Neal...It is good to stretch every now and then and go beyond your comfort zone. About that prop-plane ride...I don't know if I could have stretched that far.

Neal...Going past my comfort zone is an every day thing with dealing with so many different thinking/minded people. It's a given no matter what industry...it's just life. If we didn't take risks, chances etc. then where would we be...but to wonder....what could've, should've, would've happened. That's not happening....see ya...gotta run.

Monika,

The plane was not my finest moments but I wanted to see it badly and over come my fears. Well I had a great experience when we got there..but coming home was like shaking up a bottle of beer and opening it after. But I did not lose my cookies!

Sally,

We all go past our comfort zones once and you are right if you do not take chances or gambles we would all be boring...also the plane ride was relativly safe I just wanted to see the pilots license to make sure he was old enough to fly. LOL!

Neal, I like going out of my comfort zone, usually AFTER it's over :)  Then I am glad I did what I did because it's what causes us all to grow and stretch.  Thanks for a great post and glad I wasn't in that plane (although I took a hot air baloon in Arizona, does that count? :)

Neal,

Getting involved in something difficult or distressing that you really don't want to do and then completing the task successfully gives you a solid feeling of accomplishment. Sometimes to get started is the hardest part. Oh, by the way, did the prop-plane pilot tell you what the black marks on the Grand Canyon walls mean? 

Being successful in this business necessitates taking risk and stepping outside our comfort zones. There is so much change, we can't afford to remain still. And the valleys always make us appreciate the mountains!

Carole,

Being related to fueng ...I can see your point.I am glad we did it too but I still was a bit nervous!

Esko,

You are so right. No I was taking photos which I will be posting to localism but on the way back the only color I was looking for was the tar so I could kiss the ground!

Rich,

That is why I sometimes have to go against the grain and try something different..just like when I am at the gym trying to change up on the exercises to get better results.You can't be better if you do not at least try. But the plane ride was a way to reduce my fears a bit and now at least I know what it was like to take a journey and see a great part of the world!

Neal I am very much a creature of habit. In my younger days I was quite different than that but now I just like to keep things tame. But I am a risk taker when it comes to my business. I've had many failures in my life because of it but I just keep bouncing back and keep moving forward no matter what.

Hey it was good talking with you yesterday. Sounds like that plane ride was quite the experience. Next time just bungy jump into the canyon.

Neal great post.  I agree you have to push yourself.  You have to face your fears

Neal

One of my biggest challenges was listing appointments. I was concerned about not appearing confident( cause I wasn't) and not Selling myself effectively. I was totally out of my element and had a huge learning curve to get over.

Every presentation-succesful outcome or not- built my confidence and helped to push me over the curve!

Now I just stress about getting lost!

BB,

I think I am the complete opposite..I am more of a risk taker now than when I was younger..I guess once I tried I saw the mistakes I made and figured they were not all that bad ..but the rewards are even greater. It was good hearing your voice as well and we can continue the combo next week in Orlando!

Matt,

Push but where? LOL! Call me.

Joan,

Just have to take calculated chances..I did just that with the sale of my house ..but that is another story.

Neal - I don't mind stepping out on a limb... but I do hate making calls to clients that aren't pleasant.   I had one last week, my listing my buyer... long and short.. we had multiple offers and my buyer was the highest and in retrospect I don't think the best buyer.   Did I know this when the seller made the decision to go with my client, absolutely not....    All the TRUE facts played out as the final hours for a mortgage commitment were upon me.

That phone call sucked... no nice way to put it... no for-warning ... my seller was blindsided.  THANK GOD.. it wasn't a situation where the seller was buying anything... but I sucked wind for a good half day to prepare myself for that call... and finally just did it. 

All is well... I am lucking my seller was very understanding and I had all my T's crossed and I's dotted..   a week later we are back on the market and multiple offers... one is my own... and boy oh boy am I hoping they go with another one.

Have a great night

Neal the Real Deal - getting out of one's comfort zone certainly does cause great growth at times.  I find that I have to do that many times in this business, and in my activities within the REALTOR organization.  I'm basically a very shy person, and to do alot of the things we do in this business requires that I spend most of my time out of my comfort zone. 

That plane ride would have done me in.  I promised myself a few years ago, after a particularly bad small plane flight - not a jet, that I would NEVER ever again fly on a plane like that unless it was an absolute necessity.  Good for you for taking that flight!

Getting out of my comfort zone usually feels okay AFTER I've done it - whatever it is.

Ann

Neal,

The best part of going out of your comfort zone is the feeling of accomplishment when your done! Great post! :)

Desiree,

Almost the same situation for me...but we collected the escrow so my seller seemed more than understood..especially when he covered his loses.

Ann,

 I also get uncomfortable at times but learn to put up with it...you

 have to in our business.

Suzanne,

Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

Good post Neal.  Glad you decided to take that plane ride, they are a bit bumpy but great.  This whole blogging thing to be honest - now that was out of the comfort zone for sure.  If you had told me even 6 months ago I would be writing about my area, or real estate, or whatever - I don't think I would have believed you.  Give me any family to talk to, any group, present for a meeting -  whatever - its all good.  Put me in front of this keyboard, and it has been a challenge.  Yet it is getting much easier and now rewarding. 

Steve,

I am glad you were willing to look at the other side. Thanks!

Loved those bumps and the sharp turns helped even more.

