Chase Discomfort

I am a BYU alumni so, rightfully, I was watching last Saturday as the BYU men's basketball team upset the #2 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs. It was an electric atmosphere and the team controlled the game from start to finish. The confidence level of the BYU team was evident. They looked comfortable playing in the most important game of the year as they looked to end Gonzaga's 40 game winning streak in the West Coast Conference. The day after the team's biggest win in years, BYU Head Coach Mark Pope was interviewed on the Jim Rome Show to talk about how his team was able to pull off the upset. During the interview, Coach Pope mentioned that he consistently pushes his team to "Chase Discomfort". When asked to expound on what this means, he went on to say that anybody who is trying to excel at anything is put in a lot of uncomfortable situations to start. During this process, the true competitors become addicted to the discomfort. They experience personal growth and there is a chance to see special things happen. It is through discomfort you can accomplish things that people don't think you can accomplish.

This message struck me this week as I thought about the times I have experienced the most growth in my career. The most impactful moments have come when I have been pushed outside of my comfort zone, either by choice or by a good leader. Although uncomfortable, those times of mental, emotional and physical discomfort are a requirement to reach our full potential. Are you feeling a little to too comfortable in your position at work? Have things become easy? It may be time to challenge yourself, and those around you, to do something that makes them a little uncomfortable. Or, as Mark Pope put it, if you want to do something special you may want to "CHASE DISCOMFORT".