This blog is all about the key points from the book by Jessica Honegger – Imperfect Courage: Live a Life of Purpose by Leaving Comfort and Going Scared. A great book with excellent insight on pushing one out of comfort zone. Some key sentence is shared here.

 It’s tempting to bubble-wrap our lives. Layer upon layer of protection means we stay unbroken, right through to the end. We wrap ourselves in fear. We wrap ourselves in isolation. We wrap ourselves in nightly glasses of wine or in our beloved Instagram feed. We avoid real issues involving real people who live in the real world because, “What if I get hurt?” And yet what does this approach yield for us? A life of boredom, a lack of impact, spiritual death.

In the organizational context, managers and leaders often find themselves bubble-wrapping their professional lives. They adhere to conventional practices, avoid taking risks, and maintain the status quo. This results in a stagnant work environment where innovation is stifled, and growth is limited. To lead effectively, it’s essential to step out of this comfort zone.

Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place you belong.

Katende in Queen of Katwe

When was the last time your heart thump-thumped inside your chest because you’d ventured to the edge of your comfort zone and new territory was about to get claimed? If I had to put money on it, I’d bet that there is a prompting you’ve received, and you are waiting for a perfect state of fearlessness before you act.

Managers and leaders should encourage their teams to embrace challenges and take calculated risks. This can lead to breakthrough ideas and significant advancements in the organization. Foster a culture where making mistakes is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a failure.

Our own narrowly defined and heavily airbrushed definition of beauty limits us. We need to reconsider the labels we have put on ourselves and others. When we label ourselves according to only one facet of our multifaceted life, we regard ourselves as partial people. This is not helpful to us at all…or at least to those of us longing to live whole.

Instead of calling yourself “an overachiever,” say you’re “a person who tends to overachieve.” Instead of calling yourself “an addict,” say you’re “a person struggling with addiction.” Instead of calling yourself “unstylish,” say you’re “a person for whom style can be challenging.” Instead of calling yourself “flat,” say you’re “a person with smaller breasts.”

When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability…. To be alive is to be vulnerable.

Madeleine L’Engle

In a professional setting, vulnerability can be a powerful tool for leaders. Showing vulnerability can build trust, foster open communication, and create a more inclusive and supportive work environment. It encourages team members to share their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment.

We all want to be seen and heard. But being seen and heard requires that two important things happen—that we show up and let ourselves be seen (vulnerability), and that, when we muster the courage to do that, we feel that we are heard (empathy). Vulnerability, when met with empathy, leads to wholeness. It works this way every time.

We compare instead of collaborating with each other. We judge instead of empathizing with each other. We stand by instead of fighting for each other.

Often, we judge people because of a lack of understanding about our differences. But what if instead of seeing those differences as walls dividing us, we saw them as opportunities to expand our world?

For leaders, fostering collaboration over competition can lead to a more innovative and cohesive team. Understanding and leveraging the diverse strengths of team members can drive the organization towards greater success.

Take the step today. Embrace imperfect courage, let go of the bubble-wrap, and start living a life full of purpose and impact. As a leader, inspire your team to do the same and watch as your organization transforms into a dynamic and thriving entity.

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

Warren Buffett 

The link for the book on Amazon is here.