How to make progress

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. ~ Michael John Bobak

Outside the comfort zone....hmm... for many people, that is a place that is deep and wide! My comfort zone is usually confined to a 6-foot by 6 foot space—at least these days with social distancing and all!

Step One to Making Progress: Break Down the Comfort Zone

Still, all joking aside, our comfort zones are usually rigid places with rules and guidelines and

all sorts of barriers to keep the uncomfortable stuff out and the warm fuzzies in.

Those who make progress do so outside the comfort zone where the scary things are. The monsters that threaten the safety of our bubble. The breach is crossed and we are in that unfamiliar territory outside the comfort zone.

The progress is then made. I can attest to this, as I am sure many of you can, too. We didn't advance very far inside the zone of where we are comfortable. It's too small, too confining and too limiting.

The comfort zone must be broken down, at least temporarily, to make progress. You and I have to move beyond that area into the unknown and do what we have to make the progress we seek.

I can't tell you how to break it down, you just have to do it through whatever means necessary. I usually just force myself to do the thing outside of my zone. Some people might imbibe a bit. Others never move out of the comfort zone and they never do much in the way of making progress.

Step two to making progress: Deviate from the Norm

Without Deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. ~ Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa knew a thing or two about deviating from the norm. According to Wikipedia, "His work is characterized by nonconformity, free-form improvisation, sound experiments, musical virtuosity, and satire of American culture."

To make progress, you have to be willing to deviate from what everyone else is doing.

Deviations are found everywhere—notice I said deviations not "deviates". Deviates is a totally different thing in the general sense of the word!

One of the key components of statistics is the standard deviation.

Deviation is the second key to making progress. That is why many niche websites do well, because they have deviated from the BIG picture and tell a facet of the story being able to give total attention to that segment!

Step three to making progress: Change your mind

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. ~ George Bernard Shaw

Being able to make changes is something that is essential to progress. Without change,

progress can come to a screeching halt and leave you scratching your head wondering what happened.

The ability to change your mind gives you the ability to deviate from the norm and the ability to work outside of your comfort zone.

Being able to make progress in an uncertain place during uncertain times is going to require the ability to make changes and adapt quickly. But it is something that I believe those of us who will succeed are adept at.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that you need to allow yourself to have a sense of pride in yourself and in your work. Be proud of not only the progress you have made, but "especially the progress that no one else has seen..." yet!

Take the steps above and roll with it (the changes). We got this people!

Hope you all have a productive week!

With 2020 Vision,
Karin 😎