Take a moment right now and think about the people in your life that you make an effort to test every chance you get. This might be your kids, your employees, your peers or even your spouse (guys tread with caution here). It can be kind of fun, in a sick and twisted way, watching other people scramble around and try to figure out how to pass your various “tests”.
If you are shaking your head back and forth right now, perhaps I am all alone on this one. Oh well, so be it. I have a strong personality and like to push buttons to see how people respond to it. [Here is the funny part about that. My son is the exact same way and I cannot stand it! Karma perhaps? Anyways, back to the point of this post here….]
Why do you think that it is that we all are guilty of this to some degree?
It’s easier to push other people than it is to push yourself. Here is a simple example to prove my point. Think of the last time that you pushed someone, anyone, to do something that made them leave their comfort zone. I guarantee that everyone can think of an example here. Now, I want you to think about the last time that you REALLY pushed yourself WAAAAYYYY out of your comfort zone. I am guessing that most of you won’t be able to remember. Some of you may have never even done this. Both groups get a big FAIL in this regard.
Each week I talk to a lot of people, all around the world, who are entrepreneurs. I know that there is a very small number of people, even within this group, who really takes risks and try new things with failure as a very probable outcome. Do you fit into this group? You are never going to grow to your potential by just skating through life, playing it safe and waiting for opportunities to just come to you. It’s not going to happen for you this way. If I am wrong, I want you to reach out to me and share your story with me.
New Year, New You
With a new year upon us, you need to start becoming more comfortable with the uncomfortable. You need to start figuring out what you are made of before you ask others to do the same thing. If you demand more growth in the people around you, try leading that charge yourself. Someone needs to hear this message today and do something visible with it. Am I talking to you? Some of the greatest things that I have personally discovered about myself came about by simply trying new things.
How do you know what you really love to do, if you have been doing the same thing for the last ten years? How do you know that you are in the best lane for your business if you have never pivoted for a bigger opportunity?
Time to make a change!
I think that you see my point here and my intention is to get you thinking and more importantly, I want to get you to start doing something differently! You cannot honestly expect other people to do what you are unwilling to do yourself. Do not wait until the New Year to make a change, start now damn it. There is no benefit to waiting and if you won’t get started now, you probably never will.
Try new things. Test yourself in a way that you have never tried before. Push yourself harder and farther than you have ever had the courage to do. What is the worst that can happen? Failure is always part of the process, so if I take that away for you what’s left? You may surprise yourself and take your life or business to a level that you never even knew existed. Does this sound like a test? Maybe it is. It’s time to get to work and show yourself what you are made of.