Getting Uncomfortable

I work for a social marketing company in Austin, TX. I’ve been here for a little over a year and have learned a ton. Prior to joining the company, I spent 10 years in sales and business development for a few IT software companies. While I enjoyed my time there and learned a lot, I began to get comfortable. That is not to say that I knew everything about IT technology or how to handle every situation flawlessly, but after selling similar products to a very similar set of prospects again and again, your growth begins to slow. The advantage is that you gain a lot of experience and in turn can navigate the process much more efficiently. The disadvantage is remaining comfortable over a long period of time increases your risk of becoming complacent.

My current job has given me the opportunity to get uncomfortable again and kick start my personal and professional growth. It's led to a fast and thorough education of a space I was vaguely familiar with when I started. Last week I began to co-write my first blog post for my company--in fact this is my first personal post, not because I feel like I am good at it or that I’m comfortable with sharing my ideas in this format, but for exactly the opposite reason. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and against how I am used to operating, but it’s an opportunity to get involved with a new communication medium and learn a few things in the process.

We are entering into a new year with an economy that is going to be difficult, to say the least. Many workers will be forced to get uncomfortable professionally due to job cuts and restructuring. Those who are forced out of a comfortable role and have become complacent will have a much harder time than those who continuously seek to grow. We've all heard scarcity breeds innovation and creativity. I would add that it’s bred by those who revel in the uncomfortable, roll up their sleeves and embrace the challenge--not solely because they have to, but because they genuinely want to.