It won't, but that's not the point. It is about the journey and growing as a person and crying and having the time of your life.
Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
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Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#12Who knows. It may help someone else, or it may help no one but me. But it's out there for anyone who wants to break out of their comfort zone but need a "push".
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#13The outcome: well, I drove around white-knuckled for a bit, and didn't hurt anybody or damage any property. Not positive or negative yet - it'll be positive if I stick to it and get a driver's license.
That reminds me, I've got to schedule some appointments for next week.
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#14I did it with my eating and workout habits and lost over 40Kg :) It really feels good not to be an obese :)
And now I'm thinking of working abroad. Are there any European company or startup looking for a senior Linux system administrator here?
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#15In January, when I got all excited about Webfinger, I proposed an Ignite talk on it to RailsConf in Baltimore, before I knew anywhere near enough to talk on it. They accepted, so I was forced to learn enough to talk about it well and get others excited about it. Also damn terrifying, but way way worth it.
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#16I just moved from Glasgow to Geneva to work at CERN (a particle physics lab) for 2 months. It's been much more difficult than I expected, and I was apprehensive to begin with! However, when things are uncomfortable I tend to fret for a while and then, eventually, take control of my situation. Sometimes you need to go through that period of discomfort to regain control of your life which has seemingly slipped from you…
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#17Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#18I did it with my eating and workout habits and lost over 40Kg :) It really feels good not to be an obese :)
And now I'm thinking of working abroad. Are there any European company or startup looking for a senior Linux system administrator here?
Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#19Re: Ask HN: When did you last put yourself out of your comfort zone?
#20Consider the situation described by @vyrotek: quitting your job and devoting yourself fully to a startup. There's no guarantee that the startup will grow into a $100 million company or even a $1 million company. You may go into debt, you may lose friends, your girlfriend may leave you because you can no longer offer the stability of a "normal" job. Would that be a negative outcome? Again, it depends. Maybe your business ownership experience makes you a prime candidate for chief executive at a scrappy new startup. Maybe your friends were more concerned with partying than with personal growth, and maybe your girlfriend was in love with your car instead of you.
Obviously, this example isn't all-encompassing and nobody can predict the future. Sometimes, you just need to act without knowing for sure if you're making the "right" choice, and then continually evaluate that choice as you accumulate new experiences. Nothing is permanent; if you take the leap of faith into the startup world you can always return to the job market later. Of course, in this economy it may take you 8-12 months to find a new job so it's wise to have some savings to fall back on.
I stepped out of my comfort zone by moving to a completely new city and then deciding to purchase a franchise business with a friend. I was extremely unsure about both decisions, but I'm glad I moved forward with both. The franchise has been a trying experience, straining my friendship as well as my wallet. However, we're starting to make money and get into a rhythm - an opportunity I wouldn't have had if I hadn't decided to jump in headfirst. There are days I hate where I am, but the experience I gain every day is invaluable, and I'll cherish it for the rest of my life.