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Writer's pictureCindy Piva

Pushing Yourself Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Updated: Jan 6, 2022


"I get to have regular learning opportunities that push me out of my comfort level. I get to learn, grow, and improve my skills regularly. Without these opportunities to learn from my peers and my clients, I would become stagnant and stale. I would not be able to give value rather than information to a client. Instead, my PBCA colleagues help to inspire me to learn more, to think critically, to uncover rocks I never would have looked under, and to aspire to levels I never thought possible.

One of the most important elements to stay sharp as a business coach is to have an on-going openness to learn and grow. I get to meet with amazing, smart business owners and leaders on a regular basis, and I am only able to coach them properly if I stay sharp and keep pushing myself to learn more. I like to learn, and I love to think critically. The only way to do this is to continue to learn and to continue to practice thinking critically. I believe this is what enables me to add value to clients during our meetings.

How are your critical thinking skills? When was the last time you took a course that made you really think? In today’s Zoom world, webinar opportunities have exploded and it seems you can take any course you want on-line. From singing lessons to learning about Artificial Intelligence, there are courses available.


My question is, do they push you to think? Do they push you to learn and think critically? If so great! If not, why are you taking them?


I have found in my career, taking a course that makes me think critically and differently has been the key to both growing as a person and improving my own skills. I went to university for business and thought I “knew everything” about running a business. And then I started a business and realized what my entire undergraduate degree in business taught me was how to be resourceful, how to think critically, and how to find the answers I needed. It certainly didn’t give me the business 101 information that I thought it did. My point is, it’s not really the knowledge that is critical, but how you take the knowledge, learn from it, and then apply the knowledge.


Since my undergrad, I opened a business and ran it for 20 years. Running a business is an education in itself, because there is so much to it. Not only do you need to understand numbers, finance, and managing budgets and projections, but you also have to understand and build relationships, learn to lead people and your own company, and the list goes on. I had to build relationships with vendors and suppliers, employees, customers, and advertisers. I had to deal with every day business and planning the business for the future. I had to make decisions quickly, even when I didn’t want to. I had to push myself to understand what I didn’t know.


And then, the day came when all of this became routine. The day to day, the planning for the future, and the building relationships and leading the business became more of a grind than a joy. To sum it up, I was comfortable. I had a routine. In short, I stopped having to think critically. My business became routine, and frankly, I began to resent it.


So what did I do?


I sold the business.


I thought the only way to get out of the routine was to sell the business. And so I did. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have ran my business differently. I didn’t know that if I had a business coach, I could’ve gotten out of my own way.


But I don’t regret for a minute selling my business and learning a new career that gave me on-going training and learning opportunities. Why do I say this? Because this is now what I get to do for all of my clients. I help them think differently, I help them run their business at a high level and help them grow their business and delegate the day to day. I help them think critically, rather than routinely. And I get to think critically as well. I get to have regular

learning opportunities that push me out of my comfort level. I get to learn, grow, and improve my skills regularly. Without these opportunities to learn from my peers and my clients, I would become stagnant and stale. I would not be able to give value rather than information to a client. Instead, my PBCA colleagues help to inspire me to learn more, to think critically, to uncover rocks I never would have looked under, and to aspire to levels I never thought possible.


Being a part of the Professional Business Coaches Alliance and the Professional Business Coaches Association of Canada has given me opportunities to learn new skills, new perspectives, and the ability to share new learnings and perspectives as well . I took my initial training 12 years ago, and cannot tell you the impact it has had on my career, my own life, and my clients. I feel I have had 12 years of on-going training, exponential learning, and opportunities to think critically that I never otherwise would have had. I have had an opportunity to work with amazing clients and incredible colleagues. I have learned from some of the best! When I get comfortable, I know it’s time to break routine, and learn more so I push further to learn even more. I get to research fascinating things. I get to meet with fascinating people.


I can’t tell you the importance of continual learning and the impact and ripple effect it has on yourself, your life, and others as well!

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CINDY PIVA Certified Professional Business Coach In her former business, Cindy Piva owned Pineridge Golf Course, developing, building, and operating it for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master Business Coaching designation, and has been the owner and founder of Thrive Business Strategies for the past 10 years.Thrive is a business coaching, personal development, strategizing, consulting, training, and business services company. Through smart, proven fundamentals, best business practices, the highest code of ethics, and the drive of incredible clients, Cindy has been able to lead companies through planning, implementation, and the realization of profits, value, and so much more. She works with successful CEO’s, owners, and leaders who are motivated to improve their own and their organization’s results. _______ 1-877-930-2220 cpiva@thrivebusiness.ca

 

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