Gift #25
D2B10XB
A while back I attended a sales and advertising conference where the speaker passed around wristbands with "D2B10XB" on it. The message? "Dare to be 10x bolder".  10x bolder? What does that mean?

Today I reflect on this gift to myself--I want to be 10x bolder, in everything I do.

What if I lived 10x bolder than I normally do? What if I say YES instead of NO to something that makes me uncomfortable? What if I pursue something that I normally wouldn't because I felt like I had no chance? What would happen if I regularly get out of my comfort zone? Talk to strangers? Talk to old friends who I have moved away from? Pursue opportunities? Believe in myself?

I recently was given the opportunity to apply for a job with a large local corporation. The position paid over 100K a year, and I normally wouldn't have tried because I felt that it was a little over my head. But, I applied, and they gave me an interview! And then another interview. And another! In the course of a month I made it through 6 (yes, 6!) interviews all the way to the vice president of the company. And, I made it past his interview! I learned a lot about myself during this process, the least of which was that I am capable of more than I think and that I can do whatever I put my mind to. Ultimately, I didn't get the job, and to be honest, I was thrilled. It would have been a 60-hr a week commitment and that was daunting for me (read gift #30!) but it definitely taught me a lot about pursuing something worthwhile that I normally wouldn't. So what did I do after that?

I thought about my priorities. Then, I decided to email a local nonprofit near my house (within walking distance). I volunteer with them occasionally doing some communication and development type stuff. I wrote a proposal for the Executive Director stating that I would like to work for them (even though there was not currently a position available). My proposal included the amount of hours I wanted to work, the compensation I expected, and the job that I would like perform. I said that I needed flexible hours and that my family came first. I also made sure they understood I wanted vacation time and that I wanted to work from home occasionally. I literally created a job for myself and sent it to her. This was bold! This was 10x bolder than I would normally be because it risked rejection and maybe embarrassment. The response? I got an excited email back saying they would like to work with me and are currently trying to pass my proposal through the Board of Directors. THEY want ME. I would never have known that if I hadn't stepped out of my comfort zone.

If this job doesn't work out, that's okay. Being bold creates opportunities all around. The point is to put myself out there, to get out of my comfort zone and experience life more boldly. It is incredible how easily doors open once I start doing that. The people I meet and the places I can go begin to expand exponentially. D2B10XB.