I remember when I was first sent this poster by a friend, and how I laughed out loud.  In the upper left, you’ll see where the magic happens, all colorful, and exciting, and glittering. Down on the lower right hand corner, my comfort zone.  It’s as far away from where the magic happens as possible.

Surrounded by fear, we all have comfort zones. We have comfort zones in relation to the emotions we are able to express, the situations we are able to put ourselves into, the countries to which we are able to travel.

We have comfort zones on all different levels, all surrounded by fear. What a leader understands is that in order for them to grow in their influence as a leader; in order for them to grow in the breadth of people to which they can lead; the breadth of situations into which they can lead those people; they have to expand their comfort zone from where it initially starts.

They do that by walking through that bond of fear that surrounds every comfort zone we have. I respect the person who said, “Courage is doing it scared.” A leader understands that.