The Problem With Comfort That Isn’t Comfortable
On paper, the job looked great. The pay was high. The benefits were solid. The position carried respect. To anyone looking in from the outside, I had it made.
But inside, I felt stuck. I was showing up every day, collecting a paycheck, but the passion was gone. The excitement was gone. The sense of purpose was gone.
That’s the problem with comfort. It fools you into thinking you’re winning while you’re actually losing. You’re trading time for money but sacrificing meaning. You’re securing income but letting go of fulfillment.
I started asking myself a question I couldn’t ignore: was this really how I wanted to live the rest of my life?
The Weight of Misalignment
It’s exhausting to live out of alignment. When your goals don’t match your daily work, every day feels heavier than it should. I’d get through the week, but I never felt alive.
The job gave me money, but it wasn’t feeding my soul. I knew I had talent. I had ideas. There was more to give. Yet every month that went by, I was settling for less than what I was capable of.
That gap between where I was and where I wanted to be became unbearable. That’s when I knew I had a decision to make.
The Turning Point: A Bold Goal
Walking away from a high-paying job sounds crazy. Most people would never do it. But I realized staying was crazier.
I set a bold goal: build a career where passion and purpose fueled my income. I wanted to entertain, inspire, and connect. And, I wanted to bring people together through trivia, speaking, and energy.
The moment I wrote that goal down, everything shifted. Suddenly, I wasn’t just leaving a job. I was pursuing a mission.
The Lesson: Goals Give You Courage
If I hadn’t set that goal, I would’ve stayed stuck. That’s what happens to most people. They stay where it’s safe, even if it’s draining them.
A clear goal gives you courage. It gives you something bigger than fear. It tells you, “This is where I’m going.” Even if the path is uncertain, the direction is set.
That’s how I found the strength to walk away from a paycheck and into the unknown. Not because I wasn’t scared. But because I had a goal strong enough to push me forward.
Building a Life on My Terms
Since leaving, I’ve built a career that combines everything I love. I host high-energy trivia shows that turn ordinary events into unforgettable memories. I step on stage as a keynote speaker to share lessons on retention, engagement, and the power of setting bold goals.
Now, when I walk into an event, I show up in my orange jacket, and people recognize me instantly. They don’t just see a host. They see someone living his mission.
The risk paid off because the goal was clear. The paycheck I walked away from doesn’t compare to the fulfillment I have today.
The Strategy: Applying Goal Setting #5
Here’s how you can use this lesson in your own life:
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Recognize the misalignment. If your current work doesn’t match your long-term goals, admit it.
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Set a bold goal. Don’t settle for small. Write down the vision that excites you.
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Take one step. It might be leaving a job. It might be starting a side project. Just move.
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Stay committed. Bold goals require persistence, not perfection.
The moment you align your work with your goals, energy returns. Life feels lighter. The risk feels worth it.
Conclusion: Goal Setting #5 Is About Courage
Goal Setting #5 is proof that sometimes the scariest decision is the right one. Staying comfortable is easy. But growth doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from chasing goals that matter.
I ditched a high-paying job to pursue a life of passion, purpose, and connection. It wasn’t easy. But it was worth it.
Kid Corona – Keynote Speaker, National Trivia Host, Chief Border Agent of Slowjamastan
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