| There was a time in my business career when I lived | | | | proud of the products or services you have to offer |
| in one area and worked in another area some 50 | | | | goes a long way toward making it easier to step out |
| miles away. As a result, I was a virtual unknown in the | | | | of your comfort zone and, combined with a little |
| region in which I lived because, for the most part, I was | | | | speaking experience under your belt, you will be on |
| never there. Then one day, while with the same | | | | your way. |
| company, the President called me in to ask if I would | | | | Once you are ready to step out of your comfort |
| be interested in a promotion to Regional Manager in | | | | zone, it's time to get involved. One of the best ways |
| the same area in which I had my residence. This was | | | | for you to involve yourself, get more "out-of-zone" |
| a great opportunity except for a couple of things . One | | | | experience and otherwise market your start-up |
| was that I had always been a department head and | | | | business is to join the chamber of commerce in the |
| never really had to go out and glad-hand folks to | | | | area that you will be marketing to. Although chamber |
| develop business. The other was that I was unfamiliar | | | | membership cost is generally reasonable, it may be an |
| with the region where I lived and I knew no one from a | | | | expense that is cost prohibitive in the beginning; |
| business point-of-view. What was I going to do? | | | | particularly if there are multiple chambers in your area. |
| One of the first things I realized was that I was going | | | | My suggestion would be to contact the chamber |
| to have to step out of my comfort zone. We all have | | | | executive and ask if you can come to a couple of |
| comfort zones which relate to our immediate | | | | events as a guest just to get a feel for the chamber. |
| environment and the behaviors with which we are | | | | Another important benefit of chamber membership |
| comfortable without creating a sense of risk. Stepping | | | | which can actually assist you in stepping out of your |
| out of our comfort zone raises anxiety and stress. In a | | | | comfort zone is the mailing list of all chamber |
| nutshell, we don't like "stepping out". It makes us | | | | members. Most chambers charge a nominal fee for |
| uncomfortable. Highly successful persons routinely step | | | | providing this list, but it is only available to members. |
| outside of their comfort zones to accomplish what | | | | Many chambers of commerce will even provide |
| they wish. But for most of us who are potentially | | | | mailing labels with the mailing addresses of members |
| successful people, stepping out of our comfort zone | | | | already printed on the labels. It is amazing to me the |
| does not come naturally. We need training and/or | | | | percentage of chamber members that do not take |
| experience. | | | | advantage of this single benefit. And in terms of your |
| Fortunately, when it comes to training, there are a | | | | "comfort zone", you will have something in common |
| variety of ways to get such training. One way is to do | | | | with those on the list; you're both members of the |
| a Google search to find a wealth of information and | | | | chamber of commerce. Don't be afraid to use this to |
| sources of training. In my case, I enrolled in a Dale | | | | your advantage. |
| Carnegie course that was being taught locally to | | | | Getting involved can be more than just joining the |
| managers and sales people. It was one of the best | | | | Chamber. There are lots of opportunities for you to |
| things I have done in business. | | | | gain out-of-your-comfort-zone experience by |
| Unlike an excellent course like Dale Carnegie which | | | | volunteering your time both inside and outside the |
| costs money, there are other ways to get training | | | | chamber. Inside the chamber, being an Ambassador is |
| which, if there is any cost at all, it's minimal. One such | | | | one example. You will be part of a committee that |
| example is a local chapter of Toastmasters | | | | performs ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new member |
| International. This is a great organization that has been | | | | businesses. This is an excellent opportunity to meet |
| around for a longtime with local chapters in nearly | | | | face-to-face with business owners at their place of |
| every community. They usually meet over breakfast | | | | business who may need your products and services. |
| or lunch and although the focus is on public speaking, | | | | At the very least, serving as an Ambassador will allow |
| that is exactly what you need in order to break out of | | | | you to be introduced to potential customers in a |
| your comfort zone. Do a Google search for | | | | relaxed atmosphere where your immediate purpose is |
| Toastmasters. Their website has a lot of great articles | | | | not to sell them something. You're just opening a door |
| and information. | | | | for a future opportunity while gaining confidence that |
| Stepping out of my comfort zone allowed me to | | | | you really can step out of your comfort zone. |
| approach people whom I did not know and, armed | | | | The bottom line (pun intended) is that getting involved is |
| with a well-rehearsed plan as to what I wanted to | | | | good for business and provides lots of opportunities |
| accomplish, I could influence them to do business with | | | | for practicing the art of working outside of your |
| me. The more I practiced stepping out of my comfort | | | | comfort zone. And as you do this, don't be surprised if |
| zone, the easier it became. Before long, the business | | | | your "comfort zone" gets larger and larger.The |
| community began to know who I was and, just as | | | | business is there. All you have to do is go out and get |
| importantly, I knew who they were. | | | | it. And the great thing is that most people won't, |
| As the owner of a start-up small business, presumably | | | | including your competitors. |
| you will be proud of what you have to offer. Being | | | | |