This week was the official kick-off of the 10th anniversay of the Stretch Yourself Challenge – a content marketing challenge designed to help you stretch out of your comfort zone and do great big things with your content.
I’ve done this challenge a few times in years past (at least twice, possibly three times, I can’t exactly remember.) As a challenge participant in the past, I wasn’t particularly successful as a Finisher. I won’t make excuses, but there WERE some pretty serious personal crises that happened in the past that interfered with my progress.
So why on earth did I choose to participate THIS year, when I’ll be away on vacation for more than half the challenge period?
Well, for one thing, that makes it a real stretch, doesn’t it?
But it’s not just that. Even though I’m going on vacation, and will be HAPPY to take some time off and spend with loved ones, I have some very real business goals that I want to keep the momentum going on.
Given that my “typical” vacation planning mode is to just shut down all new activity, and get into a what’s-it-going-to-take-to-maintain mindset, this is a big new thing for me. Which of course is the whole POINT of the Stretch Yourself Challenge: to do big new things.
Kelly McCausey, the host of the challenge, likes to pose the question: “What if it were easy?” That’s to get people thinking about what they would love to do in their business if it were easy. What could you accomplish? What would your goals look like if you didn’t have to worry about the tech challenges, and lack of skills, and all of those things that make things hard.
But this one is NOT going to be easy. When you stretch yourself, it’s meant to be a little uncomfortable. There’s a time and a place for a comfort zone, and when you’re looking for growth, that isn’t the time or place.
A very wise woman once told me: “You can have comfort or you can have growth, but you can’t have them both at the same time.”
The Stretch Yourself Challenge is a points-based challenge. In order to be a Finisher, I’ll have to complete at least one of the challenges from the guide, and also get at least 50 points, based on various activities (yes, this blog post is for points.)
Top points earners can win extra prizes, but I’m not even looking toward that. Even though I’m normally a pretty competitive person, I’m sure I won’t be a TOP points earner because of course I won’t be here the entire time. But I do plan to be a FINISHER and that’s going to be a pretty big stretch.
Interested? (I know you are!)
NOTE: Even though the time has passed to join the LIVE Challenge for 2019, you can get the Stretch Yourself Challenge Self-Study Version ANY TIME!
Enjoy and be challenged!
You ARE a finisher, Teresa. I have watched you grow and morph into a consummate professional over the years. I have recommended you to many because of your expertise in the area of authorship and publishing. And I was there the day you became a public speaker when someone saw the great value in what you know and added you to the panel at a live event.
I participated in this Challenge years back when some of my people were also going to stretch right alongside me. This year I have chosen to be a “Supporter of Everyone Involved” in Kelly’s 10th anniversary stretch and am honored to be in this position.
Hi Teresa, I really enjoyed the quote that you shared with us: A very wise woman once told me: “You can have comfort or you can have growth, but you can’t have them both at the same time.”
It’s so true that we can’t be in comfort doing what we have always been doing and expect a different result.
I know that you will succeed at this challenge because you enjoy learning new things and then sharing with those who follow you.
All the best as you rush to get the challenge done and enjoy your time off your really do deserve it.
Thanks so much Evelyn! That quote is a favorite of mine – it helps me remember to keep stretching.
I have done this one other time, and because of personal reasons, I was not able to finish it. This year I too will be a finisher! Then I will go on a long vacation with my family in November.
Yes, that’s what happened to me too in the past. My reasons were legitimate, but it still was a hard pill to swallow – not finishing. Best of success to you in finishing this time around!
It’s only been a week and I feel like I’ve already stretched more than I have all summer. It’s exhausting but it also feels good.
I know exactly what you mean Carol! It has been a packed week, and another one coming up. Then vacation. 🙂
I commend you for going for it and your determination to be a finisher. You can do it!
Have fun on your vacation!
Thanks for the encouraging words Samantha!
Ahhh…the vacation-planning-excuse…lol. I can relate! Love that you recognize it and are deciding to move past it.
I’ve never heard this quote said quite in this way. “You can have comfort or you can have growth, but you can’t have them both at the same time.” That came from a very wise woman!
I think that participating in a challenge and giving it your best makes you a finisher. Of course if you did nothing at all then maybe not, but I know that won’t be the case for you. Enjoy your vacation AND enjoy being a finisher.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Thanks Julie! Yes, the woman who said that to me was very wise, and she says lots of things that have impacted my way of doing things, but that one in particular has always stuck with me.
You bring up such a good point. We can take on new daily challenges, but the key here is what is it that will help us to STRETCH what we may already be doing? Taking us further, making us bolder and adding more value to our lives and in the lives of other. Thank you for some great additional perspective.
Thanks for your comment Lynn. Finding ways to stretch on a regular basis not only helps us grow, but it keeps life interesting!
