Growth over comfort Nerd Fitness

Stephen Wilson, Jr., was a scientist working for Mars, Inc. (Yes, the candy company).

One day his boss put him in an office and said something that changed his life:

« Stephen, you’ll be promoted. »

Usually the reason for the celebration, this was instead intended as a warning from his boss.

In the 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 devilishly good songwriter and where he really belonged.

He told Stephen about the golden handcuffs:

« You are in queue for a promotion and they are raising you for the next level.

And you are the kind of crossroads.

Because if you take (the promotion), as I took it 30 years ago, your dreams of being songs will be gone. This will consume every part of you.

You can now write songs and do this job, but after 6 months I’m not sure you can. So I just want to warn you. « 

This tiny voice in the head of Stephen, who has been there for years and years, has begun to become more strong.

6 weeks later, with this inner voice now with a deafening volume, he put in his 2 -week notice that confused All (except for his boss and his wife).

He started a bartender and waiting tables to bring his edges closer as he refined his craft, trying to get deals to publish in country music … until he rejects that he doesn’t write ​Songs “Brother Country”​:

They said to him, “You write Actually Songs. We can’t do Nuthin ‘with this … « 

Years later, after a few modest successes, writing songs for other musicians, he finally made the courage and experience and the button to start recording his own songs.

And last year he finally put up his debut album, Daddy’s sonwhich Rolling Stone called one of the best albums since 2023

Stephen recently released a ​Ben E. King’s « Stand To Me » Cover​ Which I have listened to about 10,000 times in the last month.

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

Golden handcuffs against uncomfortable expansion

From 2008-2010 I also lived a double life.

I had my daily work in Shastman, helping to promote and produce floating music festivals. But I also spent my nights and weekends working on a small website, helping fools collide.

My boss April and my mentor Andy (who owns the business) knew where my heart was; They encouraged me to chase the uncomfortable future to try to turn Nerd fitness into my career.

16 years later we still go strong!

In Oliver Burkeman ​Four thousand weeks​He encourages us to ask a specific question when we make decisions in life:

« Where in your life or work you are currently pursuing comfort when what is required is a little discomfort? »

Asking « what would make me most will, » most likely it will lead us to the short, convenient and safe option.

Instead, we need to think which path will make us grow as a person or which version will make us shrink every week. Probably, deep down, we know the answer to the question if we have the courage to ask it.

Berkman’s advice:

« Choose an uncomfortable expansion of comfortable reduction when you can. »

Yes, sometimes the pursuit of « uncomfortable expansion » does not lead to a deal to write songs or a successful business. I chose the uncomfortable path and sometimes things don’t work out. But this is part of the process and at least removes the potential for unhealthy regret!

Which brings me to today’s mission.

Let’s feel comfortable with being uncomfortable

Let’s pursue an uncomfortable expansion in 2025

• When we are training, We force our muscles to become uncomfortable, lifting more and more weight -they react by growing and adapting.
• If we use food as a handling mechanism When we are sad or angry or bored, turning our relationship with food can be uncomfortable.
• When we have uncomfortable conversations, Finally, we can deepen our relationship or assert the things that are important to us.

In 2025, let’s ask the question:

Where in your life you live tight in comfort and safety when deep You know that the path of « uncomfortable enlargement » is what you really need to grow and help you get what you really want?

You may not need to leave your job right away or go to all-in a new goal or change …

But it may be worth asking this uncomfortable question.

Life is difficult, and change is more difficult.

Uncomfortable.

Scary.

Messy.

But if you are ready to say no to comfort, this may be exactly what you need.

-Steve

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