Growth over comfort | Nerd Fitness

Stephen Wilson Jr. He was a scientist working for Mars, Inc. (Yes, the Candy Company).

One day, his boss took him into an office and told him something that changed his life:

“Stephen, you’re about to go up.”

Usually cause for celebration, this was meant as a warning by his master.

In a past life, Stephen was a guitarist in a small indie rock band. He also spent his evenings writing songs.

His boss knew that Stephen was a good composer, and he really was where he was.

He told Stephen about the golden handcuffs:

“You’re in line for a promotion and they’re preparing you for the next level.

And you are at a crossroads.

Because if you take (the promotion), like I took 30 years ago, your dreams of being a songwriter are gone. This will consume all your parts.

You can write songs and do this job right now, but 6 months from now I’m not sure you’ll be able to. So I want to give you a warning.’

That little voice in Stephen’s head that had been there for years and years started to get louder.

6 weeks later, with that inner voice now at a deafening volume, he gave a two-week notice, which confused him. everyone (except his boss and his wife).

He started bartending and tending tables while honing his craft, trying to get country music publishing deals…while being rejected for writing. ,“bro country” songs,:

They said: “You write REAL the songs There’s nothing we can do about it…”

Years later, after some modest success writing songs for other musicians, he finally gathered the courage and experience and strength to start recording his own songs.

And last year, he finally released his first album, Father’s sonWhich Rolling Stone called one of the best albums of 2023.

Recently, Stephen a ,Awesome cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”., which I have listened to approximately 10,000 times in the last month.

(Seriously, please watch this video. It will give you goosebumps!).

Golden handcuffs vs uncomfortable spread

Between 2008-2010, I also led a double life.

My day job was at Sixthman, helping promote and produce mobile music festivals. But I also spent nights and weekends working on a small website helping nerds get fit.

My boss April and my mentor Andy (who owned the business) both knew where my heart was; They encouraged me to pursue the uncomfortable future of trying to fit Nerd Fitness into my career.

16 years later, we’re still going strong!

by Oliver Burkeman ,Four thousand weeks,It encourages us to ask a specific question when making life decisions:

“Where are you in your life or your work looking for comfort, when what is called is a little discomfort?”

Asking ourselves “what would make me happiest” is likely to lead us to a short-term, comfortable and safe option.

Instead, we should think about which path will make us GROW as a person, or which version will make us smaller each week. We probably know the answer to the question deep down, if we have the courage to ask.

Burkeman’s tip:

“Choose uncomfortable enlargement over comfortable contraction whenever you can.”

Yes, sometimes chasing the “awkward big” doesn’t lead to songwriting deals or successful businesses. I’ve chosen the uncomfortable path and sometimes things don’t work out. But that’s part of the process, and at least it removes the potential for unhealthy regret!

Which brings me to today’s mission.

Let’s get comfortable with being uncomfortable

Let’s chase the uncomfortable expansion in 2025.

• When we train the forces, we force our muscles to become uncomfortable, they respond by lifting more and more weight – growing and adapting.
• If we use food as a coping mechanism When we’re sad or angry or bored, dealing with our relationship with food can be uncomfortable.
• When we have awkward conversations, we can eventually deepen our relationships or stand up for things that are important to us.

In 2025, let’s ask the question:

Where in your life are you living comfortably and safely, when? deep down do you know that the path of “uncomfortable growth” is what you need to help you really grow and achieve what you really want?

You may not need to quit your job right away, or you may need to change to a new goal or…

But it might be worth asking yourself that uncomfortable question.

Life is hard, and change is harder.

uncomfortable

scary

Confused

But if you’re willing to say NO to convenience, it might just be what you need.

-Steve

PS: ,We are running a free 5 day workshop, For people who want to build new habits that stick in 2025, it starts in a few days!