Will you venture outside of your comfort zone to take
a chance on change?
One of the most dangerous words in our vocabulary is comfortable. Life is rolling along at a pretty good pace; work is going well; family life is humming along, too. Yes, we’re comfortable. Now what?
Will that comfortable feeling – no tug of war pushing us to adjust our life – also keep us from investigating an opportunity?
OR
Will that comfortable feeling get old quickly and move you to push the envelope?
Wikipedia defines comfort zone as: “a psychological state in which a person feels familiar, at ease, in control, and experiences low anxiety. A person in this state uses a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.”
The way I see it, spending too much time in my comfort zone can lead to a mundane life, leaving me wondering “What if?” all too often. The story of my life will be a dreary one if I fail to exit my cozy little comfort zone. Sometimes you’ve just gotta answer that knock on the door and take a leap of faith.
What about you? Are you listening for opportunity or stuck in the comfort zone?
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Opportunity Knocks: Are You Brave Enough to Open the Door? was last modified: May 5th, 2015 by Deb Nelson
You can benefit from the input of others whether you work alone, in a small organization, or a large company. The best of teams, however, will do you little good unless you take the time to know each member of the team.
Sports teams – professional and amateur – underscore the importance of knowing team members every time they set foot on the field, ice, court, etc. Teammates practice together, train together, travel together, and socialize together. They learn a lot about the reaction, recovery, and pivot capabilities. For sports, success depends on how well team members work together.
Hockey players shoot the puck to the area their teammate is supposed to be covering; a basketball player makes a bounce pass to the spot his or her teammate can reach. Seeing achievements of teammates at practice spurs others to reach a little deeper. Athletes communicate during competition with words when possible, gestures when necessary, and screams when appropriate. Your business might not be so different from a sports team.
If you’re successful in your profession, chances are you’ve got a good team behind you. If you’re not as successful as you’d like to be, chances are you need to shore up your team. Here are a few tips to get your team lined up to support you.
Identify your teammates. Coworkers, colleagues, committee members, volunteers, supervisors, trusted friends and advisors, mentors. You might be surprised how many people are committed to your success.
Clarify the roles of every member of your team. Clear expectations are key to having a successful outcome. You’ll make the most of your team’s talents when everyone knows what’s expected of them, and what they can expect from you in return.
Provide and receive feedback. Things didn’t work out the way you expected? Find out why – while a conversation or two might result in identifying the need for a major overhaul to your plans, you might also unearth minor changes that will result in the results you seek.
Ask for input. When you’re stuck and are sitting in the funky chair of analysis paralysis, check in with someone on your team and ask for some help. Sometimes hashing an idea out with someone can save hours of hemming and hawing on your part.
Say thank you. No two words are more appreciated than thank you. Make the time to thank all of those who lend a hand to you on your path to success.
Lace up your skates (or laptop), get in the game, and give it your all. Let me know how you and your team meet and beat the challenges you face.
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The Road to Success is Paved with a Strong Team was last modified: January 20th, 2015 by Deb Nelson
The weather gods were looking out for the organizers of the 49th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival last weekend. Perhaps the unseasonably cool temperatures and lack of humidity were Mother Nature’s way of acknowledging a job well done.
The town of 8,300 along Maine’s southern coast prepares to welcome 100,000 to its village every year to celebrate in a clamtastic way. The Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce is tasked with organizing this annual three-day event and making sure there’s something of interest for the young, the old, and everyone in between.
While the parade is a staple with its fire trucks and wild Shriners, the theme changes every year to give it a fresh look. Bands come and go as our music tastes change, and the artists and crafts people change up as well. Steamer was added as the festival mascot in 2004; he wanders through the festival all weekend, posing with anyone who wants to get a photo. Steamer and selfies go together like lime rickeys and sweet potato fries.
I’ve been attending this festival for 19 years, since moving from Massachusetts to Yarmouth. And each year, the festival succeeds in entertaining the masses. Festival attractions include a parade, 5-mile road race, professional bike race, diaper derby, clam shucking contest, firefighters’ muster, craft show, fine arts show, carnival, live music, fireworks, and more.
There’s also a food court featuring clams, clams, and more clams. No worries, though, if clams aren’t part of your diet; there’s a little something for everyone at the food court, where the vendors are Yarmouth nonprofits raising funds to do good work.
Shibumi Silk Scarf
While lots of favorites returned to the craft show, this was the first year I noticed Shibumi Silks. A unique addition to the show, Shibumi offered festival goers the opportunity to create their own silk scarves. Events change up over the years as well. The canoe race now accommodates canoes and SUPs. The variety of shows pretty much guarantees there’s never a dull moment from start to finish at the Yarmouth Clam Festival.
Friday evening parade
Congrats to the Chamber and its many volunteers for putting on a good show! 2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the clam festival. The Yarmouth Clam Festival is always the third weekend in July, and is alwaysworth attending. I hope to see you next year July 17 – 19 on Yarmouth’s Main Street!
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Yarmouth Clam Festival: Still Fresh After 49 Years was last modified: July 23rd, 2014 by Deb Nelson
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To be truly well, a person has to be well from the inside out.
One of the most dangerous words in our vocabulary is comfortable. Life is rolling along at a pretty good pace; work is going well; family life is humming along, too. Yes, we’re comfortable. Now what?
if?” all too often. The story of my life will be a dreary one if I fail to exit my cozy little comfort zone. Sometimes you’ve just gotta answer that knock on the door and take a leap of faith.
