Get Uncomfortable

I don't have any tattoos, but if I did, and if that tattoo was a quote, it'd be this: "Comfort zones are beautiful places where nothing grows."

As a creative professional in the branding business I'm almost always on the scene when something needs adjusting, a dial needs twisting, or, hold on tight, we're going to launch something the world hasn't seen before. I've worked with clients who find, seemingly, nothing sacred and the opposite, who are paralyzed at the fear of change and making even a single misstep.

As most things, the majority are somewhere in the gray between these two extremes. If you're here (welcome by the way, this is the first edition and I'm glad to have you), if you're here and reading this feeling things have gone stale in your profession or feel the next big milestone just doesn't seem to be getting any closer, chances are good you have at least one foot in a comfort zone and it's the quicksand keeping you from moving forward.

If you're here and reading this feeling things have gone stale in your profession or feel the next big milestone just doesn't seem to be getting any closer, chances are good you have at least one foot in a comfort zone and it's the quicksand keeping you from moving forward.

The Quicksand

For graphic designers, writers, musicians, photographers, and any others we can group into the creative umbrella, comfort zones are the creeping creative block, the frustration, the stagnation of the creative receptors in the brain. By going into auto-pilot and repeating the same steps you lull yourself into a comfort of doing the same tried-and-true techniques. Solving dilemmas with the same creative response again and again. For example, a designer using the same color palette or a writer covering the same themes.

These habits create consistent results and so, at first, are qualities that show themselves as benefits As time goes on, without something new in the mix, the brain gets bored, ideas and inspiration can be harder to find, and eventually start to lose the power to stir the imagination.

The Branch

How can you pull yourself out? Embrace the discomfort. What does that mean, exactly? Well, for everyone the prescription will vary, but it means learning new tools, experimenting with new genres, or collaborating with others. It means doing things that challenge you, make you think differently than you typically do, and it means taking on tasks with a different mindset, or attempting challenges that could lead to mistakes that often come with pushing yourself into new territories of growth.

I'm not saying bet it all on black, but adding in some risk of failure, or making a wrong decision, reignites innovation and can inspire breakthroughs.

Growth

While it’s natural to seek safety and certainty, growth often happens when individuals face new challenges, push past their fears, and venture into uncharted territory. Periodically stepping out of your comfort zones can be that push forward into more sure footing and can make the difference in reaching your business, creative, or professional goals.

Embrace discomfort, unlock your full potential, and use that fresh energy to power through to the next milestone or ace that next big project. Repeat this, and soon you'll notice that the fear or anxiety of doing something new morphs into a challenge to do something new, something you didn't know you were capable of.

The next step after conquering your professional comfort zones — dreaming bigger dreams.