You are correct, you can’t have both. It amazes me at how many people think that being comfortable will allow them to achieve what they want more of in life. Glad you’re sharing your vacation time with us.
Exactly! There is a time and place for a comfort zone. We all need to recharge, after all. But just like you don’t live your whole life on vacation, you can’t run your whole business from your comfort zone. Not if you want to grow!
WOW, Teresa!!! What a powerful example of stretching beyond circumstances! In this case, your vacation is a happy and positive circumstance, but it still makes finishing the challenge more, well, challenging! This inspires me to start planning for how to keep the momentum going in my business at the end of the year when my husband and I will be on vacation for two weeks. What if it were easy?
You’ve also given me a new mantra to add to my motto, “Finishing is fun.” I’ll be chanting, “You can have comfort or you can have growth, but you can’t have them both at the same time,” for the rest of my life!
Thanks for the great comment, Rena! “You can have comfort or you can have growth, but you can’t have them both at the same time.” I say that ALL the time. Ever since I first heard it I thought Wow! That is so powerful a thought. I’m glad you found it to be so as well.
Teresa, I just have to say that I am impressed you are choosing to do this while you are on vacation! I’m not sure I would have had the energy to do it. To me that is truly “stretching yourself.”
Thanks Luanna. That’s how I felt about it too. I really have a particular routine when I’m planning for a vacation that has NOTHING to do with stretching myself. So doing this was a big deal for me.
Be a finisher! YES! That’s a great point.
Thanks Jo!
Well done on setting your own goals and perspectives for these challenges. Being competitive is one thing but being able to set boundaries our boundaries is better!
Enjoy your vacation and time with your loved ones. It’s the most important thing in life.
Thank you Sabrina. Yes, that was a lesson that took me a while to learn. Working at home, boundaries can easily become blurred or overstepped. I am determined to always remember to take time off to enjoy life away from work too!
PS I love your image!
Thanks!
You WILL finish! I am sure that you will be able to get a TON done on your Stretch Challenge before vacation – the harder part will be turning it off while you are on vacation but You CAN Do It!! Thanks for being a light to those of us who are new… knowing that you kept coming back even though you didn’t quite finish before is truly an inspiration! 🙂
Thanks, Renee! It appears that I AM going to be a finisher for sure this time around and that gives me such a sense of satisfaction. And I’m so happy if I can be an inspiration to someone else, so thank you for saying so.
I love that this challenge is showing me all different versions of what stretching looks like. Yours gives me a great new perspective and a reminder to keep pushing ourselves during those times we may have started to coast in the past. Way to stretch!
What a valuable insight: seeing different versions of what stretching looks like. I think that learning to see the value in every stretch – big or small – is the most important thing we can learn along our journey!
Waving hello to a fellow #SYC companion who’s also on vacation! Kudos to you for taking this on while enjoying restorative time with your family. Every single small step adds up. It’s only been 5 days and I feel so s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d and supportive because of the community Kelly has cultivated.
Thanks Brook! I’ve already done more than I would have had I NOT signed up for this challenge. My whole goal was to not just turn this month into a total loss. I’ve done that and more, so I’m good!
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for the reminder about “What if it were easy.” I always tend to make things harder and more complicated than they need to be, and then end up giving up halfway through. Your determination to be a Finisher and still go on vacation is an inspiration to me, and I think to a lot of other SYC’ers.
Have a great holiday!
Thanks for posting Ruth! I totally hear ya on making things harder than they need to be! It’s my M.O. but I’m working on changing that!
Well, you’ll be demonstrating for the world that this lifestyle CAN be managed anywhere! Bora Bora, Hawaii, grandma’s farm — wherever you may be vacationing.
Kudos on intending and publicly stating that you will be a Finisher! Very inspiring.
Thanks for commenting Anita! How fun is it that we can work from wherever we are?
The trouble with Finishing is that we have to have the courage to start first (many don’t) …and you have not only done that, you are rocking it! And sometimes relaxing on a holiday is exactly what makes us more creative and relaxed…challenges are not always ALL work. They can be fun! Looking forward to FINISHING what we started and it is fun playing full out on this challenge!
You are so right Joyce! Both about starting in order to finish, and about the importance of relaxation. For the longest time, I worked myself into complete burnout because I felt guilty if I took any time off – like I was slacking or not being “driven” enough. I learned a hard lesson over that, and now I stop regularly to just have fun!
So glad you joined the challenge this year! It’s your time to be a finisher!
Thank you Benecia! I can actually already see my finish line. That feels so good!
Like you Teresa, I’ve gone on vacation during the middle of a SYC and wondered ‘what was I thinking?!’ and how could I finish my challenge. But it gives us extra focus on getting done what needs to be done to push forward, no waffling about our stretch goals. Enjoy your vacation and the great things that will come from being in the SYC.
