What’s the opposite of comfort zone?

When Clive and I get together and talk about the things we want to do, we tend to find that simply by discussing them and making a few notes, they start to happen – almost automatically.

Because we’re both pretty good at asking challenging questions – we stretch each other’s belief systems a little.

We got together for one of our “what type of stuff do we want to do next” chats last summer.

First, I’d mentioned that I wanted to work with sports professionals – Clive suggested approaching a few amateur clubs and testing some of our change principles out with them.

Then, as if by magic in early March, we did an Instant Impact Workshop with Warrington Wolves – 30 professional Rugby League players - straight in at the deep end of my comfort zone.

Because it’s a sport I love and the team I support, it really meant a great deal to me and I think I put more into that session than I knew I had in me. We worked with the team on their mental attitude and I know from the feedback we received that we made a big impact on a number of players, some of them full Internationals.

Second, I mentioned that I wanted to try my hand at some comedy writing. The scariest thing I can imagine is being a stand up comedian. I’m in my comfort zone when I stand up and present in a business setting but having people hanging off your every word expecting to laugh – that would be hard. There aren’t many jobs where you know instantly whether you’re very good or really bad – but that is one of them.

Then, before I knew it, I was a panel guest on a BBC2 TV comedy show. Last night, my friend Tony and I appeared on Dave Gorman’s Genius show where guests pitch weird and wacky ideas. I’ve had loads of people (some I know, some complete strangers) contact me to say that they really enjoyed our “Science of Opposites” idea and that it had really made them laugh.

I don’t profess for one moment to now be a comedian or comedy writer but my wife made me stop and think the day the show was due to be screened when she said “All of these houses we’re driving past now – is it not weird to think that you’ll be discussing your crazy opposites idea in nearly 2 million of them tonight?”

And it was weird.

My point?

If you want to make an impact, tell somebody you’re going to do it. Doing this locks you in and you start making it happen without knowing you’re doing it.

Your unconscious mind is a sneaky bastard and will have you doing things you never imagined possible.

My other point?

Your comfort zone doesn’t actually exist. It’s an imaginary bubble you hallucinate around yourself for convenience. It doesn’t protect you, it stops you doing things that would have you make a bigger impact than the one you’re making right now.

If your comfort zone is a bubble around you that stops you doing scary things, the opposite must be something inside you that makes you do great things.

The opposite of comfort zone must be ‘inner conviction’ - Clive and I will help you find yours on an Instant Impact Workshop.