---
title: 4 Things to Know Before You Leave Your Comfort Zone
description: Danielle Banner was challenged her to take a step into the unknown. Read some of her tips for how to welcome new opportunities and grow.
---

[Career Stories](https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/career-stories)

# [4 Things to Know Before You Leave Your Comfort Zone](https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/career-stories/4-things-to-know-before-you-leave-your-comfort-zone)

 Written by [Danielle Banner](https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/career-stories/author/danielle-banner) | Mar 13, 2023, 1:38:00 PM

Danielle Banner's life was comfortable. Then, a new opportunity challenged her to take a step into the unknown. Read some of her tips for how to welcome new opportunities.

 

 

## **Life was not perfect, but I was at peace. I was healthy. I was joyful. What more could I ask for?**

Picture it. New Year’s Eve 2021. As someone who loves a new beginning, looking ahead to the new year always fills me with hope. Looking back, 2020 was an incredible year and despite the global pandemic and socio-political issues, it became clear that I was content. I say content because I think of happiness as a state of emotional highs and contentment as a state of emotional balance. My life was peaceful and calm, which prevented me from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. I had space to enjoy the moments I was in.

My career was thriving. I worked my way up to Executive Vice President after 20 years. Socially, I am blessed to have an extended network of close friends. (Not to brag, but I am talking Oprah-Gayle level friendships.) My partner and I celebrated our 8th anniversary together, and the pandemic gave us an opportunity to spend a lot of time together. Ours was filled with laughter and caring for the elders of our families—something which only deepened our connection. Oh, then there’s our fur-baby, Chuck Norris, 3lb 3oz of yorkie cuteness. What more could I ask for?

 

## **Fast forward to late January 2022.**

A former colleague and friend invited me to host a workshop for Women in Consumer Finance with a group of three other women. I had never done anything like it before, and I was apprehensive. I knew that, at best, this would be an opportunity to challenge myself and expand my network. At worst, it would mean industry-wide humiliation.  

Growing up, my parents encouraged my siblings and I to try new things. They made it clear that mistakes happen and the only real failure is not trying. To this day my mom still reminds us, “A mistake is a beautiful thing as long as something is learned.” That lesson is ingrained in me. So, of course, I said yes to the workshop. 

 

## **I took a step out of my comfort zone**.

The workshop was A LOT of work. I had to make adjustments to my routines and fight my inner voice of doubt during the preparation process. It was a real challenge, but I found a more confident, driven version of myself on the other side of it.

 

## **Here are some of the lessons I learned by taking a step out of my comfort zone:**

**1. Overcoming the “I don’t have time” mentality is essential for growth.**

Like many, I have a lot of responsibilities. I was initially concerned that I didn’t have enough time for the work that I knew would be required to make this workshop great. And it did require a considerable amount of time, but I soon found a deep level of satisfaction in the process.  Instead of obsessing over the time commitment, my mentality shifted when I realized this wasn’t a chore—it served me. I was more aware of how I spent my time. As a result, I became more intentional about the ways I used my non-working hours.

Instead of working a full day and then researching workshop content well into the evening—my time was best spent identifying key themes and exploring those topics in a way that fit my life, through podcasts, TED Talks and audio books. Each day I looked forward to popping in my airpods to listen to 15-30 minutes of content. Generally, I would do this each morning before checking my email. This was *my* time to learn, uninterrupted. 

**2. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. **

When I think of comfort, I am referring to having our basic needs met and feeling secure in our lives. During a time of absolute uncertainty, I had a safe and stable home, fulfilling relationships, financial security, and access to healthcare and other resources to support my well-being. 

During this time, I realized that not all limiting beliefs are negative. In my case, comfort and contentment, not fear or self-doubt, prevented me from identifying new goals or finding new passions. Armed with this awareness, I knew I could either remain in my comfort bubble or embrace the unknown. I chose the latter.

**3. We don’t achieve goals; we grow into them.**

Unlike KPIs we use in our daily roles, there are no KPIs for growth. No SOP. No predetermined starting point. No destination. It’s more of a choose-your-own-adventure series. As I did research for my workshop and learned more about the topic, I confronted difficult emotions and experiences. Taking time to reflect on those gave me the chance to learn more about myself. The more I learned and discovered, the more I grew. I realized that we don’t achieve goals; we grow into them. 

Too often we want to go from 0 to 60 when we think about goals, but self-discovery is a journey and growth cannot be rushed or quantified. So, don’t pressure yourself to achieve. You’ll probably miss some great lessons if you do.

**4. Doing your best does not mean over-extending yourself. **

Finding a balance between working, preparing for the workshop, and my life was difficult. I sometimes  found myself in a loop—frustrated because I wasn’t working effectively and not working effectively because of my frustration. Like many, when faced with that kind of feeling, I am inclined to bury my head in my work until the problem is solved. 

Despite this inclination, I am a firm believer that exhaustion is not a badge of honor. When I found myself in moments of fatigue and frustration, I took breaks and did something enjoyable to clear my mind. This practice gave me space to reframe my thinking. When I returned to work, I had a fresh perspective and the clarity needed to move forward. 

 

## **I set aside comfort and found my voice and purpose.**

On the day of the workshop, my team and I were ready to go, and it was a huge success. Through that success, I discovered a new sense of confidence and purpose that I wouldn’t have been able to find had I not broken out of the comfort zone I was in. That sense of newfound confidence propelled me to challenge myself more in other areas of my life too.

At the end of 2022, I found myself once again reflecting on my year. It was a year of self-discovery, profound growth, and new opportunities. None of which would have occurred had I stayed firmly planted in the contentment I felt in 2021. I had to face my fears and try something new to discover even more happiness. 

All of my growth culminated on December 30th, when I was accepted as an Advisory Board Member for the Women in Leadership Program at Ashland University. I am honored to have been invited to partner with the program with the goal of bridging industry with academia. 

 

[View full post](https://www.womeninconsumerfinance.com/career-stories/4-things-to-know-before-you-leave-your-comfort-zone)

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