Do One Thing Outside Your Comfort Box in 2011

This is such a good question, and to be honest, I'm not sure I can even define the parameters of my 'comfort zone'. However, I would say that becoming more defiant would certainly fit the mold here. It's not that I try to be a crowd pleaser or avoid confrontation, but at times, I'll refrain from speaking up when I have an idea with greater merit. I don't like to risk coming off as condescending or worse, a know-it-all (gasp).

Lastly, good luck with finding your thing, Gini. Like @janbeery , I struggle with competing against myself when I'm running. It's always a race against who I was yesterday, the day before, and so on. Two runners reside in me - one that will push through blinding pain to shave 1/10 of a second of a mile split and the other that forgets the world around him and enjoys feeling the road beneath his feet, music in his ears, and the sun on his face. I hope for 2011, the second runner logs more of the miles than the first.

You are so right - I was not expecting that one! I cannot wait to see what you come up with.. Who do you compete with in reading??

I think I am going to try to get out of my introverted little box and not let that get to me - and write more

Coming from a former runner and extremely competitive individual, you'll begin to be competitive even with your own pace, goals etc. Then you'll be comparing race times and events with other runners, heading to D.C. for the Army 10 miler, going for the 1/2 marathon etc....... I can't wait to see what you decide NOT to be competitive in!!!! ;)

I've somehow raised very competitive adults! We struggle with this all the time. Getting together, games are dangerous. We had to ban "spoons" from being played, casualties were getting to frequent with blood being drawn and the smallest of these young adults, will kill, no really, kill for the last spoon!

As for me, I think I'm doing the biking portion of a triathlon team this year. Definitely outside my comfort zone. I made a deal with myself years ago when I messed up my knees NOT to compete in running anymore! As a result, I compete with myself, (calories and heart rate) my trainers, my fellow spinners, weight training etc. Was kind of cool when a young girl told me in a weight training class that she was afraid of being paired with me because I might hurt her! Not bad for going on 50!!!!! So my biggy this year, for fun will be to head outside the box and hold up my end of a triathlon team!!!! Competitive, of course, that's how I roll.......

Happy New Year and keep me posted on your running!!!!

Awesome goal Gini. Reading competitively, never knew that exsisted. Happy new year.

Awesome Gini - funny how you've made reading competitive ;)

Happy 2011 to you too.

C

Great post! Good luck with non-competitive running. I'll look forward to seeing some stat's on DailyMile.

Stepping out my comfort zone in 2011 will be on two fronts. One personal one professional. On the personal front, in an effort to get better at cycling (and possibly start racing), I joined a cycling team and engaged a coach. I am not a huge fan of group rides (or matching jerseys).

On a professional level I committed to doing at least 6 and possibly 12 webinars. There are 6 on the schedule and being marketed...so no turning back!

Good luck with your resolution! Being less competitive is easier said than done. This past summer I took tennis lessons with my boyfriend and he won every game! And although it's always a close game, I can't stand it when I lose. But I was proud of myself that I kept at it and forced myself to enjoy the game, even without the win. (...but he better watch out for next summer because I've been practicing.)

As for my 2011 resolution, I'm going to learn how to use Wordpress and get my website going. I really wish they taught stuff like this in school. I've only recently tried using wordpress and it bests me every time. But I'm confident that I will figure it out.

This is a great post. But I started watching Greenberg last night. Got half way through. Very dark and clunky comedy. But there is a scene where Florence tells Roger..I so admire you at your age for trying to just do nothing. To not be swung by the need to succeed or societal pressures.

I guess that was written for you!

This will sound completely odd and out of place. But here is goes. I am going to try to make a comfort zone in 2011. It will be really really healthy for me. I have taken way too many risks in life. The reward has been great. I could write several books to rival some of the great ones out there. I have stories that make people's jaws drop in awe. But also has me in a very uncomfortable position. And I think I need to stop winging things as much and be more of a planner. Be more conservative in my overall choices. And if all goes well, I laid the ground work for an amazing second act in 2010 and now need to see it through. My work pursuits now is very risky (though I have a lot of support and Gini went through this when she started A-D) and I need to focus on bringing it to fruition next year. A kind of comfort zone.

