Your comfort zone is killing your career.

I said what I said, now let me explain.

But first, a few quotes.

"The comfort zone is a great enemy of courage and confidence" Brian Tracey

"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there" John Assaraf

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" Neale Donald Walsch

"In any given moment we have two options: Step forward into growth or step back into safety" Abraham Maslow

"Change begins at the end of your comfort zone" Roy T. Bennett

I have learned plenty of valuable lessons over the years, but pushing beyond what's comfortable and acting in the presence of fear has been the most life and career changing.

Like a warm hug, your comfort zone can be encouraging and confining. Your comfort zone can encourage composure and calm but can greatly hinder your growth.

I get it, there are some "PRO's" to having our comfort zones:

-When you stay in your comfort zone, you're in very familiar territory. You know what you're doing, and you know it well.

- There is minimal risk in your comfort zone. Everything is very familiar.

-You designed your comfort zone, its literally PERFECT for your own comfort.

But lets take a look at some of the "CON's"

-Holding back. Staying in your comfort zone too long can make you complacent. If you don't do things that sometimes scare you or challenge you, you will miss out on opportunities for growth.

-No Risk, No Reward. I know this sounds cliche, but all cliches are rooted in truth. If you don't try something new, you won't succeed at anything new. Big WINS come to those who risk.

-Your skillset will dwindle. If you only work within the skillset you know and are comfortable with, you neglect the opportunity to learn newer, more beneficial skills.

-Your comfort zone stays the same. AKA, you won't be able to expand your comfort zone if you don't...expand your comfort zone.

Like John Assaraf said, a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. If you take a look at where you are in your career...and where you WANT to be in your career...that gap? That gap IS the end of your comfort zone and the beginning of what I like to call the journey to your GROWTH zone.

It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone into the fear zone. Last week I wrote about fear in the post about advice I would give my younger self as a stylist. The thing about fear and the fear zone is that you can't just WILL it away. You can't think and talk yourself out of the fear, you have to ACT even in the presence of fear. Once you ACT even when you are scared you move through fear, into the learning zone and ultimately get to your destination of the growth zone.

So how is this all relevant to you? Hopefully at this point you're nodding your head and you see the benefits of leaving the comfort zone but how does this actually apply to you?

Staying comfortable is killing your career. If you aren't pushing your creative boundaries, learning new skills, trying new products, learning new techniques...your career is going to be stifled and you WILL end up losing clients and your inspiration.

When was the last time you learned a new technique and ACTUALLY APPLIED IT?

Are you mortified of posting reels because you're afraid what your friends and family might think?

Are you staying up to date with current trend in hair cuts and colors?

Do you have big goals of owning a salon?

Are you wanting to get into education?

Do you want to be a coach or a mentor?

Do these scare the shit out of you?

I'm sure they do...because they are WAYYYY outside of your comfort zone..but I want you to think big picture. 2 years from now, 5 years from now, 20 years from now...WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE?

I'll promise you this, if you choose comfort over courage, you'll be exactly where you are right this very moment.

So I want you to do something for yourself, I want you to take a few minutes, grab a journal and write down your BIGGEST goals. I'm talking BIIIIIGGGGGGG.

And then I want you to write down what is the FEAR that is stopping you from taking action on these goals.

These fears are VERY real, I get it, but remember...you have to ACT in the presence of fear to move through it and get to the beautiful GROWTH zone.

Where are you choosing comfort over growth? Where are you choosing complacency over courage?

Happy journaling and happy hair coloring!

-Araz