The Gay Success Equation: Your Comfort Zone = Your Success Zone
Friday, 20 February 2009 20:57 Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 22:21
If you're wondering how to boost your success in your life...
- in your finances
- in your relationships
- in your career
- in your health & fitness
- in anything
follow the simple rules of this equation.
Your Comfort Zone = Your Success Zone
What does this mean?
Think about what you do in your everyday life. You probably have your favorite things you like to do, whether that's going to the same bars and restaurants, ordering the same coffee or tea drink, buying the same kinds of groceries at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, or doing the same exercises at the gym to buff you up!
There's nothing wrong with knowing what you like and doing what you enjoy. I have a routine myself that I follow and enjoy!
But if you're looking to make some changes to improve your life for the better, the key principle is to get out of your comfort zone! When you have the inspiration to move towards your success and your dreams, and it takes you out of your comfort zone, then you open up the possibilities in your experience!
There is a direct correlation for increasing your level of success when you expand beyond your comfort zone!
Imagine if you did something completely different than you were used to and it was something that had always peaked your interest.
- Say you had a dream to invest in real estate but didn't know where to begin. What if you went to a workshop or class where they teach you the basics of real estate investing?
- Say you wanted to improve your fitness. What if you signed up for that Zumba class you've seen people enjoying at your gym?
- Say you want to find a hot guy but you're afraid to approach one. What if you simply went up to a few when you go out and strike up a casual conversation?
I'll share with you one way I've gotten out of my comfort zone this year.
I created a Vision Board last April. (To read more about Vision Boards, see my blog post here!) One of the images I pasted on there was a picture of the Ironman Triathlon.
I started running marathons in 2004 as part of a charity fundraising program to support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Before that, I never considered myself a runner. I'll admit that, before I started marathon training, I didn't get why people would run! It seemed so boring to me compared to things like tennis, soccer, even bowling! But I decided to train because I wanted to support a great cause, and it was a good excuse to get back to exercising!
Since then, I've raced in marathons, half-marathons and races in San Francisco, New Orleans, Dublin (Ireland), Honolulu, and Florence (Italy). But at the end of my first marathon in New Orleans, the thought of training for a triathlon seeped into my mind!
For years I held off on signing up for a triathlon because I didn't think I could do it. My swimming consisted of doing a good doggy paddle while getting lots of water up my nose! And I was 14 years old my last time riding a bike.
So when I decided to put the triathlon image on my Vision Board, I knew I was making a public commitment to the Universe that here I was ready to go for it!
A few months later after posting my triathlon image on my Vision Board, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation announced they were offering their first-ever triathlon training program! I got excited and I cringed at the same time. Now the rubber was hitting the road!
After much himming and hawing, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and I registered this past January for an Olympic Distance triathlon that's scheduled for early May. Only three months of training!
But after 4 weeks of training so far, the results have been amazing!
- I've dropped about 7 pounds so far and my body fat is visibly disappearing!
- I can now swim freestyle for several laps without getting too much water in my nose!
- After falling off my bike and twisting my ankle, I'm back up on it and have taken spinning classes to train my legs.
- I've tried new kinds of running where instead of training on asphalt, I'm going up & down soft trails and running on sandy beaches!
- And through the generosity of wonderful & awesome people, I've raised $3,300 to date!
To read my triathlon training blog and donate to this great cause, click here!
If I hadn't taken the leap out of my normal routine and out of my comfort zone, I'd still have this triathlon image as a vision unfulfilled.
Here's my question to you:
Where are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and take inspired action towards your dreams?
Please share your comments. I'd love to hear your stories about what's beyond your comfort zone right now and how we can all support you to your success zone!
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