Soul Proprietor - The comfort zone and integrity

Sticky palms, quivering knees, that queasy ripple in my belly – no matter how many times I do a public appearance, this never changes. I’m not comfortable amongst groups. I’m an introvert so audiences and crowds make me nervous. My happy business place is being in my office with a mug of tea and a few good cats. (Sometimes even those cats get locked out.)

But if I only did what made me safe, my business would grow at a much slower rate. Business requires you to constantly step out of your comfort zone.

For me, that means standing on a stage, teaching large groups, and traveling to bookstores around the country to sign copies of The Tarot Coloring Book. If you think I’m looking pretty chill at these events, I can assure you that inwardly I’m freaking out. At times, it feels like an out-of-body experience. But again, I do it anyways because it’s good for my business and for me.

Outside of the business comfort zone is growth, both personal and professional.

But that being said, there is a difference between doing something uncomfortable and something unethical.

The first requires bravery. The second means ignoring your moral compass for the almighty dollar.

For example, a fellow tarot author was telling me about the time she was given an opportunity to promote her work on a platform run by a person with a dubious reputation for stealing the work of her peers – including the work of a friend. The author was justifiably anxious over this so she reached out to another peer she trusted who listened to her ethical concerns and said “I know all about that backstory. Do it anyways. You have a book to promote.”

So the author did. And felt sick about it later, especially when she had to tell her friend.

This isn’t getting out of your comfort zone. This is an example of doing something that is not aligned with your integrity.

The correct advice should have been: “If you feel that this is not aligned with your ethics or may hurt your friend, then perhaps you shouldn’t do it, no matter how popular that platform may seem. You don’t have to sell your soul to sell your book. Do what feels right in your heart.”

If your discomfort is based on knowingly doing something that may later leave you feeling ashamed or full of regret, think twice. No amount of money or exposure is worth it. That’s not stepping out of your comfort zone – that’s doing something that will only make you feel like crap later.

The next time you are thinking of doing anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, check in with your gut and your moral compass. Ask yourself this: am I feeling scared because this is a huge step for me – or am I feeling anxious because I know that this will go against my ethics in some way? If it’s the former, take a deep breath and go for it. If it’s the latter, gracefully say no.

This is the key to growing your business in a way that feels good, not sleazy.

Blessings,

Theresa