When I sold my IT business, I swore I would never work in IT again. Instead, I became a keynote speaker. My topic was Fortune Favors the Bold: A More Courageous Company. A More Courageous You. Sounds pretty lofty to me. Lofty is a word I use instead of the more accurate term: phony bullsh*t. In order to set a good example for my audience, I became a pusher of everyday courage. Things like getting out of your comfort zone, which, for me, meant jumping out of an airplane. Why specifically that? I had gone up with the US Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, on several occasions, photographing them in the plane and jumping out of the plane. They were a prominent part of my keynote. I wanted to be like them, at least on a surface level. Never mind I’ve been on zero combat tours. I’m a lifelong civilian. Nothing like a Golden Knight. Golden Knights come back in one piece from tours in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and they decide to jump out of airplanes for a living. Sometimes, when it’s snowy and icy outside, and we’re out of root beer, I’ll drive down to the store, even though Penny says not to. Can you see the difference?
When you surround yourself with people who talk for a living, like keynote speakers, you start to feel as if you better be a Christ-like exemplar of getting out of your comfort zone. I had to do something big to prove myself worthy of Fortune Favors the Bold. Jumping out of an airplane seemed like the least I could do for the cause.
One of the benefits of living in Boise is that the skydive places close for the winter. No way I was going to jump out of an airplane till the instructors thawed out in May. What I did instead was plan for an executive jump into the Grand Canyon. They don’t close for the winter. The goal was to put together a group of business leaders to take a Leap of Courage into the canyon. Luckily, no one signed up.
After about a year of training, I decided I no longer wished to be a keynote speaker. I’d rather tell stories and not set an example for anyone. Want to jump out of an airplane? Go ahead, but not because I told you to do it.
I think a much stronger case can be made for staying in your comfort zone. Starting from where you are. Taking baby steps.
Which is why, after two Starbucks barista rejections in one day, a brief but all-in attempt at being a wedding officiant and mobile notary, and an assortment of unsuccessful job applications, I decided to become an IT guy again. For people who can’t stand IT guys. Which is everybody.
I wanted to stretch, to get out of my comfort zone, to redefine myself. But somewhere along the way, I decided it’s okay and sometimes even necessary to ignore the talkers and the coaches and all the other people who cheerlead us to be a much greater version of ourselves than we think possible. Sometimes, it’s better to play it safe.
I’m Louis Barney Katz, storyteller and IT guy for people who can’t stand IT guys. You can reach me at 208.805.2740 or louis@lbkatz.com.
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