The great research professor, speaker and storyteller Brené Brown talks about how we all have a choice – courage or comfort. When it comes to facing our fears, and getting what we really want in our lives and businesses, it’s one or the other.
In other words, if you want something beyond what you already have, you’re likely going to have to get uncomfortable. After all, everything that’s comfortable is everything that you already know. And anything unknown is going to be uncomfortable.
We can’t just do the same things we’ve always done, but bigger, faster, or more so. We need to get outside our comfort zones, because that’s where growth and Possibility live.
Imagine trying to retrieve grains of rice from a bowl of water. And let’s say your method of choice is to use chopsticks. If you want more rice, you could get bigger chopsticks. Or you could use both hands – each with a set. Perhaps you could make the bowl bigger, or smaller. Or put more rice in.
And it’s not that these ideas won’t yield any results. There may be some gains. But they’ll likely be minor. And they’ll also likely burn you out over time.
But now think about what would happen if you put down the chopsticks and tried a spoon or ladle. It’s a transformative shift in how you approach the task. Rather than clinging to what had worked – to a point – in the past, you let go of the old, familiar way and tried something related, but new.
“If we do what we did, we’re going to get what we got.”
So don’t shy away from standing up and making a bold ask. Or trying out a new commercial. For members, get on the speaker calendar and practice. Grow your muscles of leadership. It’s a huge part of what makes Elevate so valuable. Yes we closed over 10M last year and we’re on pace to beat it. But this is a supportive environment.
The stakes are lower. Nobody’s getting fired or losing a client here.
And visitors, we really appreciate you being here. And so we support you too. Share what you’re up to and what you want. We’re already on your side. And we want to do business with you.
In here, we all get to practice, and learn, and develop.
And in order for any of us to take new, and bold action, we need to relate to ourselves differently. As fully capable. As worthy. As leaders.
So step up today, get a little uncomfortable, and be heard.
I can’t wait to see what you bring.
