How far can you be stretched before ......?
 
  Nigel Buxton Update
How far can you be stretched before ......? April 2006

 
  Dear Nigel,

You are happy and snug as a bug in your warm, known, secure and controllable existence.
AND THEN
Someone comes along and says "You should go to China – about 500km west of Xian for ......." one week – one month – one year.

What happens? One week you could handle and even feel excited. And one month? Maybe you could stretch to that.

One year – what happens – you freak out?!? "I could not handle that", a little voice is saying.

What has happened?

 
 
Beyond the stretch zone ...

Around the comfort zone is another circle which we can call the stretch zone. This is the area where we are prepared to venture, if properly motivated.

Beyond the stretch zone is the Panic zone.

There is a point where you say, "Sorry, me no go there".
You cannot visualize yourselves in that situation, you do not believe you could handle being in that sitaution, or you just do not believe it is possible to go there or do it.
You freak out at the suggestion that you should go there.

Now most people like a little excursion into the stretch zone every now and then.
Some like to stay there most of the time: constantly testing themselves and pushing back the boundaries of the known.

But stretch too far - crossing the line - and panic results. After such an experience the belief that the comfort zone is the place to be is reinforced, and it becomes more difficult to venture out the next time.

 
 

Now if you want to realize your potential, or you want to grow the people in your company, you need to stretch the stretch zone. You need to stay more in the stretch zone, and stretch those muscles!

The key is to recognize who created the comfort zone.
Who decides the limits of the stretch zone?
Who wants to push back, or even take away, these limitations?

Last week everything seemed to conspire against me writing this newsletter. I had a computer block, so I was unable to use my computer and I had an out-of- town engagement at the same time to compound the issue. When I got back the Easter break was upon us. For anyone looking forward to receiving their newsletter I apologize.

I trust you had a nice break. Do you find with a break like a long week-end that you come back to the office more tired than you were before?

What happens is that when you stop to work that highly intense life the body stops to produce certain chemicals to keep you in that highly alert state. And when the body does not get its fix of "ready for the kill" chemicals you feel sleepy and tired. Don't worry about the yawns and tiredness; a rest is good for the body/mind anyway, even if it could be longer!

Nigel coaches people like you to freedom - freedom from limitations. freedom to be/do more, financial freedom, emotional freedom, freedom to be yourself.

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Kind regards,


nigel
phone: +386-1-420-1524: +386-31-674-924