Leverage what you already are

Whether you’re starting something new or working on an existing project, always try to take advantage of your current skill set in every task.

We often hear advice from so-called gurus about always operating in discomfort, claiming growth happens only there.

I disagree; rather we should operate where we can.

This includes acknowledging that we can often do more than we think. Where we can’t is often just a fear barrier we have the power to overcome.

When deciding where to focus your efforts for maximum personal and business growth, first consider your risk propensity and ability.

Once you understand your risk profile, you can better assess how to balance your workload.

Most people don’t operate in extremes; we must find balance.

I propose a good rule for most working people is 80/20: spend 80% of your time doing what you’re good at and the remaining 20% in the discomfort zone.

Extract lessons from the latter, imagining it exists on the periphery of the former, and gain novel ideas to improve your common workload. Variety is the spice of life.

If you’re a risk-taker, you might adopt a profile like 60/40. I believe this is where most entrepreneurs are when they make the leap to starting a business or project of their own. It’s worth noting that I am not differentiating between hard skills, soft skills, or related mental aspects like experience, intuition, memory, or intelligence.

Doing what you’re good at might mean working in an unknown industry (40%) but with confidence in your people skills (60%). Quantifying this is challenging because it’s situation-specific. Hence, logic precedes numbers.

By leveraging who you are, what you have, know, and can already do; you ensure that you work in a space where you feel good about yourself. That is growth.

I would argue: don’t chase discomfort; simply follow your natural and desired risk profile. To do just that, you’ll need to engage in some self-reflection.

And, of course, ask: who do I want to become?