Get out of your comfort zone!

Relaxing!

Comfort zones are insidious. They keep us doing the same old things, the way we’ve always done them.

After all, when was the last time you thought about taking your business to new and heady heights, but didn’t actually get any further?

Don’t worry, you are not alone.

There are plenty of business owners out there who let their brains stand in the way of fundamental changes in their business.

When we consider dramatic change, we either think that we can’t do it or claim we don’t know how to do it.

Sound familiar?

If you want to do more than grow incrementally then you need to practise some radical thinking.

It’s pretty easy to set a goal of selling 10% more or getting five more customers. This is what I call an incremental target, meaning 'just a little bit more than last time'. This is better than not having any targets, but it does tend to leave you well inside your comfort zone.

Let’s talk instead about radical targets.

To achieve a radical target implies completely altering the way things are done and introducing a new paradigm into the business. To set a radical target you need to make a leap of faith and suspend the part of your brain that tells you that you don’t know how to achieve it.

Setting radical targets that you don’t know how to meet can result in creative and out of the box solutions. It’s unlikely that you’ll achieve these without major changes to the way the business is run. And that’s the whole point. This ongoing search for innovation and different approaches can keep the business fresh and a step ahead of your competitors.

Here’s some examples of radical targets to inspire you:

Double the net profit of the business within 12 months;
Become internationally known as a specialist in your field;
Shift the business model from 100% face-to-face to 80% web enabled;
Create a product set that generates enough passive income to sustain you and is completely automated and online.

Now that you’ve set your radical targets you can start imagining how to make them happen.

This will force you to totally rethink aspects of how your provide your product or service.

Start with an open mind. Just because you’re not sure how to achieve it doesn’t mean it can’t be done. If you even get half way to your radical targets, you will be a much further ahead than if you had never set them.

Expand your world, get out of your comfort zone and aim to set at least two radical objectives in your business plan.

If radical thinking has helped you and your business, tell us via the comments.

Megan Tough runs Complete Potential, a company that helps businesses solve their strategy and people problems. She loves being a solopreneur, and when she doesn't have her nose to the grindstone, is fulfilling her other passion of fitness and health.

9 comments | Add your own 1 2 | Next» View all»

Well, yes and no. If it ain't broke why fix it? As to the "you shouldn't be comfortable", says who? A demanding teacher or parent perhaps? Be comfortable and enjoy life - you will find that there are challenges you wish to take up. Evan Hadkins from Kyle Bay, Sydney, Australia
Rather than "leaving your comfort zone" I like to think of it as "making your existing comfort zone bigger". For example in a work sense, you might take on a few projects just outside your usual ones (bigger, more complex or requiring the learning of new skills) and before long they'll be part of your regular offering - then you have a bigger comfort zone to swan around in! Peter Crocker from Flying Solo
Ah, the joys of the comfort zone debate. It certainly is tempting to stay put now and then...mind you, once on the other side of a bit of stretching, the feeling of pride can be addictive and the consequences wonderful. What to do? My advice is talk it over with a friend or coach and YOU will uncover YOUR answer. Alternatively, pop the kettle on and open a new pack of ginger biscuits. Robert Gerrish from Flying Solo
Having spent a lot of time with friends in hospices as well as giving eulogies for friends, I can honestly say that I've never heard any of them or their fellow patients complaint that they had too much fun, were too radical or glad they saved their money instead of having a good time ! Grant Hyman from Sydney
I had a radical business idea late last year. I got REALLY excited about it ... talked it over with my coach ... then got cold feet! After sticking my head in the sand for a couple of months (and eating some of those ginger biscuits) I finally decided 3 weeks ago to stretch that comfort zone and commit to my radical idea. I have taken the first steps and although I can still feel myself squirming with discomfort I am looking forward to seeing what actually happens :) Linda Anderson from Sydney
Do more of what works and less of what you dont enjoy. Its your business and 90% your choice (as some necessities cannot be avoided). A DELLER from Melbourne

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