Last night I went to my monthly PCMA meeting and our guest speaker was Lois Frankel, PhD.  She has a new book out entitled “See Jane Lead”.  I was excited to hear Lois speak because I had read one of her books a few years back, “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office.”   Although both of these books focus on woman and how they can sabotage themselves, I also saw a relationship to all people who are wanting success.

As was used last night, sport metaphors are used by many people to describe events in the workplace.  As Lois took us through a graphic of a football field she demonstrated how we all play within various boundaries.  For a man the boundaries are closer to the goals line.  A woman’s boundaries tend to be quite a few yards in from a male and so on.  I could relate to this metaphor and thought extensively about it after the meeting. 

I realized that many people stay within their comfort zone and are fearful to  push the boundaries of their lives or their careers.  It is safe to stay within our comfort zone where we are not threaten.  But living in the safe zone also means that we don’t grow or develop.  We stay stagnate and safe.

On the other side of the playing field are those that push the boundaries to the point where they are so far outside the boundary line of their lives or business that they alienate themselves, cause more harm them good and are seen as rebels without a cause.  In other words, whose team are you on?  You are playing a solo game.

What we all need to do is know where are boundaries are.  Where we feel the safest from risk and then make a plan to push past those boundaries.  Perhaps you want to apply for a new job, but you feel comfortable where you are.  So instead of pushing yourself, you stay in a job that is not satisfying.  Or, you may have a desire to go back to school and complete or further your education.  But, you have a job and your income is allowing you to live well, so why push it.

Of course the answer to these questions is one that only you can answer.  Are you truly as fulfilled as you want to be with playing within side your boundaries?

One last thought to ponder.  We all have boundaries and within those boundaries there is the middle area and the edges.  Where are you playing your life game?  Are you staying away from the edges?  If so, you have a great place to start and push yourself a bit outside your comfort zone and start seeing what life feelings like closer to the edges.  Before long, your boundaries will start to move further out!

Get out and play the game with gusto!