For each of us, there are times when we measure our success through some assessment or through a really strong analytical value. For example, some people measure success by how much money they have in the bank; others by the car they drive; others by the house they live in; others by the title on their door; others by whether or not they can use a $50 word to say, "Hello." There are some people who measure success by those standards. Then there are other people who measure success by lives touched, by ideas we're able to move forward, or, as Seth Godin says, ideas that we are able to 'ship'.
So here's the thing. Assessing your IQ is a really good measurement for a lot of people about whether or not they have some perceived potential for success, right? Because one would think that if you're smart enough, you would know what needs to be done to make yourself successful.
But then there's the Uncomfortable Quotient, the "UQ", as I like to call it. Let me give you a great example. About 12 weeks ago, I started on a health plan. Well, you and I both know, it's really a diet. But we try to lull ourselves into thinking it's a "health plan". So about 12 weeks ago, I started this health plan, and up to now, I've lost about 42 pounds. While I'm very excited about those results, I still have a very long way to go. But here's the thing. I've known all along, for years and years and years, what it took to lose weight: consume fewer calories, move more, drink a lot of water, right? But the difference is, up until 12 weeks ago, I had no desire to do that. I had no desire to allow myself to be uncomfortable for any length of time because I wanted to be comfy-cozy. I didn't want to put myself out there. I didn't want to change habits. I didn't want to act or react in different ways.
I'll give you an example. I never liked to plan out my meals. I'm sort of a free spirit that way. If I was hungry, I would stop and eat. The problem with that plan, of course, was that wherever I would stop and eat, I was famished, I would eat too much, or I would eat the wrong things; and therefore, the cycle became worse and worse and worse. So now, my Uncomfortable Quotient has been raised. Now I do these really nerdy things like plan my meals in advance. I pack my lunch. I have prepared my meals for the day so I don't have to make a decision. The decision has already been made for me. And, of course, I'm consuming incredibly large quantities of water. I mean, I'm sure if there are water police out there somewhere, they're going to be coming after me, because I'm about to drown with how much water I'm drinking.
So I raised my tolerance for discomfort, and I'm seeing the result.
You know, the same is true in our business and in our lives. There are things that maybe we are really great at doing, and we do them. That's fantastic, and that helps propel us forward. But in each of our lives, whether it's in personal relationships, a ministry, a business start-up or an existing business, there are things that we are uncomfortable doing, but nonetheless are required for success.
So, for example, if you're someone who is trying to sell your IT services, and you're more reserved - you're "S" or "C" wired - maybe you're uncomfortable getting out there and speaking to people about your services. But if you would just raise your UQ, your Uncomfortable Quotient, just a little bit, you would actually have a much greater chance at success because you're doing what it takes to move your brand forward, move your idea forward, or, as Seth Godin would say, to 'ship'.
So here's the thing. What is it that you need to be a little more uncomfortable with, that - if you were able to do it over a sustained period of time - could make all the difference in the world? What is that for you? What is it for your business? What is it for your personal relationships? What is it for your life? Whatever it is, why not make this time the time to raise your UQ so that at the end of a sustained period of time, you can look back and see that, not only were you successful in being able to accomplish something; but you can clearly see the mark that by being uncomfortable, you actually have had a greater measure of success than those who were just willing to be intelligent.
I wish for you that you are as uncomfortable as I am and that you continue to move forward.
'Unleash your wired strengths'
