Going beyond your comfort zone....

If you want to succeed, you usually have to move beyond your "comfort zone".

If you keep doing the same thing, you'll get the same results! So, to succeed, you have to push a bit further and start doing something different. Doing something different usually means going beyond your comfort zone....

There are a couple ways you can start to move beyond your comfort zone.

One way is the "sink or swim" approach! Jump in all the way, and start working like mad, hoping you'll succeed and won't "drown". For example, some people get their start in business this way.... They'll quit their job, "jump in" to the business world completely, and start working furiously, hoping to survive.

However, if this isn't to your liking, there's a safer way - which in many instances can be the better way.

This approach is to always go a little bit beyond your comfort zone.

For example, let's say placing an ad makes you uncomfortable, because you've never done it before. In that case, go a little bit beyond your comfort zone. Start with a small, classified ad, for example. Something that's just a little bit uncomfortable.

Once you become comfortable with placing small classified ads - then go a little bit further. Place a small space ad (if you're advertising in magazines), for example. Or start advertising on search engines (such as Overture or Google). As long as you're always going a little bit beyond your "comfort zone".

If you keep pushing your boundaries, little by little, soon you'll find you're way out of what used to be your comfort zone - but you'll be quite comfortable there. Little by little, you've started doing new things - which in the past, may have "terrified" you (because of "fear of the unknown").

Make it a habit to keep pushing your boundaries, little by little, by always going a little bit beyond your comfort zone. If you do this, you could be very surprised how well things end up going for you!

- Dien Rice