Comfort Zones

Wikipedia describes the "comfort zone" as a behavioral state within which a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk (White, 2009).
This description would be fine if one is happy with his or her current level of performance, however most people are not happy with his or her current level of performance. We spend most of our lives moving in and out of our own personal comfort zones however, most of the time we make a choice to stay in our comfort zone.

Up to 90% of what one does day-to-day is within his or her comfort zone and determines how successful one will be at achieving his or her financial, career, health, relationship, and personal goals. However, most will continue to stay cozy and warm causing frustration in their lives and stay right where they are, comfortable. Most people would not admit to themselves, let alone anyone else that he or she is comfortable, but I am not asking you to do that, I am asking you to do something a little different.

Consider any aspect of your life, be it financial, career, health, relationship, or a personal and recognize (document) the actions you take on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. Once you have completed the task you will know exactly what your comfort zone is for that specific area of your life. For example, if you only exercise one-hour a week, notice it but do not judge it, just notice. This is your comfort zone for exercise. You may be a professional salesperson and you only make 10 new cold calls daily to set an appointment with new potential customers, again just notice it. This particular comfort zone (anxiety-neutral state) is not generating the results you desire yet you stay in your comfort zone.

Challenge yourself to move out of your comfort zone instead of exercising one-hour a week exercise two hours a week for the next 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, you will have expanded your comfort zone improving your odds of achieving your health goals. Complete the same step with cold calling, instead of making 10 cold calls daily, dial the phone one more time each day and make 11 cold calls daily. Do this for the next 30 days, and you will have expanded your comfort zone as it relates to your career and financial goals because more dials equals more opportunity to meet with a potential customer.

Expansion of your personal comfort zone is not easy, but it is not impossible. Most do not know where to start, and now you do, in fact you already have by reading this blog, my guess is you have not read my blog before. Take action now, expand your comfort zone to a steady level of performance, and expand your set of behaviors by increasing first the number of times you take a particular action be it health-related or career/financial. Stay tuned…..