Life is for adventure, that’s how the saying goes. Though for many, life feels like a whirlwind of work and family commitments.
How much adventure do you have in your life? How much of that adventure is attitude and how much of it is choosing to get out of your comfort zone?“
“Adventure isn’t hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles in life.” – John Amatt
This time last year I was 3 months into a new role. One where’d I’d chosen to leave the comfort of a large corporation and dive headfirst into a smaller, growing company. A company that has arguably changed the way video games are made forever. Like Apple’s app store, which spawned new business groups and new millionaires, Unity has done the same for video games. Democratising the ability to create, enabling anyone the opportunity to make a great experience for little or no financial cost upfront.
Over that Christmas period of 2017, I was going through stages of regret. What had I done? I’d tripled my commute time, I’d left a company with quite possibly the best CEO in history – Satya Nadella – (He’s the Abe Lincoln of CEO’s). I’d taken a pay cut, I’d left my friends and I’d also given up working on Minecraft, one of the biggest gaming franchises in history (my son still hasn’t quite forgiven me). Yet I was on an adventure, one where I was out of my comfort zone both physically and mentally (attitude).
”Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure” – Bob Bitchin
Now we’re coming up to Christmas 2018 I’m pondering my decisions from the last 12 months. I’ve moved with my family to Denmark, taken on more responsibility at Unity, I’m surrounded by a language no one else in the world speaks. I’m not able to put aside as much money to my f#ck you fund due to the high cost of living here, and I miss popping out for the weekend to see family and close friends. Yet I’m on an adventure, not just an attitude adventure, a lifestyle one too. It’s one that reminds me of when I was in my twenties, flying off to America for train hopping and then Nigeria to volunteer in a remote village.
Back then I had little knowledge on how to deal with the stress of being out of my comfort zone, other than constantly pushing myself to not be in one. Years later, I can see I have a mature mental toolbox for dealing with the daily challenges of a zero comfort zone life. I’ve learned there is good stress (eustress) which we need for our overall wellness. I’ve also learned that attitude is quite possibly the single most important piece to frame each and every day.
So as this year is rapidly coming to an end, I’m reflecting on the madness I’m putting myself and my family through. My reflection is helping me see that it’s not actually madness. What’s madness is not living a life with adventure, a life where you haven’t examined your attitude.
A life lived where you’ve not taken yourself out of your comfort zone, and grown into the type of person others benefit from, is a life with gaps. I naturally gravitate to those people who strive for zero comfort zone lives (either consciously or unconsciously) and I aspire to be one myself.
I wonder if we all did the same, the world might be better for everyone?
”Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell not stuff to show.”