Let’s expand on our short course series for long-term success. In my last Point, I offered three simple keys to success:
- Be authentic.
- Form meaningful relationships.
- Do what you say you are going to do.
Be authentic by telling the truth all the time—even when the truth is hard to give and take. Next, form meaningful relationships in which both parties value each other and regularly (and gladly) invest in each other. And finally, always do what you say you are going to do.Deliver on your promises.
In this Point and the next, I’ll focus on two additional ingredients for long-term success—getting uncomfortableandfailure management.
Today, let’s get a little uncomfortable. Come on. It will be worth it.
I’m in the habit of telling businesspeople in my coaching programs: “You need to go get uncomfortable.” I do this pretty much daily. I’m not being mean or sadistic, but I do hammer the point home. Why is being uncomfortable so critical? Simply because we like to play it safe. Few of us really choose to do things that we are not good at or that get us out of our comfort zone. Predictable actions lead to predictable results. Often no less, but also no more, than usual.
Let’s take social media for example. I’m seeing lots of people today who are struggling with social media. They know they need to do something, but the idea of immersing themselves in a social media way of working (and living) is intimidating. So what do most people do? Nothing. They ignore the whole phenomenon. Or they do something very minimal like setting up a LinkedIn profile and then waiting for people to come to them. Social media is not like a baseball field (if you build it, they will come); you have to be an active participant. If this idea makes you uncomfortable, good! That’s actually a step in the right direction
To achieve more, you have to do more. Sometimes doing more means doing something different or differently. And sometimes that might make you uncomfortable. Believe me, that’s a good thing in the long run.
Not venturing out of your comfort zone means you’ll never reach your potential because you won’t even realize what you are truly capable of doing.
Being uncomfortable might mean calling on larger, more sophisticated customers, knowing that you don’t have the lay of that land. It might mean giving a presentation to a group of people who expect you to be the expert, when, in your heart, you might not think so highly of yourself. First, I say, “Remember, you gotta say it before you can be it!” Then I say, “If that makes you uncomfortable, great!” Get even more uncomfortable by videoing your fine, informative presentation and then uploading it to YouTube so you can reach more people.
And yes, that opens you up to people criticizing you and your content. Talk about getting uncomfortable! But, expert that you are, you will have done your homework and practiced and honed your presentation, so you’ll be fine. Besides, just think of the reach you’ll enjoy. (And getting back to social media, if I may, that gives you something to post and Tweet about!)
If you feel you’re not really reaching your goals, I’ll bet you’re not feeling uncomfortable often enough either.
Corsini’s Point:
Long-term success comes from being uncomfortable. The higher your goals are set, the more uncomfortable you need to be—and more often. Do what you don’t want to do. Try things you are not good at now but might become good (or great) at if you work harder and smarter. By getting uncomfortable, you will realize your potential and gain self-confidence. Then you can expand your comfort zone further and get more uncomfortable and enjoy greater success.
“Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.”
— Peter McWilliams
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