Every day we as human beings work and live within our own comfort zones. Sometimes, we actually stretch an arm or a leg outside of this protected environment. And then we experience an arm being hit or a misstep being taken and we quickly return to our comfort zone. For the world is a very dangerous place, full of chances and failures.

Maybe this is why there are so many books on leadership. Leaders are known for not residing continually in their comfort zones, but taking the chances necessary for success.

Imagine for a moment, General Dwight Eisenhower staying in the comfort zone right before D-Day or the artists such as Picasso or Mozart being comfortable delivering the same art as everyone else? Now, look at several people that you admire. Do those persons continually stay in a comfort zone hiding under their security blanket where life passes them by? Or are they risk takers who embrace life and cast off that blanket knowing full well that they might slip and fall? These individuals understand that leadership is just as much about failure as it is success. NOTE: I once read that success is 99% failure(Soichior Honda founder of Honda Motor Company).

What a depressing world this would be if all human beings stayed within their comfort zones. We would indeed live in a very safe, but dull world. Possibly, this is why great leaders are noticed because of their aversion to comfort zones.

So are you living mostly in your own comfort zone, surrounded by your security blanket? Are the choices that you are making as a leader exist because they are within your comfort zone? For example, do you as a small business owner, sales professional or executive always start they day with the easy things first such as answering email and avoid the hard things such as making sales calls? HINT: That is called procrastination. Then, you are indeed residing in your own, safe and secure comfort zone. Your leadership is suffering and so are you.

If you are making choices because they will take you where you want to go, then you are probably living outside of your comfort zone. No matter where you reside, the choice is always yours whether to expand your leadership by stretching outside or succumbing to the what you know and feel comfortable with. Remember, we all can't live in a cartoon forever wrapped in a comfortable and well worn security blanket.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Good Day. Thanks for visiting. I hope that you have enjoyed my articles. In 1999, I founded ADVANCED SYSTEMS because I saw that performance could and should be doubled in warp time. Individuals, small and large businesses could not afford expensive solutions that may or may not deliver improved results in 12 months.

From my corporate, small business and education experiences, I recognized the individuals must have opportunities for connecting their passion to their purpose to secure the desired performance results, but many lacked the necessary skills, strategies and tools.

With over 20 years in sales management and 10 years in education, I understand how to unite productivity with profitability by developing a proactive working culture. My previous experiences resulted in cost savings through one of the first implementations of a computer software in a wholesaler distributor to the creation of a vendor performance assessment.

Since facilitating over 500 sessions, developing and editing over 25 training programs and writing numerous articles focusing on performance improvement, I bring a results focused approach to my clients. Also, I am proud to be one of the first five nationally certified facilitators of America?s Rising Stars (a Student Leadership developmental curriculum).

My passion is to help others connect their passion to their purpose to double performance. As The small business coach in Chicago, my clients have easily doubled their performance. Since our greatest resource is our young people, I am now working with large urban schools to generate the same results.

Education Background

• Graduated with honors from Purdue University with a B.A. in Education
• Earned M.S. from Purdue University in Instructional Design and Curriculum
• Published in the national trade journal, The Supply House Times, and numerous national newsletters
• Developed seminars and training on diversity, communication, leadership, sales, effective trade show behavior, networking, knowledge management, goal setting and improved educational outcomes
• Co-authored M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capicities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement, to be available in 2006
• Working a another book focusing on performance in public education
• Speaker in a national bureau - Resource Associates Corporation