The BAFTA winner in question?

Benedict Cumberbatch.

That’s right.  Sherlock Holmes himself.

Benedict once uttered these immortal words:

The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is.  Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun.

Er, really?

Not being in your comfort zone is great fun? 

Isn’t that like claiming it's more dangerous outside the danger zone?

The comfort zone is where you have fun.  That’s why it’s called a comfort zone!

And I'll bet if Benedict was really outside his comfort zone (and he'd left his pipe & slippers behind), he wouldn't be using phrases like "great fun".

Here's why:

I look around on LinkedIn, listen to podcasts and hear various stories about all the go-getters, careerists, wannabe entrepreneurs & dimfluencers busting their chops and running themselves ragged outside their comfort zones.

And, by all accounts, having a thoroughly miserable & exhausting time of things.

None of that sounds like "great fun" to me.  

Benedict's quote doesn't even pass the sniff test.

I will say this though:

Increasing your comfort zone is worthwhile.  The larger your comfort zone, the more expansive your life will be.

But the trick isn't to step outside your comfort zone. 

Instead, the trick is to work on the edge of your comfort zone, grab hold of that edge and drag it outwards as far as you can.

Hence "push your limits".

Yes, it’s a subtle difference.  

But an important one.

And just because it’s subtle doesn’t mean it hasn’t got teeth.

That's all for today.  Have a great weekend.

- Tom