Getting out of the zone

January 17, 2020 8:10 AM

I'm lucky to have a pretty great, comfortable life. My biggest current problem is that I work for a large corporation whose work I have come to object to, and I want out. I'm starting a private coaching business, and it's going well, but slowly, because I find the business development aspects of my work uncomfortable, so I avoid them. Help me think of ways to bring risk-taking into my days.

I'm thinking more along the lines of inner risk and getting out of my comfort zone and less along the lines of physical risk like skydiving. The one I'm currently trying is wearing a flamboyant feathery headband when I'm out and about. It's beautiful but of course quite unconventional, and it gives me a scary feeling of "I don't want to!" as well as an invigorating feeling of inner fizz.

What else should I consider bringing into my daily practice of getting out of my comfort zone?

posted by spindrifter to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

Perhaps you could consider making an unbreakable commitment to spending 15 minutes per day on the business development aspects of your new business?
posted by flabdablet at 8:28 AM on January 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

I've read (unfortunately cannot remember where) and really like the idea of trying to get x number of people to say no to you in a day as a way to learn to be more assertive and bold and get used to the discomfort. So, for instance, asking for a discount at a store, asking to cut in line, inviting someone out etc.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 8:28 AM on January 17, 2020 [3 favorites]

Political activism. Call your representatives all the time. Go door-to-door for candidates you like. Run for office.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:29 AM on January 17, 2020 [4 favorites]

Look up local business networking breakfasts and go to one each week.
posted by ananci at 9:34 AM on January 17, 2020

I agree with the above suggestion about activism, I've been following the steps in the Americans of Conscience checklist for over a year and it involves a lot of breaking out of that comfort zone (cold calling people, phoning representatives, etc.)

On a daily basis? Since you work at a large corporation (and assuming you're in an office and not remote) try breaking out of your routine and actively introduce yourself to new co-workers. If you have a cafe area, sit down at a table with strangers. If you have a meeting, show up 5 minutes early and if anyone else shows up, engage with them instead of checking email, browsing the web, etc.
posted by jeremias at 9:41 AM on January 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

Not exactly what you're asking buuuut.... I don't like BD either, but when I have been able to strongly identify with and support the results of my work downstream, it has helped me be much more at ease with it. That is, don't get attached to selling your work; but do get attached to the goals of the people who are considering you as a coach. Believe in their goals for them. Maybe the risk is believing your work has the potential to improve the world and acting on that.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:37 AM on January 17, 2020 [1 favorite]