No matter where you are in life there are certain levels or zones [so to speak] that one can find themselves in from time to time as we journey through life. The challenge for all of us is not to allow ourselves to get stuck, or to stay too long in one area or zone or another. Some zones are not bad; however, others can be more detrimental to our success in life. Here’s how some of this might work.

Internationally known author and world renowned global leader on the subject of Leadership, John Maxwell, teaches that generally speaking there are four types of zones that one might need to pay attention to:

1. The Coasting Zone – I do as little as possible.
2. The Comfort Zone – I do what I’ve always done.
3. The Challenge Zone – I attempt to do what I haven’t done before.
4. The Creative Zone – I attempt to think what I’ve never thought before.

Do any of these sound familiar to you or am I the only one? All of us have areas in our lives where we have a tendency to gravitate towards where we feel the most comfortable. The challenge is to find the balance between the “challenge” zone of attempting things that I’ve never done before and the “creative” zone of thinking in ways that I’ve never thought before.

What I have discovered is that if I am able to stay somewhere in-between the “challenge” zone and the “creative” zone [combined] is what I would like to call the “productive zone”. In order to be successful one must find themselves in the zone that brings out our best!

~ Dan Ecker