A few years ago, I was at a T. Harv Ecker "Millionaire Mind Event" and first heard Harv's advice about being bigger than your problems.  It didn't really sink in, though, until I read the same idea in his book earlier this year.  Apparently I learn much better by reading than experientially, because I got a TON out of Harv's Millionaire Mind book, that I missed at the live event.

Anyway, his point was that you have to be "bigger than" your problems, and that our success in life is limited by the size of the problems that we are able to overcome.

Jump Out Of Your Comfort Zone!

Most of us are looking to be "comfortable" rather than "successful."  The problem is that being successful very often demands that we step out of our comfort zone and face problems that are scary and challenging.

A few examples of ways that I have stretched myself to create success even when it was uncomfortable:

• Door knocking in target neighborhoods for leads
• Spending money on marketing without certain/tested results
• Cold Calling
• Raising $5 Million in private money for a commercial property purchase
• Buying an apartment building (with partners) that subsequently needed a $200,000 roof replacement that we hadn't anticipated.
• Speaking on stage and selling from the platform

As we tackle and overcome challenges that initially seem outside our scope, a funny thing happens.  We grow better able to handle these discomforts without as much anxiety.

What Does It Look Like?

As a new investor, it was initially hard for me to pick up the phone and call someone using a script.  This was maybe a "level 2" challenge.  As I overcame that, I was able to go out door-to-door and talk to people about my business.   This was maybe a "level 5" challenge.  By the time I was doing these "level 5 challenges," the cold calling (level 2 challenge) didn't seem so scary. 

Then I went on to buying my first apartment building with my partners - a "level 7" project.  The confidence I got from my earlier successes, helped propel me through this new challenge.

Even though these level settings are arbitrary, you can see that doing what's hard for you, makes your medium-difficulty tasks seem easier.

Rocket Ahead By Getting The Most Valuable Things Done Each Day

As you look at your business and your daily activities, you will probably find a few "should do" items on your list that you have been putting off because they make you uncomfortable, even though they have the potential to rocket your business forward.

I encourage you to bite the bullet and push yourself.

If you get comfortable being uncomfortable, you will soon find that you shy away from fewer and fewer activities, and develop the good old fashioned "gumption" displayed by many successful Realtors and investors.