and read your answer and your worst case scenarios out loud to yourself. Listen carefully. Are the outcomes you wrote about fact or fiction? How likely are they to actually happen? What is possible if this worst case is not? Now rewrite your list with all of the successes that are possible if you were to move forward with this unknown entity. What is one thing you can now do to move you 10% closer to achieving what you want. Do that step! Slay what gets in the way! You are now out of your comfort zone. Keep going!
Thanks to Randi Levin, Randi Levin Coaching!
#9- Expand the limit of what you can do
This can be achieved very successfully by takin a very gradual approach, and in fact, this tends to be the best way, because the effect becomes cumulative and you gather confidence as you go. The opposite approach of chasing things that you get a negative feeling about just to conquer a fear or dislike of a thing, on the other hand, tends to fail early on for obvious reasons.
Thanks to John Moss, English Blinds!
#10- Recognizing that playing safe is the quickest path to irrelevance
As CEO of a digital marketing agency in the financial services, I had to thrive outside my comfort zone. How did I do it? By recognizing that playing it safe is the quickest path to irrelevance. You must override the part of your brain that wants you to play it safe and talks you out of doing anything new, different, or difficult. At the end of the day, your success as an entrepreneur and business owner is in direct correlation to your ability to get comfortable with uncomfortable!
Thanks to Tina Powell, C-Suite Social Media!
#11- Pushing beyond your current capabilities
The way I like to reframe this is in what the discomfort represents, not how it feels. For example, let's look at an Olympic athlete. Do you think that when an Olympic sprinter is in the final seconds of their race that they feel calm and relaxed? Of course not! They're huffing, puffing, and probably on the verge of passing out from the pain. They push through the pain because it's within that pain that champions are forged. Look at comfort not as the goal but as the place that keeps you stuck in sameness.
Thanks to Joe Kerns, MAJiK Marketing!
#12- Let Fear Be Your Compass
My journey of self-discovery has been full of twists and turns. While I knew I needed to do something to get myself out of my comfort zone and be the person I was meant to be, the answer wasn't staring me in the face. So I took a look at my past, and I had one regret. I had always wanted to serve, a childhood dream of mine. But, I was gripped with fear, which ultimately made me shy away from serving. It was 5 years down the road when I decided that I wasn't going to live in my comfort zone anymore. It was then that I made the decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps, a total 180 degree turn in my career path.
Thanks to Warren Wong
#13- Stop trying so hard to be perfect
When I stopped trying to be perfect, and just started trying everything, without thinking about the outcome, I started to learn new things. I pushed myself beyond my capabilities and accomplished things I never thought I would be able to do. This helped me develop a growth mindset and enabled me to like, and even seek things that are completely outside of my comfort zone until it became a natural inclination for me.
Thanks to Justin Brown, Ideapod!
#14- Taking various active decisions
This could be as simple as talking to a stranger or eating something super unusual. I'm a firm believer that it is a gradual process, a learning curve, and growth. Something which really helped me was switching up my routine. This allowed me to break out of a routine, and ultimately feel confident enough to break out of my comfort zone. Start with walking a new route, have lunch at different times, and other little small shakeups. This helps you to feel a little more motivated, kick-start some creativity, and might even open you up to new opportunities. Breaking out of your comfort zone isn't a big one-time moment, it is small gradual changes to your work and personal life.
Thanks to Tom Winter, DevSkiller!
#15- Mind affirmations
I believe that getting out of your comfort zone starts in your mind. Your daily thought process determines what you are capable of doing and achieving.. What kind of thoughts are you entertaining and what self-talk are you giving yourself? Personally, I have found that the daily practice of reprogramming and reconditioning my mind to have more positive and optimistic thoughts helps me to overcome fear. To push my comfort zone, I say affirmations such as ‘I am fearless’ ‘I am strong’ ‘I achieve the goals I set for myself’. This way, I now do things I was previously too scared or too anxious to do. I take more risks in life and business and I feel more confident about my ability to do anything I set my mind on.
Thanks to Darrell Rosenstein
#16- Get yourself used to a new environment
Don’t get used to the complacency. Instead, embrace the discomfort brought on by the unpredictability and reality of the situation. Most importantly, come to terms with the fact that things won’t go your way all the time. That will cause a shift in mindset and more comfort in adversity.
Thanks to Ben Walker, Ditto Transcripts!
#17- Not to stick to a safe choice
All you can do is begin with small changes and give yourself an exposure of a new environment. Not to stick to a safe choice’ as this is not very healthy for your business. No risks, No adventures! Every time you make a comfortable choice, you won’t grow or learn. However, with risky or uncomfortable choices, you’ll definitely know what to choose. Every individual who’s doing business need to push their limits and that you can do easily by taking risks and not sticking to a safer choice, every time you make a decision. The safer and same choice is for the cowards
Thanks to Eric Jones, Couture Candy!
#18- Break things down into steps
Thanks to Jacob Wedderburn-Day, Stasher!