Do something you’re afraid of today….

I did it. I finally got bike shoes that clip into the peddles. If you’re not a cyclist, no worries, just imagine your shoes being attached to the peddles and you have to unclip them when you stop or else you fall off your bike and go BOOM! And here’s what everyone who has clips tells you…”You WILL fall!”

Why, you might ask, am I subjecting myself to something scary that also has the potential of causing injury (I’m wondering that myself as I type this – haha). Because I CAN! And because all my cycling buddies tell me that I’ll see a vast difference in the energy I put out to climb hills or do long distance rides. The effort will decrease and the reward will increase. (Now that I’m typing that, I’m thinking “Why didn’t I do this in 2008 when I participated in my first triathlon?)

So here’s my question for you…

What’s something you’re afraid of doing at work that would have a great payoff if you did it?

Here are some challenges for you to ponder and take the plunge:

• Offer to lead part of a staff meeting – make it fun and interesting.
• Volunteer to be part of an organization-wide committee or project team that’s outside your comfort zone.
• Call someone in another department that you kind of know and wish you knew better and invite him or her to meet you for coffee.
• Schedule a meeting to talk with your boss about your hopes and aspirations – share your plan for making changes you’d like to see at work.
• Have that tough conversation with someone who reports to you about the thing that everyone knows and secretly talks about behind your back.

That’s plenty for today. Picture yourself being “successful” (For me that will mean becoming comfortable with clipping in and unclipping so that I remain safely upright on my bike). What does success look like in your situation? How does that connect to what makes you satisfied, energized & productive (AKA engaged) at work?

Boredom at work is a real buzz kill and doing something you’re afraid of (that has a calculated risk) is one way to cause a spark that leads to you creating your own Professional Paradise.