I am traveling this week and weekend and was listening to a Jack Canfield tape on the way down South. He said comfort zones are self-imposed prisons. That we created them or allowed them to be created by our past experiences & we are the only ones that can change them. We MUST change them to grow. If not we keep repeating the same mistakes over and over and over and over and over again. You get the picture. Good job on the plane ride.

Neal, The more risks we take, the luckier we get!!  Those small planes get us where we need to go and much faster! Glad you took the flight. When you visit us in Baltimore, we will take you for a ride but we will be sure it is a calm day. No bumps...OK?

I love stepping out of my comfort zone my family thinks I am crazy but I love to get that pit in the bottom of my stomach when I am afraid to try something - but I also am the one who enjoys public speaking - go figure

I often question myself with "What do I have to lose?"  For example today we were out to lunch for my daughter's birthday.  I saw a lady reading real estate sales magazines.  So I decided to ask her if she was thinking about moving and if so if she had a Realtor.  I figured if I asked her she might be receptive or mean.  I might get a client or not.  If I didn't ask then I absolutely would not get a client, so there was nothing to lose.  She was a Realtor, so I don't have a new client, but I lost nothing except a little fear. 

Missy,

Canfield is right..we do create it.

Maragaret,

I remember seeing your flat journey so I know you fly those types..sorry no more prop planes for me. Taking chances are what is all about or we all would be boring.

Thesa,

From what you have been telling me you go way out of that zone but I would prefer to have some breathing room.

Dawn,

I question it too..if I feel it is too much to lose...I won't do it. I have had a few times when I had to make those decisions and thankfully they worked out so far.

Hey Neal,

Great point of view, from the plane ? nahh :) hahaha I mean, good point, we take to take risks to know more in deep what will happen, sometimes we do not want to take risks because we are afraid to fail or because we fear on something. 

Great blog :) and great pictures my friend.

Ray,

Did I look scared? I wasn't but you did not see my face between my legs on the way back.

Love it!!  Flying in a BIG PLANE is okay...I hear ya on the smaller ones...especially when it's bumpy and windy!  Yikes!!  How about when they're DE-ICING the wings??? 

Neal all you needed was a cigar butt in your mouth and you would have looked lie Jim Belushi in the movie 1942! HaHa

Susie,

Bog planes are not as bad. If it is cold enough to have ice then I won't fly.

Danny,

Yeah right!

Neal,  you're looking a little green there!

Lysa,

When the picture was taken was when I was calm...you did not see me on the flight back.

Awe.. that plane looked mighty comfy.. My motto? If it doesn't have a bathroom I don't fly in it!

Lysa,

It did have a bathroom....a portable bag in the seat pocket in front of me for those emergencies. I'll show you the pictures from the trip at the get together if you like.

Neal, kind of, but you were ok, I was on a small plane like those when I flew to Manzanillo in Mexico, from mexico city to Manzanillo I had to use a small plane, like the one you used it, just 8 people at most. and yes, you are right it feels awful the turbulence , Yikes !!!!

Ray,

I did enjoy the experience but I think I will walk next time!

Neal,

Sorry that I didn't catch this earlier.  Why didn't you take the front right seat?  These planes usually allow for it.

Anyhow, getting out of our comfort zone is definitely something that needs to be done from time to time.  Believe it or not, I have a fear of heights, and yet I fly planes.  I have also ventured onto roller coasters and other things I was afraid of before.  You just have to face those fears to achieve greater rewards.

As you said, it is the same in business as well, even in our posts.  I did a post a while back that was titled "Does Your Competition Hate You" and addresses the inate fear of being rejected and how that can affect our posts and marketing in general.

Now, as for flying, you should go do some aerobatic flying, that will get you to taste those cookies again.  As you can imagine, I have flown a widespread range of airplanes in my time, so I can easily say that turbulence is felt less if you are in the middle of the airplane.  The further away you get, the more effect there is as you are further from the "fulcrum" of the motion.

Hey Robert!

No ..I was asked to sit up front but decided if I was going to be tortured then I sat in the middle.

And it did nothing except make me feel worse! You should be proud that you can fly planes without that fear...the good part was when we flew the jet back home it was more comfortable knowing it was a smoother ride..besides...we were upgraded both ways to first class so you can't beat that! Business wise..in our business we have to take chances or it would not be exciting.

Hey Neal - thanks for leading me to this post. Great post and great analogy for sure. There something to be said about going out of ones comfort zone, much like Paul Potts in my last post, the Opera Singer.  I can say this we have a lot in common with little prop planes. After 11 years with our local hometown airline, I only flew twice on those little planes. Once was in a storm from Phoenix to Laughlin/Kingman for a Bike Weekend. My knuckles were white the entire time. As for the dentist, I don't like him much either, I would suffer a long time to avoid the dentist. I hope that is not you bungee jumping in that photo, if so, you have mastered your fears and the dentist has nothing on that!! I had a few friends in Vegas do that and they loved it, not for me!! I am perfectly fine with my toes on the ground. I know in our business sometimes we have to deal with many situations that are uncomfortable and take us to unknown territories, but that is the beauty of it, live the lesson and learn!! I welcome it, just not planes with open doors and shaky bellies!! No thanks!!

Hi Candace,

The plane ride was true obviously from my photo...the bungee was not...no way could I do that without coughing up my guts...if I fall ten feet I freak out..and up side down is another thing..if I could walk where ever I travel it would be my first choice:) Thanks and I was happy you enjoyed the posts.