Thanks for commenting, Jennifer. For some reason, I tend to procrastinate if I have too much time to get things done. It’s always the “crunch time” that makes me finally focus. I need to figure out how to have self-imposed crunch time more often! LOL
Congratulations on allowing nothing to stand in the way of pursuing your goals and completing a challenge. That’s a big goal to accomplish while you’re on vacation and I’m confident that you will. I do love that saying, “What if it were easy?” I’m looking forward to seeing your accomplishments in the month of September and beyond! 🙂
Thanks Tara! From the very first time I saw Kelly say “What if it were easy?” – in an email I think – it has intrigued me. Instead of focusing on how hard it might be, focus on what you would do if it were easy. That creates a pretty powerful desire that can overcome a lot of obstacles!
Love that image! Even when it feels impossible, it usually isn’t. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
You’re going to be a finisher, I have no doubt. You got this!
Thank you Shannon! Finding the “right” image for a blog post is always a challenge for me. But this one just kind of jumped out at me. I thought it was PERFECT.
You didn’t look at the challenge and find reasons to say no – you found reasons to say YES and that speaks to your mindset in a big way. I admire you Teresa!
Kelly, that is in large part thanks to YOU. When I expressed my tentative interest back in late July, you told me: “Knowing you, you can crush a great STRETCH and still enjoy an amazing vacation.” Knowing that you had that kind of confidence in my ability to do this really boosted my OWN confidence. Thank you for that!
I almost didn’t leave a comment because I love how you put words together so much that I’m a little intimidated to write anything!
I enjoy your Freestyle Newsletters and always think, wow…I wish I could write like that.
I decided to leave this comment because doing so is a little uncomfortable to me and that is what this challenge is all about, right? Not being uncomfortable but about being willing to stretch yourself outside that space where everything is cozy but nothing ever really changes.
So thanks for the opportunity to stretch myself!
Wow. What a beautiful compliment. I am thrilled that you enjoy my writing and my Newsletters and I am so, so glad you decided to leave me a comment here. You have made my day, so see what stretching can do? Thank you!
I loved when you said, “when you’re looking for growth, the comfort zone isn’t the place.” It takes being uncomfortable for growth and big changes to happen in our lives – you are well on your way Teresa!! Great post and enjoy your vacation too!!
The cool thing about the comfort zone is that when you do step out of it to grow, it will expand to catch up with you! Thanks for your comment Kristin!
I love the image you used with this post – it fits so perfect! I mentioned it before in the FB Group but I’ll say it again – kudos to you for choosing to participate knowing you were going to be on vacation for half the challenge. That’s a huge stretch right there.
Thanks Tish! I decided to do it because I was spurred on by Kelly. She said something like “I bet you can rock this challenge even while you go on vacation.” I couldn’t ignore that. But honestly, my main thought was to just do MORE than I normally would during a vacation month. It turned into me really wanting to “rock this challenge.” LOL Kelly’s good at that isn’t she?
Loved the wise woman quote you shared. It’s definitely true although I’ve never thought about it quite that way before. I don’t think I’d be doing this challenge if I had plans to be on vacation. Now that I’ve read your post … I’m sure I’d reconsider.
Thanks Kat! To be honest, doing a challenge when I was going on vacation was probably the biggest strecth of all for me. As it turns out, it was a smart choice, but I was really not sure that would be the case. Somtetimes you have to just stretch — and then hope!
That will be one heck of a stretch Teresa, while on vacation. But you know what. We’re here for you, cheering you on. This is what I love most about this group of amazing people. They are so encouraging and supportive, how can you not be a finisher?
One day at a time, one point at a time.
Woohoo! You can do this.
Warmly,
Claudette
Thanks Claudette! You’re so right about this group. I had a bit of a down day the other day, and got so much warmth and encouragement from everyone, it lifted me right back up. Thank you so much for your comment.
What I love Teresa is that you keep showing up year after year to have a new experience! That’s so great.
Thanks Rosie!
You can do it, Teresa! Repeat after me, I am a Finisher. I am a Finisher! Write that on a sticky note and slap it on your computer–right next to another one that says, “What if it were easy?”
Enjoy your vacation this month! I have one coming up next month. Going to Italy for my first time and I am so psyched!!!
Ooh, that’s so cool! Italy is on my bucket list too. Thanks for the words of encouragement, Melissa.
Oh gosh, one of my favorite things I ever read was about being uncomfortable to grow. I think it was something like, “freedom is on the other side of fear” or something. It’s so true, but it still doesn’t always have to be “hard”, as much as different. It’s like the difference, in my mind, between pain and discomfort when you go to the dentist. lol <3 I am so glad you're doing it. I know that even when I don't "finish" a challenge I do still get something big out of it each time and I know you're going to do great!
Thanks for commenting Stephanie! And yes, my main goal is to get something great out of this challenge for my business. But the competitive person inside wants to be a “Finisher” too. LOL
You will be a finisher! I know it!