Expand Your Comfort Zone

Are you one of those people who go to the same restaurant and order the same food every time?  Most of us do this, at least occasionally.  It’s comfortable, easy and we don’t have to think because we know we like this item.  I’m guilty of doing this myself.  If my husband and I are going out to eat I know what I am going to order before we even get there.

Almost two years ago I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I quit my full time job making a very good salary without another job.  While deciding where to apply for another position, I stepped out of my comfort zone further and started my own company.  For years I have wanted to start my own business.  I went from wanting to own a consignment store, to wanting to own a specialty gift basket store, and the list went on and on.  Now was my time to do it!

I just want to mention I took baby steps when I stepped out of my comfort zone.  I wasn’t ready for a giant leap yet.  I started a company doing basically the same thing I have done for years.  But now I would be my own boss of my own company.  I wasn’t sure if I was sick in my stomach from the excitement or fear.  But a year and a half later, I am still in business and doing well. 

What’s next?  Since I have expanded my comfort zone, I want to step out a little further and push myself a little more.  I am taking my business in a different direction and adding different ways to generate revenue to my company. Again, it is scary but I can do it. 

Are you comfortable in what you are doing or are you happy doing what you do? There is a difference.  Once I sat and listened to someone complain about how much he hated his job.  "Look for something else" I told him. “What do you want to do” I asked?  "I can do a lot of things" he replied.  "But what do you want to do" I kept asking.  He didn’t have an answer.

I’m not advocating quitting your job without something else lined up or having another income source.  But while you are deciding what you want to do, take baby steps to get there.  If you want to start your own business in a few years, you may want to do market research or take a class on starting a business.  If you want to do something different, try learning some new skills.  Before you know it you will wonder why you were so intimidated to step out of your comfort zone.

Abraham Lincoln once said “I will study and prepare myself and someday my chance will come".  This is great advice, be ready for when your chance comes. 

What baby steps will you take today?

 
Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

 
Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes You Need to Say "I Don't Know"!

I was sitting in a training class when one of the participants asked a question.  The trainer very confidently looked at her and answered the question.  That is the way it is supposed to work, right?  Someone asks a question and the trainer or subject matter expert provides an answer.  In this case the answer was wrong.  I looked over at my co-worker sitting next to me, he leaned over to me and said “I don’t think that is the right answer, it doesn’t make any sense”.


When the class was over out of curiosity we researched the answer.  The trainer was blatantly wrong!  Obviously he did not know the answer so he made something up.  What do you think that did to his credibility with us?  It destroyed his credibility.


I have taught over 300 classes and there have been times when someone asked a question that I did not know the answer.  It happens to the best of us.  You can be an expert in what you are teaching or presenting and a question comes out of left field and you wonder how someone could come up with such a question.


In some of the cases you can say, “In my opinion or I think” and give your answer and that is a suitable answer for the type of question being asked.  Never should you make up an answer to make yourself appear to know everything.  No one can know everything!


I have found the best course of action in these cases is honesty.  Just say “I don’t know, but that is a great question and I will find out the answer for you”.  I have never had anyone say to me you don’t know what you are talking about.  People understand and are usually patient to get the correct answer, they want to know the correct answer. 


Now to keep your credibility, don’t forget to let everyone know the answer.  If it is a small class, you can email the answer to them if you need more time than a break to do some research.  If it is in a larger setting, you can refer people to your social media accounts and tell them you will post the answer on a specific day.  What a great way to also increase traffic to your social media accounts!  Not only will you gain more followers, people will respect the fact you took the initiative to find the answer for a participant.


I think most of us have been in a setting where the “subject matter expert” talked around the question but did not really say anything.  Sometimes you just need to say “I don’t know”.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise



 Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

 Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

 Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

 LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni