Monday Motivation - Find A Challenge With A Balance

Some wise words I received from a mentor were to keep challenging myself. “As soon as you are comfortable you stop learning,” the CBS correspondent told me, “Push yourself out of your comfort zone.” I have taken this statement to heart. It’s one of the reasons I felt compelled to pack my bags and move to NYC. I have spent enough time to know the Queen City well. I have established relationships; I have gotten involved with groups I am passionate about, I have become that dreadful thing… comfortable.

During my trip to NYC two weeks ago something felt right. I was meant to be there. I ventured to over a dozen coffee shops and businesses for informational interviews. It was a good jump-start to my new life I was building in NYC. In some ways I was calm, familiar with the city since I’d lived there for ten weeks during an internship in college, however by no means comfortable.

When I got back from NYC to Cincinnati I had a meeting bright and early with another company, SparkPeople. I was introduced to the company by a couple of mentors in Cincinnati who knew the vision I had for myself for my future career. I hadn’t thought much about the meeting leading up to it. Besides, I was moving to NYC. After an hour discussing web content, video and the mission of the company I left completely excited and inspired. Suddenly I wasn’t so certain that jumping in a U-haul was a good idea.

No matter where I am, I am embarking in a new medium. I will be uncomfortable. For the most part, the people I have met with are in the field of web publications. My skills and talents still apply, however it’s using a different platform than what I have been focused on the last few years. I have realized the best thing I can do while plunging into these uncharted waters is to put myself around supportive people I am comfortable with asking for help when I need it. After all, life is about balance.

For the time being that means Cincinnati will remain my home. NYC may be in the future, but not now. Now, I am beginning to work with Spark People as a freelancer. It will be a new role in a new field, which is excitingly uncomfortable to me.