Dare to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

So often we live life inside of our box. At least, that’s what I used to do.

I grew up with the idea that you graduated high school, went to college, got a “real” job, worked until you retired, and then enjoyed life.

So I did just as I was taught. I got the job, I worked hard, and I reached the top promotion in my company. Life was progressing as it was “supposed” to.

I never considered doing anything else.  

I would see entrepreneurs stepping outside of the “box,” but I never thought that could be me. I used to think they were more confident or had a bigger network or they were smarter or they were fearless.  

I told myself every reason why others could take that path, but I couldn’t. The truth is, I was just scared.

Then our family circumstances changed.  My perfect checklist was derailed. Right after our first son was born, my job was eliminated. The job I worked hard at for 10 years—and planned on never leaving—was gone. I learned to embrace being a stay at home mom (SAHM), but after having two more boys, I found myself wanting something for me.  

After a lot of research the “real job” search was proving impossible with three little ones and no childcare.

That was when I was introduced to network marketing.

At that point, I started hearing voices of doubt.

I can’t do this.

Other people can do this, but not me.

I’m too busy with three young kids.

I’m not on social media.

I have no network.

I’m not confident enough.

I’m not an entrepreneur . . . the list goes on and on.

These excuses kept me in my box. Until one day, I stopped saying every reason why others could do it but I couldn’t.

I finally said, why not me? What did they have that I didn’t?

My family needed the income, and a traditional job was not a fit for me anymore.

So I went for it! I got to work and stepped outside of my comfortable box.

When I stopped holding myself back and stopped telling myself every reason why I couldn’t do it, I found success beyond my wildest dreams.

Once my husband and I dug ourselves out of debt, we purchased the beach house of our dreams. We spent summers there, school vacations there, and pretty much every free weekend we could.

Every time we were at the beach house, we would say that we wished we could be there full time.

But the doubts kept popping up again:

We can’t move to the beach house because we already have a beautiful house, and it’s where all of our boys were born.

My husband designed and built our family house; we shouldn’t abandon it.

Our boys went to a great school near our house.

We have too many friends nearby that we would miss.

My husband’s business is too close to the family home.

But, when my husband and I really thought about it, the only thing holding us back was fear.

We could build another house. Our kids could attend a great school at the beach.   My husband could commute. Our friends would enjoy visiting us.

So one day we just ripped off the Band-Aid! We realized that we were holding ourselves back and staying in our box because it was familiar. The thing is, nothing amazing happens in your comfort zone.

I vowed this was my year to conquer my fears and just go for things, so we did.  

We made the move!

Later, I was shocked at how many people told us they wish they could move to the beach. I had to scratch my head, because, the reality is, they could! They just have to do it!

So many people just live life in that comfort zone, listing every reason why they can’t do something.

But the truth is, you can do anything.

Be sure to Grab the 5 shifts I made to take my business from losing money to reaching the top 0.1% of my company.

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