I would ask anyone who is reading this to connect, engage, talk, listen and help a complete stranger. A person who cannot do anything for you in return. So many people have been kicked to the curb by society. Find them, seek them out. There are so many hurting people that need a loving touch.

Gini, I'm a non-conflict kinda person so outside my comfort zone will be to tackle more "controversies" or even be more assertive in drawing my line on certain things. I still believe in the "to each their own" philosophy and yet, want to stick to my guns and be clear regarding my approaches to PR and social media. Plus there's disclosure and transparency, as I talk a big game but like many small business owners, still struggle to make it a reality. FWIW.

While I would say my new job puts me way outside my comfort zone (in a good way), that was 2010. So for 2011, I'll add another new role that will take me abuot 30 million steps outside my comfort zone - "Mom."

Great post, Gini! I hope to take improv classes in 2011 as a way to build my confidence personally and raise my comfort level with thinking on my feet as a PR professional. I'm terrified of embarrassing myself (and I'm sure the aspiring thespians in class will wonder what the heck I'm doing there) but I'm excited to see what happens!

Hmm, tough one that. In terms of work I think I have to try to consistently video blog. I really hate the idea of doing this because of pure vanity but I'm going to try. Outside of work, I'm going to go to go to Vietnam and Laos in the summer. That's really out of the comfort zone for me.

So, to be fair, since you were kind enough to use my question, Gini, I will share my "jump outside of my comfort box" goal for 2011. I want to take on video blogging with a passion. I have wanted to do it for awhile but I have stopped myself (comfort zone and all ;-) Actually, you, Gini, are a role model of sorts in the video blogging arena...you make it look easy and you appear comfortable in front of the camera. I have done a couple of video contests that have allowed me to stay behind the camera, but now it is time for me to tackle my self conscious-ness and step in front of my audience. I want to do videos that are fun and interesting and different for the dental industry. I have all kinds of ideas but it's time to stop thinking about it and just do it. And, I no longer have an excuse because my sweet husband bought me the most amazing camera for Christmas so....'take one'...

Love this post, Gini! Eerily enough, when I was making out my resolution list for my blog, top of the list was to have more fun! I'm much too intense for my own good. I'm going to embrace the Just Dance Wii side of me and be silly with my kids and my husband. Outside my comfort zone...I'm there most of the time, but to really push, I'd say it's going to be to learn to ask for help. Seriously, I need to relinquish that control and ask for help when I need it.

I'll send you some good fiction book recommendations for your possible non-competitive reading list.

Hi Gini... two things for 2011... I'm going to relinquish a little control over the creative side of my business and turn some of that work over to employees. That will then force me to get out and make more sales calls.

It's hard to give up control, but I know I must if I want the business to grow.

--Tony Gnau

Good question and challenge. Good luck with yours, Gini. I'll be curious to see what you come up with as far as an activity.

For me, I'm going to go personal. I've kinda always wanted to learn how to ski, but I'm fairly terrified of it. Just seems like you have absolutely no control. But, my wife loves (loved) to ski, so it could be something we could do together (and with the kids someday). So, that's my challenge to myself. Does that qualify?

I'll help you get outside your comfort zone by having more fun, Gini!! For myself, a way that I'm going to adventure outside of my comfort zone is to say "NO". In a calm and assertive way, not a anxious, passive agressive way. Just a calm and solid, No, and Thankyou. This NO applies to personal and professional requests. I'm trying to develop my psychotherapy practice niche to focus mainly on working with divorce related concerns, so sometimes it's hard to turn down work that doesn't fit that niche - but I have to in order to develop a more in depth, thorough understanding of the work on which I do want to focus. And personally, well, I have a big need to be liked - so I always worry about people not liking me if I say 'No'. That's going to have to change too if I want to reach my goals. Bring it on 2011!