 Getting out of your comfort zone
For me, I have been able to increase my self-confidence the day I decided to get out of my comfort zone.
I was 6 months into my first job after University. I went to a 1-week Company Course in Atlanta. Although my english was "ok", this was the very first time of my life I was in an english environment (I was raised in Quebec = French). I was also extremely shy and had a major problem with speaking in front of an audience. When I got there, I decided I would make the most out of this course. To my surprise, I volunteered to be one of the speakers for the Friday afternoon report-out to Senior Leaders of the Company. All week, I had a hard time finding sleep and was regreting doing this. But I did not back-down and made the pitch. It went great. That was early 1996 and it was the last time I was afraid of speaking in front of an audience.
This experience is what got my career started. After that, every chance I had to get out of my comfort zone, I went for it and every time, my confidence grew. These event made me what I am today.
René
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