Growth Lives in Discomfort

Last month, I found myself gasping for breath at 19,347 feet on the side of Cotopaxi, one of Ecuador's active volcanoes. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed, and every step through the thin air demanded a decision: quit or continue.

This wasn't a vacation. It was preparation.

When I decided to tackle one of the world's most infamous climbing challenges (more on that very soon), I knew that preparation would be everything. Ecuador's high-altitude volcanoes became my training ground—unforgiving teachers that exposed every weakness and forced adaptation.

My guide pushed me beyond what I thought possible. I pushed back. Together, we conquered not just Cotopaxi, but also Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak.

The parallel to entrepreneurship isn't subtle: Growth happens at the edge of your capabilities—when you're uncomfortable, uncertain, and having to dig deeper than you thought you could.

From the Book: Embracing the Challenge

In my book, Grit It Done, I wrote about the power of doing what you don't want to do, precisely when you don't want to do it:

To me, gritting it done is about doing exactly what you do not want to do precisely when you do not want to do it. Sound fun? It really is (I swear); on the other side of the hard stuff, elation awaits.

This philosophy has guided my approach to both business and adventure. Whether climbing volcanoes or navigating an acquisition: embrace the discomfort, push through, and find strength on the other side.

The Daily Discomfort Metric

Each night, I ask myself one question: "How much did you do today that you didn't want to do when you didn't want to do it?"

This isn't about masochism. It's about intentional growth. Our natural instinct is to seek comfort, but every meaningful advancement in my life—physical, financial, professional—has come from deliberately pushing beyond comfortable boundaries.

At 19,000+ feet, there's no faking it. Either you've prepared, or you haven't. Either you push through, or you don't. The mountain doesn't care about your excuses.

The same is true in entrepreneurial business ownership. The market doesn't care about your excuses. Your customers don't care about your comfort. Results speak, and results come from preparation and persistence through discomfort.

Teaching Moment: Be Prepared, Push Yourself

The greatest entrepreneurs I know share this trait: they're comfortable being uncomfortable. They:

1. Prepare relentlessly. Research, diligence, and training are non-negotiable. My Ecuador expedition required months of physical conditioning and mental preparation.

2. Embrace immediate discomfort for long-term gain. Whether it's having difficult conversations with team members or pushing through a brutal training session, they know temporary pain leads to lasting growth.

3. Judge themselves against their potential, not their comfort. Easy days don't build strength. Challenging days do.

Your Challenge

This week, seek discomfort intentionally. Have the conversation you've been avoiding. Make the cold call that intimidates you. Push your physical limits in a new way.

Then ask yourself: What did I learn by embracing discomfort today? How am I stronger because of it?

The path to extraordinary outcomes—whether on a mountain or in a boardroom—runs directly through the territory of discomfort.

I'd love to hear about your own adventures in discomfort. What challenge are you preparing for? Drop me a line on LinkedIn.