Like most people, I really like spending time in my comfort zone. I wake up at the same time (even on the weekends dammit), eat at the same restaurants, go to trivia every Tuesday night. My friends and I even joke about our #NoNewFriends rule.

After completing multiple internships, I graduated from Drake University in 2015 with a degree in marketing and started my first role with a financial services company in a marketing capacity soon thereafter. I recently moved to a new role within my company as a Client Service Associate in DB Combo. Meaning – I’ll be servicing retirement plans that have both a 401K and Pension component. Not a marketing role. Now, as someone who hates the unknown and thrives on familiarity, why did I think it was a good idea to take a role that’s not even in the same zip code as my comfort zone?

Being comfortable is one of the scariest places you can be because you stop taking risks and challenging yourself. I firmly believe that it’s impossible to grow from a place of comfort. You need to purposely put yourself in those situations that raise your stress level, give you some anxiety and push you a little bit.  I work hard to be a yes woman and try new things that will stretch me: I don’t play golf but I’m planning a charity tournament and recently I signed up for a workgroup with a bunch of IT people to learn about information security.

This new role is uncomfortable for me now, but I’m learning something new every day and being challenged constantly. It’s hard to leave what you’re used to but ultimately, you’ll be better off by choosing to step headlong into that discomfort. Who knows where it will take you!

Trying new things is difficult. If it weren’t, breaking out of your comfort zone would be easy and we’d do it all the time. I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone today. Sign up for that after work networking event, speak up in a meeting, apply for that job you’re not 100% qualified for… take a risk and put yourself out there!