Recently I was invited to appear on the local news.
The reporter had come across my blog, thought the name was catchy, and wanted me to share money-saving tips on back to school shopping with his viewers.
This opportunity to appear on TV was definitely outside my comfort zone!
The reported wanted money-saving tips? I try to be funny, not frugal.
He wanted me to appear on camera? I’m a blogger, which means I write and, when I don’t like what I write, I edit. Talking off the top of my head on camera was a whole new ballgame.
And, I wasn’t in his viewing area. He was from Flint, Michigan and I’m an hour away near Detroit.
There. Three really good reasons why I couldn’t do it. Heck, I even offered to help him find someone else.
Nope. He wanted me. He liked my blog.
So I stepped outside my comfort zone.
I told my kids we were going on an adventure and drove 45 minutes to meet the reporter. Then we filmed the segment over an hour on a Friday morning and it aired on Monday.
Guess what?
It didn’t suck! And it was fun.
None of this could have happened unless I stepped outside my comfort zone. Bolstered by this experience, I want to share tips for how YOU can step outside your comfort zone. If I can do it, then you can, too.
How to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Don’t think too much. As I mentioned above, I started coming up with reasons why I couldn’t do it. These reasons seemed valid, but were fueled by plain fear.
- Listen to your gut. Deep down, I was flattered to be asked. Deep down, I wanted to do this.
- Be flexible. I really thought that it was too far to drive (and drag my kids) to be worthwhile. But as a mom with kids in sports, I’ve driven all over God’s green earth. So what’s a 45 minute drive on my day off?
- Make an effort. Drive 45 minutes? Check. Meet the reporter at 8 am on my day off? Check. Drag the kids out of bed early on a summer morning? Check. Put on extra makeup so I didn’t look washed out on camera? Check. (Ha ha, that last one makes me sound like a DIVA!)
- Surround yourself with cheerleaders. My kids were up for the adventure and thought the experience might be exciting. Later, when I shared the promos and the televised segment on Facebook, people were so encouraging. It meant a lot to know that people were cheering for me. Side note: my husband thought it was a scam. I said I would text him if it looked like we were being kidnapped.
- Go for it. When all else fails, just go for it. Just try. Leave that comfort zone. You might succeed. You might fail. But unless you just step outside your comfort zone, you’ll never know.
There you have it, my tips for how to step outside your comfort zone.
Do you remember a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone? Are you glad you did it? What advice would you give others?
Want to see my money-saving back to school tips? Check out the segment on ABC12’s website. Make sure you click the arrow on the photo to start the video (thanks, Mom, for making me understand that not everyone knows to do that!)
Oh Katy! Every point you raised about why you couldn’t do it is exactly what I would have come up with. That’s also exactly how I felt about my Huff Post Live appearance. “I can’t do that!” And then I did. And it was a hoot. It left me feeling so alive (no pun intended) and rather happy with myself that I pushed through the fear and damned insecurity.
Good on you for not giving in to the doubt. And for coming up with a brilliant blog name!
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Blessings Post Widowhood
Thanks, as always, Kelly! When were you on Huff Post Live? And where was I? Eek, I feel bad I missed that somehow. I’m so proud of you. Impressed, too!!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…How to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
No worries at all. It was before my blogging days when I writing for the online magazine. Somehow someone from HuffP came across the article and asked me to join a group of folks chatting about “reunions.” Best part for me? When we were treated to a tour of one of the participant’s homes as they carried their laptop about looking for a pair of earphones.
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…Blessings Post Widowhood
I think it’s SO AWESOME that your blog landed you a gig with the news! I think I was an excited spectator on IG. 🙂 I felt so happy and proud that a fellow blogger was recognized for her work.
Congrats!
I could totally see myself coming up with a list of why nots, because I’m such an over thinker. Kudos to you for going out there and getting it!!!
XOXO
Thank you! It was a pleasant surprise and a fun thing todo. May I say I’m enjoying watching your journey to greatness as you dabble more and more in video/live streaming?! Keep at it!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…How to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Great reasons! Loved the news report! Congratulations!
One Messy Mama recently posted…5 Ways To Have A Successful Family Outing.
Thanks! It was an unexpected surprise to be contacted and then to actually make the effort to do it.
Oh, how fun and exciting! That’s it I’m changing my blog title to Stories of a More Experience Worse Mom. haha Just kidding. Don’t worry. I won’t.
April recently posted…A Place to Write Out Answered Prayers
I have to say that long after I named my blog I realized it wasn’t exactly conducive to luring advertisers and sponsored posts, LOL!
You did a great job and you looked beautiful! But I hear you, I totally would have wanted to run for the hills. These are great tips. Number one is so hard… Just stop over thinking things already, right? P.S. That was a little pep talk for me 🙂
Jen recently posted…How To NAIL Back To School, The Parents Edition
Thank you! Glad I inspired you to give yourself a little pep talk. 🙂
First off, congrats on the interview! That’s so exciting to have been asked and I’m glad you had an enjoyable time. An example I’ve had of stepping out of my comfort zone is joining a dance class on my own. I was an adult, I’d never taken dance before, but I wanted to try! It ended up being a great experience!!
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Beyond Reading: Aerial Silks with Katrina
See? Now you’ve inspired me with your dance class experience! I should stop being so afraid and take a writing class already, even if I was an English major in college. And I’m old. Ok wait now I’m starting to list excuses why I shouldn’t. Ack!
I still think it’s cool that you were on the news! It would be wayy out of my comfort zone too. I’d like to think I’d do it. Maybe. I’m a huge introvert. But I like your tips.
Amber Myers recently posted…Why You Should Check Out Basic Invite
What a fun experience! I just wrote about how it’s ok to be uncomfortable–so many wonderful experiences can come from it! Congratulations on being featured this week on #MMBH 🙂
Angela Howard recently posted…5 Prayers to Make Back to School Extraordinary
“So many wonderful experiences come from it” – so true! Thank you for your kind comment and the visit. 🙂
That is so cool!! I am trying to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. My husband is the worst at not stepping out of his comfort zone. As our son gets older and more independent I really to reinvent out lives together. Thanks for this post. Great tips.
And thanks for stopping by! I’m excited for you and even your husband to try some new things now that your son is older. Enjoy the adventure!
What a great way to step outside of your comfort zone! The best things often happen that way 🙂
I agree. The best things often DO happen that way!
Good for you! My husband would have thought it was a scam too.
Mother of 3 recently posted…52 Lists: How Would You Spend 1 Million Dollars?
Ha! And thank you. 🙂