Ever since I was a kid, my poor mom worried about my choice of activities — snowmobiling, skiing, rock climbing, barrel racing, anything remotely fast or adrenaline-filled was right up my alley. While I haven’t gotten a chance — yet — I’d go bungee jumping or skydiving without much of a second thought. I love to live my life outside of my comfort zone while chasing that adrenaline rush.

Let’s dial it back a bit, though. Most of us don’t want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane for fun. Perhaps a more realistic way that I get out of my comfort zone is at farm shows and conferences.

While a natural extrovert, it can still be nerve-wracking going up to new farmers or industry folks I haven’t met before. But guess what usually comes from me introducing myself? Either a great story or a new connection. Some of my favorite topics I’ve written about were discovered through meeting new people.

While I get great stories and sources from attending conferences and farm shows, working from my remote office can be the easy, comfortable choice. When those January snowstorms and freezing temperatures come around in North Dakota, skipping that conference is the comfortable choice. But telling myself that “you’re going” and pushing myself to be uncomfortable leads to growth no matter what.

Endless benefits

Personal or professional growth, or growing my network of agriculture connections, all came from outside my comfort zone. You’re all probably bored by now of my stories of team roping and how it’s helped my personal growth. But each time I hang up my saddle after a night in the practice pen, there’s at least one thing I’ve gained. Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone as an adult beginner has led to more discipline, a whole lot of humility, an adrenaline rush, and a new hobby and friend group.

But living outside of your comfort zone doesn’t mean you have to pursue death-defying hobbies or start a new hobby as an adult beginner. Being outside of your comfort zone could be something as simple as joining an ag organization, trying a new management practice, or running some of your own on-farm research to determine what grows best. The ways you can push out of your comfort zone are endless.

The only one who can determine what the benefits are outside of your comfort zone is you. Consider this your encouraging push to get outside your comfort zone, and to get started on growing.