Are you comfortable being uncomfortable?
Being visible isn’t hard for me in public, put me in a room full of strangers and I’ll leave with new friends. Striking up a conversation with a stranger that goes deep quickly is actually one of my favorite things (try putting that in a song, Julie Andrews!). Forget surface-level, I’d much rather get to know someone and see them for who they are right from the get-go. I truly love people, I see the good in people, and I enjoy the new energy that’s created when two people are together.
But being visible on social media is something I’m not comfortable with. Showing up this way still feels very one-sided. My life is an open book, that’s not the issue, what I miss is the feedback, the interaction… that energy. A friend told me once that 1+1=3, and I very much believe it. That’s exactly what happens as a designer. We meet with our clients, exchange ideas, and something brand new is born. Every time. It’s quite magical, actually!
Quarantine isn’t easy for me as an extra-extrovert. Everything feels harder without that magic that has fueled my entire life. And for me, sharing this much on social media feels fake, no matter how authentic my intention is.
However hard or fake it feels, I’m still pushing myself to step outside of my comfort zone. To do things I am not good at. To take imperfect action. To allow for mistakes. Because I believe that the impact will far outweigh the fear. I believe in making meaningful connections, and if this is the only way to do it, I’m here for it!
Being an entrepreneur means always living at least one step outside of what feels comfortable. The second you feel complacent is the moment you stop growing. And when you stop growing, your business stops growing. Worse, your impact stops growing.
What makes you uncomfortable? Do you give that discomfort power?
Or do you take imperfect action toward creating an impact that is greater than your fear?
If you’re stuck, surround yourself with people who see you, not only for who you are but for who you want to become. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
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Author
Maria Conigliaro
Neuro Coach + Speaker
Maria Conigliaro is the daughter of third-generation Italian restaurant owners – learning hustle, service and adaptability from a young age. These qualities served her well as she built and elevated her award-winning design and marketing agency, Inspired Studio, now in its 10th year. Over the last decade Maria has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, and marketing directors to craft one-of-a-kind brand identities for businesses throughout the country. Maria engages with her clients fueled by curiosity and creative problem-solving, helping others to discover and communicate their authentic purpose. As a certified NeuroCoach, her work is much the same. She partners with motivated entrepreneurs and business leaders to define and design their version of success with intention, using a brain-based framework that rewires neuropathways through bespoke counsel and action. Maria is active within the business community where she resides in northeastern Pennsylvania with her two daughters.
