Every day we as human beings work and live within our own comfort zones. Sometimes, we actually stretch an arm or a leg outside of this protected environment. And then we experience an arm being hit or a misstep being taken and we quickly return to our comfort zone. For the world is a very dangerous place, full of chances and failures.

Maybe this is why there are so many books on leadership. Leaders are known for not residing continually in their comfort zones, but taking the chances necessary for success.

Imagine for a moment, General Dwight Eisenhower staying in the comfort zone right before D-Day or the artists such as Picasso or Mozart being comfortable delivering the same art as everyone else? Now, look at several people that you admire. Do those persons continually stay in a comfort zone hiding under their security blanket where life passes them by? Or are they risk takers who embrace life and cast off that blanket knowing full well that they might slip and fall? These individuals understand that leadership is just as much about failure as it is success. NOTE: I once read that success is 99% failure(Soichior Honda founder of Honda Motor Company).

What a depressing world this would be if all human beings stayed within their comfort zones. We would indeed live in a very safe, but dull world. Possibly, this is why great leaders are noticed because of their aversion to comfort zones.

So are you living mostly in your own comfort zone, surrounded by your security blanket? Are the choices that you are making as a leader exist because they are within your comfort zone? For example, do you as a small business owner, sales professional or executive always start they day with the easy things first such as answering email and avoid the hard things such as making sales calls? HINT: That is called procrastination. Then, you are indeed residing in your own, safe and secure comfort zone. Your leadership is suffering and so are you.

If you are making choices because they will take you where you want to go, then you are probably living outside of your comfort zone. No matter where you reside, the choice is always yours