I am a smalltown Kentucky boy that grew up thinking that being comfortable and fitting in makes for the best lifestyle — get good grades, go to college, pick a good major, don’t stay up late, get up early, get a secure job working a 9-5, don’t disagree with your superiors, don’t do anything to call unneeded attention to yourself. These are a few of the things I learned from watching others around me in society as well as some of what I was taught. Nothing is wrong with any of those things; however, if you don’t fit the mold for some of them, there is nothing wrong with you either. It’s ok to do things different in a way that possibly even makes you feel uncomfortable in comparison to what others are doing or what your mind tells you (Seth Godin calls this The Lizard Brain).
I graduated college and worked as a designer at a world-reknown sports marketing firm for a year and half. I hated going into work every day; not so much because of the people or what I was doing, but because of the routine and I felt too comfortable. I wanted to be free to do what I want, design when I felt most creative, work when I felt most productive and control my own day. So I took a risk, quit my job and went freelance with only one client that wouldn’t entirely support me alone. It was an uncomfortable feeling but it was the beginning of the best decision I ever made.
That was five years ago. Since then I’ve taken on projects I wasn’t entirely sure I could do, founded an organization I wasn’t sure I could run, accepted leadership roles I didn’t think I could take on, disagreed with leaders when I’d otherwise avoid conflict, called on clients I thought I was too small or young to work for, met some of my design and business heroes I never thought would give me the time of day, as well as learned areas of business I never thought I’d learn. I even got married and am fathering a baby without knowing where the next paycheck is coming from. All of these things have made me uncomfortable.
I have realized that being uncomfortable is actually what drives me. It makes me want to get better, to continue learning, to support my family doing work I love, and to be the best person and designer I can be. When an opportunity presents itself, even if I create it, I find that putting myself in the most uncomfortable position allows me to solve the problem more creatively and to find a way to become successful at whatever it is simply because I have to, otherwise I’ll fail. Not being afraid of failing is what pushes me.
If I never made that uncomfortable move five years ago, I would have missed out on some great experiences and the opportunity to meet some wonderful people while doing the things I love.
I encourage you as creatives to step out of your comfort zone every once in a while. You don’t have to be as extreme as quitting your job and starting a business (unless your gut is telling you to but you say no, i.e. the Seth Godin dubbed Lizard Brain), but I encourage you to do something different, something that doesn’t feel as comfortable. You’ll notice that you’ll find new creative ways to overcome the obstacle and solve the problem, all of which can make you a better designer and a more confident person. So go forth and make yourself uncomfortable.
Adam Martin is an independent creative strategist, design thinker and founder of Social Media Club Lexington. His company, amartin design studio in Lexington, Kentucky, partners with clients to develop positive, emotional brand experiences through design, social media and branding strategies. Find out more at www.amartindesign.com
Tags: career, creative, designer, inspiration
Quite proud to know Adam and consider him a good friend.
This post essentially describes the foundation for success in the new era of innovator. Adam, and those like him, will always be exactly who people want to work with … because they push you by example.
I feel worried for the millions of cogs out there who are easily replaced, drifting, hoping nobody notices them until they retire. These are creative people living well below their potential and beyond their means. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Awesome Adam!!! Such a great story!
Love it, Adam! Way to sum it up. In fact, I may be in need of another little shake up about now.
Thanks for sharing Adam! I 100% agree with you. I was in a sinking corporate ship working 70 hours a week thinking, “there has to be something better out there, even if I have to start from nothing”. So I threw my keys on the desk and walked out with no Plan B or direction. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been, and I wake up every day to do what I love.
Congratulations to you and everyone else who has the guts to be uncomfortable and focus that nervous energy into something great and uniquely powerful. Just think – not only have you positively impacted your life, but also the lives of the clients you’ve built relationships with along the way. What would they have done without you?
Great piece Adam..simple and to the point.
As W.C. Stone says, “The thing I fear the most is what I do first.”
Not letting the fear of failure keep you bound is a monumental task in itself.
Stay and comfortable and keep grinding! See you at the top.
I too am proud to call Adam my friend. In addition, I get to call Adam my designer and brand manager. Had Adam not made the move he did I might not have had the opportunity to use him as I have for Purgenix, Inc. I suspect that his ability to maximize his creative time has redounded to our benefit, because his designs for us have been world class. The value is not the price, the value is in having such a talent available to us.
Well done Adam…uncomfortable as you may be…nobody can ever say that you are among the “walking dead”…no, you clearly are alive and fully engaged.
Inspirational post Adam
Keep up the good work!
What a great and inspiring post Adam! You’ve made me rethink the word uncomfortable! Keep up the amazing work, both professionally and with your beautiful family.
I’ve known Adam for 9 years now and I was around when he made his decision to go out on his own. I can attest to the situation he was in at the time he left his first job and personally thought he was crazy for doing it. But, boy…to what heights he has climbed! I’m proud to call you a friend and all I can say is…MY MAN!
Great post, Adam.
THanks for sharing Adam, Its always better to be happy doing what you love, advice more of us should take!
salient points and good to see you writing. I find creative life to be a pendular movement between comfort and discomfort. One yields the other and the key is the movement that happens.
Awesome, bro. Great reminder to always be pushing beyond the edges. Proud of you!
Adam,
It seems that I’m the only one posting that doesn’t know you, but I wish I did. Your post has a very familiar ring to it. I had a decent paying full time job after graduating undergrad and I left the office everyday with a horrible feeling of routine.
I decided working for the man wasn’t for me, I quit my job, went back to school, and got a job in a research lab at UK designing satellites and other space hardware. I couldn’t be happier because nothing about my current situation is routine.
Zach
well put, fine sir.
“don’t let the bastards keep you down!”
You are so right. Three years ago my New Years resolution was to do something that would force me out of my comfort zone. I had been freelancing for awhile when I realized that I had grown too comfortable working alone in my home office. While I had many ongoing conversations throughout the day via e-mail — I was turning into a hermit.
So I joined Toastmasters and took up public speaking. Toastmasters not only pushed me out of my zone but has helped me to better articulate my design ideas to customers and improved my presentation skills.
Loved your comment about being “uncomfortable” driving you. Good observation — it can drive us all it we only let it.
Thanks for all the great comments y’all! I’m glad this post has been an inspiration to some. We all get stagnant sometimes in our situations be it at a fulltime job or out on our own as an entrepreneurs. It’s truly amazing what getting out of our comfort zone and pushing our own limits can and will do. Keep pushing yourselves y’all!