3 Reminders for Startup Life Outside the Comfort Zone

3 Reminders for Startup Life Outside the Comfort Zone 3 Reminders for Startup Life Outside the Comfort Zone Image Source: iStockA LIFE outside the comfort zone is seemingly what many startup entrepreneurs sign up for when they embark on their business path. However, this  is something that becomes apparent only in retrospect. At the time, the sheer commitment and work and time can give rise to severe anxiety and misapprehension. The temptation to give up might me strong, but perseverance is best. When you’re outside the comfort zone, you are in the most creative  zone, with the most potential for personal and business growth. Here are 3 important things to remember when you move outside the comfort zone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1. You Put Yourself Here“Fearlessness is like a muscle … the more I exercise it, the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.”DECIDING to set up a business is not something that happened out of the blue, and Arianna Huffington’s words of wisdom here remind us that fears are not uncommonâ€"they can crop up in anyone’ s day.Even if the decision came to you like a thunderbolt, there’s a process you will have gone through, over quite a long time, possibly involving major sacrifice.It’s also possible that  you had to give up full-time education (as so many successful people have done); or accept the reality that you would be spending less personal time with a young family to enable you do what’s necessary to secure a safe and secure future for them.These are decisions that you made, so you must have the maturity to accept responsibility for them.Doing what you did took courage and bravery, and you have to tap into these resources regularly, especially when you’re outside the comfort zone.2. Respect YourselfIT CAN be tough for some, in the beginning, to get accustomed to being the boss or the leader, but remember: you are there either because someone entrusted you with the role; or because your own conviction and self-belief was sufficient to compel you to take your destiny into your own hand s.This is business. You are where you are because of your skills and what you can do;  notâ€"unless you’re a stand-up comedianâ€"because of your personality.Everybody has valuable resources, and  these don’t have to be material riches to be of value.Such resources might be limited to experience or wisdom that you can pass onto your colleagues, but this is as important as money and riches.In the end, it’s about overcoming insecurity and recognising your own talents.This comes easier to some than it does to others, and everyone is plagued by this, but having a sense of your own worth is something that is vital to instilling the necessary confidence to succeed. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. These Feelings Will PassYOU know that saying we’re all supposed to remember… that what looks or feels bad right now simply won’t look so insurmountable or awful next week?We’re supposed  to remember it, but only the very few ever seem to manage this. You have t o get some perspective on the feelings that you have.When you’re getting a little bit overwhelmed by the unpleasant stuff, think back to learning to swim or riding a bikeâ€"the kneejerk reaction of many kids is fear and apprehension. Then recall the  exhilaration you will have felt when you let go of the side of the pool and propelled your body along in the water unaided. the time immediately prior to that pivotal moment is probably the last time that you associated fear and anxiety with swimming and water.One way around it is to think about the things that are causing you difficulties and break down what seem like the insurmountable or intractable elements into achievable chunks.For example, if you are a shy person who has a problem with networking, set yourself a modest target of adding one new contact to your circle at your next networking meeting.Introversion is interesting, not only because it seems at odds with the world of business; or because introverts have many strengths that can actually leave  their extrovert rivals in the dust. It’s noteworthy, if this doesn’t sound too bizarre,  because so many people are interested in it.Perhaps it is because the feelings of insecurity that can strike at the heart of so many introverts are quite common among all entrepreneurs or creatives or others who regularly journey beyond the comfort zone.Given the tendency of entrepreneurs to regularly consult educational video portals such as TED.com, Susan Cain’s TED Talk below has been viewed over 13.3m times, making it one of the most viewed videos hosted on the popular website.It is probably not stretching the power of imagination too greatly to suggest that she has touched on feelings and emotions experienced throughout the business community, especially those entrepreneurs who feel exposed and insecure outside the comfort zone.And so it’s appropriate on this occasion to leave the last word to Ms Cain.