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Success Requires You to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

You have likely heard the saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.” Upon writing my 2013 goals, I realized I was fulfilling the essence of that quote when I transferred my unfinished 2012 goals to 2013. I’m a firm believer in “progress, not perfection” so I don’t have an issue with extending a goal that had not yet been fully completed, but something was missing. I wasn’t feeling very motivated about the New Year. I realized I was missing a stretch goal – something that would be meaningful to advance my business. So I added one stretch goal which will force me out of my comfort zone and require me to do things I haven’t done before.

It’s easy for us to repeat our actions and hard for us to do things differently because we are creatures of habit. Researchers suggest that up to 95% of our daily actions and thoughts are habitual. That’s a staggering statistic and when I facilitate the Energy for Life workshop for Allstate employees, they all agree that their lives fit this number. If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll keep getting what we’re getting. The best example of this is how we build a muscle. Say you have been using a 15lb weight to build a bicep muscle for more than a year. You’ve probably gotten quite comfortable with that weight and your bicep will not grow any stronger. But if you want to build that muscle, then it would require you to increase your weight. You may not feel discomfort until the 8th or 9th repetition, but when you feel that discomfort, you know there will be results.

If you are happy and fulfilled both personally and professionally then your 95% is working for you. Congratulations. If there’s something you are striving for this year at work or personally, then it will require you to move from habit to more conscious effort. And guaranteed, your actions will feel awkward. I’m not suggesting you experience “pain” – that’s pushing yourself too far. But when you feel that you are in a place of discomfort and can say, “I can do this” then that’s a golden opportunity to advance toward your goal.

I committed myself to get outside my comfort zone in some way every day. Today that meant running two minutes beyond my usual time at a fast pace on the treadmill. Yesterday, it was staying silent when my son spilled his drink all over the kitchen table (I’m a bit of a neat freak so imagine my usual – “habitual” – way of communicating with him after such an incident). Find small ways to lean into discomfort and you will build much more than a bicep muscle.

I am interested in supporting you in advancing your goals. Please post your questions or commitments to getting outside your comfort zone.

And join me at the Chicago Women’s Conference on April 19, 2013 in downtown Chicago for an opportunity to stretch beyond your comfort zone, meet like-minded women, and learn practical ways to advance your work and your life.

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“Forget Your Troubles, C’mon Get Happy” at the Chicago Women’s Conference

These famous lyrics will ring true if you attend the Chicago Women’s Conference in downtown Chicago, February 1, 2013.

I’m honored to be sharing the podium with co-host and featured speaker, Dianne Morr, who is on a mission to share her knowledge of positive psychology and what makes people happy with everyone she meets. 

Dianne was inspired by Deanne DeMarco, the conference founder, to contribute her talents and knowledge on positive psychology to benefit conference attendees.  When Deanne invited her to participate in the Fall 2012, Inspiring Women’s conference, Dianne jumped at the chance because of her love of speaking to women and helping others make their lives better.

Dianne’s study of happiness and positive psychology has resulted in a tremendous increase in her personal happiness level allowing her to speak from experience. She learned about the happiness set point—our genetically determined natural level of happiness. The set point, combined with our circumstances, accounts for 60% of our happiness level; but, 40% of our happiness results from factors over which we have control. So Dianne set about learning to make that most of that 40%. She tried out the practices proven to work for happy people and her happiness quotient began to soar!

Dianne shared what she learned in her new book, Choose Happy, 25 Happiness Habits to Transform Your Life. She is on now a mission to help as many people as possible to bring more happiness into their lives. 

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A Master Networker to Speak at Inspiring Women Conference

I am honored to be sharing the podium with “Networking Expert”, Lillian Bjorseth at the Inspiring Women Conference in Naperville on September 21. I’ve had the privilege of becoming more personally acquainted with Lillian and she is someone who walks her talk.  It’s clear that Lillian loves to network, communicate face-to-face and inspire others.  And you will have the opportunity to see her do those 3 things masterfully on September 21 at the Inspiring Women Conference.  Learn more about what inspires Lillian by clicking here as my guest blogger, Dianne Morr, shares more about Lillian.

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Inspiring Women Conference is 3 Weeks Away

The Inspiring Women Conference being held in Naperville is less than 3 weeks away! I’m honored to be sharing the podium with keynote speaker, Kim Ervin, Executive HR Director for Heartland Food Corp. who will be talking about how she successfully broke through the glass ceiling.

Click here to learn more about Kim and why she chose to share her inspiring story with other professional women at the Inspiring Women Conference.  You will be sent to my guest-blogger and conference Founder, Deanne DeMarco.
To register for the conference, please click here.

 

I look forward to seeing you there!

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Inspiring Women Conference Featured Speaker Seeks “Morr” Happiness

There’s already a buzz in the air for next month’s Inspiring Women Conference being held in Naperville on September 21st. I’m honored to be sharing the podium with co-host and featured speaker, Dianne Morr, who is on a mission to share her knowledge of positive psychology and what makes people happy with everyone she meets. 

Dianne was inspired by Deanne DeMarco, the conference founder, to contribute her talents and knowledge on positive psychology to benefit conference attendees.  When Deanne invited her to participate in the Inspiring Women Conference, Dianne jumped at the chance because of her love of speaking to women and helping others make their lives better. She considers speaking to be a calling that her life has prepared her for.

When Dianne first began speaking she wanted to reach out to people who struggled with anxiety and depression – to let them know they were not alone, to encourage them to seek treatment and to use all the resources they could to overcome those health challenges.

A couple of years ago Deanne encouraged Dianne to branch out in her focus.  That advice changed Dianne’s life as she altered her focus to study happiness and what happy people know that the rest of the population didn’t. At that time Dianne considered herself an expert on depression and anxiety but as she changed her focus to happiness she not only added a new field of expertise and expanded her career as a speaker, she became a much happier person.

Dianne’s skill at bringing happiness into her life grew as she studied the work of Martin Seligman Ph.D., known as the Father of Positive Psychology and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. She began sharing this knowledge with audiences and continues to study the dynamics of this field, including the many techniques that have been proven to increase happiness and the impact on the business world.

Register today for this “not-to-miss” event for corporate and entrepreneurial women ready to advance their careers and lives.