Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
December 14, 2023
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I remember it like it was yesterday. The date was January 2, 2002. I peered through the window of my airplane, taking in the sights
“Your son stole the girl I had a crush in back in high school!”
A few weeks ago, I was touring the home of a property my team and I were getting ready to sell, and there he was. Rick, the homeowner’s son. On the wall in a family photo. Happily married with a lovely wife and two children.
When I saw the photo, two things went through my mind. Rick has a wonderful and beautiful family; I told his parents this.
I then told his parents the first thing that had come into my mind. Rick ended up with a girl I had feelings for in high school. Of course, he didn’t really take her from me because we were never an item—just friends. Still, I always wished for something more.
But this guy had something I didn’t have, and something I didn’t even realize I didn’t have. Rick had discovered a secret that many will never discover. Many will never master. Many will never know. This secret that he possessed sealed the deal for him.
Back then, I thought I had everything to impress the ladies—a teal green 1994 Geo Storm, paid in full with my own hard-earned $4,400 in cash. Every penny of it came from my job as a Subway sandwich artist. Quite the catch, right? I mean, you can see that green apron I was wearing as I slid your sandwich down the line, perfectly placing your cold cut trio meats onto your hand-crafted bread. I could even add chips, drinks and a cookie to your meal, making your day!
What girls wouldn’t want some of this guy?
Don’t forget, when I was away from Subway, I was in the gym. That’s right. I was pumping iron, getting my biceps to bulge and triceps to pop. My newfound muscles plus these dashing dimples in combination with the teal Geo Storm and green apron…come on, ladies! Anyone? Hello?
One day, I finally mustered up the courage to do it. The moment of truth. I was going to ask her to be mine, hoping she would say yes. We were “great friends” so of course she would take it to the next level. Whenever she needed a ride, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk to, I was always there for her.
But when I finally asked, she turned me down with those all-too-familiar words we’ve all heard before.
“Matt,” she said. “We are such great friends! How about we just stay friends?”
Then, she hopped in his car. His beautiful car. His sexy car. His red race car. She drove off with him. Leaving me, my Geo Storm, my Subway apron, my muscles and dimples in the dust.
As I sat in the living room, sharing laughs with Rick’s parents, I realized his wife in the photo wasn’t that girl from high school after all. After he drove off with her, their relationship lasted only a short time, and they both went on to meet and pursue other people.
I then realized the secret that Rick possessed. I realized the thing he had that I hadn’t. I realized he cracked the code of…
Confidence.
Growing up, I lacked confidence for many reasons. Confidence was something unfamiliar to me—an asset I never possessed. It was a muscle I never flexed. Any confidence I ever had was taken from me, beaten and bullied out of me, to the point where I had none.
Today, I am confident and secure because I’ve learned that confidence is like a muscle—it needs to be trained and strengthened. It must be trained. It must be built. To build it up, you must first break it down. I realized that all the beatings and bullying, heartbreaks and heartaches, every setback I faced helped rebuild me, shaping my confidence over time.
I was recently on the Confidence Mastery podcast with Natalie Bailey.
The moment I met her, I felt like I met my long-lost sister. We recorded our podcast while she sat in her home, close to the sunny shores of Mallorca, Spain.
Originally from Britain, Natalie now lives in Spain and shares her inspiring journey of overcoming adversity, pursuing her passion, and helping others build confidence. She excels in working with people, crushing it in the gym, and succeeding in business through real estate, coaching, and leading a private entrepreneur’s mastermind. Natalie’s Gold Star coaching program shows how much she possesses a heart of gold and purpose to build others up and pour into people.
Click here to listen to our episode or watch our episode video posted at the top of this page. On the podcast we talk about:
Natalie, thank you for showing us that the confidence we believed we lacked was actually developing within us all along.
Before you go, please remember this:
💙I love you.
😀I believe in you.
👍You’ve got this.
🔥Go get it.
Life, leadership, and business are experiences best shared with others. Don’t take this journey alone. Let’s take it together. Click here to start working with me today—I’ll be with you every step of the way.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The date was January 2, 2002. I peered through the window of my airplane, taking in the sights
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