Stepping out of your comfort zone
David Bowie once said, “If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”
In business, it’s so important to keep on challenging yourself. It’s all too easy to hide away, to get comfortable, to stick with what you know and keep on going down the same well-trodden path. But we can end up feeling stuck; unmotivated, isolated and other fears can start to arise. A fear of trying something new, a fear of criticism, a fear of failure, and a fear of being visible.
A fear of being visible is the real deal. After all, having this fear actually keeps you safe from criticism and failure. But if you don’t make yourself visible, how are others to know not only that you exist, but just how fabulous you are? It can be so scary putting yourself at the forefront of your business and being the super confident face of your brand, but it can also be the most empowering thing you can do.
Growth and development, both on a personal level and in our businesses, comes from constantly challenging ourselves. It’s those old clichés of, “you never lose, you either win or learn,” and, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” They may be clichés, but they’re true!
I’m breaking out of my own comfort zone this week. The lovely Daire Paddy (super awesome content creator and all-round girl boss) has invited me to join her on her brand new podcast, ‘Your Biz, Your Rules’. Now, some people have a fear of being in front of the camera; I, on the other hand, have a fear of being in front of a microphone! (And yet I just LOVE public speaking, so work that one out!?)
When Daire asked, one little voice in my head said, “Eek! What!? Why would you put yourself through that?” But I chose to listen to another voice, a voice that said, “What an amazing opportunity! Okay, it might be a bit scary, but you got this.” There’s something about this opportunity that just feels so right, I know it’s something I have to challenge myself to do.
We’re going to be talking all things business, photography and individuality – how do you weave the perks and quirks of your personality into your business? I’m all about celebrating the best and most authentic version of yourself through personal branding photography, so I’m really excited about it. And every time a niggling doubt arises, I remind myself of what a good friend once said to me, “As long as the excitement is greater than the fear, you should go for it.”
We’re recording next week and Daire’s podcast launches at the end of November, keep your eyes and ears peeled!
“If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it.” – Erada
How are you challenging yourself this week? Drop me a message on social media and let me know, I’d love to hear from you!