What is the main message of The Discomfort Zone?

Embrace discomfort for personal growth and success with The Discomfort Zone.

Who is the author of The Discomfort Zone?

The author of The Discomfort Zone is Farrah Storr.

Career & Success

The Discomfort Zone Book Summary - The Discomfort Zone Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

The Discomfort Zone summary

Name: The Discomfort Zone
Rating: 4.4 (214 reviews)
Author: Farrah Storr

Farrah Storr

How to Get What You Want by Living Fearlessly

4.4 (214 ratings)

24 mins

Brief summary

'The Discomfort Zone' by Farrah Storr is an insightful book that encourages readers to embrace discomfort in order to achieve growth and success. It offers practical advice, inspiring stories, and shares Storr's own journey in overcoming her fears and prejudices.

Topics

Inspiration Mental Health

Table of Contents

The Discomfort Zone
Summary of 8 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Master your fear so you can live life to the fullest.

Do you ever wonder what life would be like if fear didn’t hold you back? Maybe you would’ve enrolled in that acting course everyone told you wasn’t practical, or perhaps you would have traveled to your dream destination alone. Or maybe you’d have braved confessing your love to someone special and found yourself somewhere very different.

Fear inhibits most of us on a daily basis. That uncomfortable feeling flares up in our bellies, and our instincts tell us to flee. But all fear does is curb our potential. We live within the safety of the “known,” too afraid to explore what new skills, opportunities, or people we could bring into our lives.

There is, however, a way to break free of our fear-based limitations – and it isn’t exclusively for the brave or reckless.

To defy fear and embrace your life fully, you must learn to get comfortable with discomfort.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

how feedback is similar to sex;
why special edition perfumes represent courage; and
what Steve Jobs didn’t tell us about successful hustling.

By reframing our fear, we can use it to improve our performance.

Think back to the last time you took an important exam. How did you feel just before sitting down? Were you pumped and ready to ace every question? Or were you sick to the stomach, worried that you’d forgotten to study something crucial and imagining your inevitable failure?

We all respond differently to anticipated fears. While some of us welcome the rush of adrenaline that a risky situation brings, many – if not most – of us panic. This panic triggers all kinds of physical responses, from dizziness to desperately needing the restroom.

If this sounds all too familiar, don’t worry. By learning how to reinterpret your physical responses to challenges, you can transform yourself from a fretter to a fighter.

The key message here is: By reframing our fear, we can use it to improve our performance.

Those fiery exam takers, convinced of their success, are in what’s called a challenge state. Much like the stress-heads, their body floods with adrenaline when confronted by stress. But instead of interpreting their sweaty palms and increased heart rate as signs that they’re about to fail, they see them as their body preparing for a battle they’ll win. As they imagine their success, the reward center in their brain activates, which reduces fear. This in turn increases oxygen levels in their blood, so that they can make fast, reliable decisions.

The good news is, we can all get into a challenge state and respond positively to stress. To do so, take time before your next big event to visualize how brilliantly you’ll perform. For example, if you have a job interview, imagine yourself dressed to impress. See yourself confidently greeting your interviewer, and picture yourself calmly and audibly answering every question. Repeat this practice as much as possible before your appointment. It will help you feel in control and keep your fear at bay.

Pay attention to your self-talk too. Substitute every negative thought for a positive one. Instead of telling yourself that you’re doomed to fail, root for yourself! Athletes have been using this to manage pre-competition nerves for eons, and it works!

The more you practice, the easier it’ll be to enter a challenge state. Once you’ve retrained how you interpret your physical responses to fear, you’ll become more comfortable throwing yourself into those nerve-racking challenges. You’ll also be in a stronger position to come up with a Plan B if you need to. We’ll explore this more in the next blink.

How we handle the obstacles we encounter determines our level of success.

Eric Underwood is one of this century’s most successful dancers. He’s performed with the American Ballet Theatre and was the first black soloist at London’s Royal Ballet. Underwood’s talent is even more impressive, given that he didn’t start dancing until he was 14. That’s almost a decade later than in the case of most professionals. And it wasn’t a love of Swan Lake that inspired his artistic goals. It was his desire to escape the rough Washington, DC neighborhood he grew up in.

Dancing wasn’t even his first choice. When the local performing arts school put out a call for new students, Underwood secured an acting audition. But on audition day, Underwood choked midway through. While this may have been devastating for some, he was still determined to land a place at the school.

Processing trauma thoroughly can bring positive change into our lives.

On July 7, 2005, Sajda Mughal was running late for work. To make matters worse, her local subway station in North London was closed. She hurried to the next station, only to find the platform packed with commuters. For the past two years, she had traveled in the front subway cars every morning. But today, she let the crowd carry her into a middle car.

About ten minutes later, there was a huge bang. The lights went out, and thick smoke filled the train. Mughal thought it had derailed and was convinced she was going to die. Later, she found out that 26 people on her train had been killed by a suicide bomber. Most of them were in the front car.

To reach our full potential, we have to let go of being perfect.

Social pressure. Most of us experience it regularly. Whether we’re about to sing at karaoke, tell someone how we feel, or apply for a competitive job – we all long to impress. We can’t help it! The desire to be liked is hardwired into us. It helped us survive back when we lived in tribes and relied on each other for basic needs. But now, social pressure cripples us.

We either exhaust ourselves trying to be an unrealistic ideal that we’re fed culturally and through social media. Or we simply don’t try anything new because we’re too scared to be less than perfect. This means we never discover the full extent of our capabilities.

To thrive professionally, we must seek out regular feedback.

In 2010, Patrick Doyle faced a crisis. He had just become CEO of Domino’s. The company was still delivering pizzas as fast as ever. But they tasted awful! To save the business, Doyle came up with a radical plan.

In a campaign called the “Pizza Turnaround,” Doyle’s team recorded customers’ scathing reviews – and aired them on national TV! Then, with new recipes in place, Doyle broadcast the same customers sampling their new pizzas. It was a risky strategy, but he was confident that he could successfully implement customer feedback. And he was right! The customers loved the new pizzas and gave them rave reviews. Within three months, Domino’s sales and share prices had skyrocketed.

Experiencing uncomfortable constraints helps us become more creative.

Even movie giants have it tough at times. During the filming of Jaws, Steven Spielberg hit an obstacle. His mechanical shark malfunctioned, and repairing it would take weeks! The 25-year-old director couldn’t afford to wait, so he came up with another solution. That solution went on to become one of the best-known scenes in the history of film.

A baited tire tied to a pier speeds through the water. The pier cracks, and a fisherman falls in. Driftwood from the pier is dragged toward him from beneath the ocean’s surface. His friend yells at him to swim. The increasing tempo of the two-note score sets our hearts racing...

If we want to truly succeed, we must be open to failure.

The next time you’re at a department store, head over to the cosmetics counter. Check out some of the big brands. At least one will have a “limited edition” product on display, complete with a gold foil label to make it look extra special.

Limited edition perfumes may seem exclusive, but they’re actually market tests. Companies use them to decide whether or not they should launch a product permanently. This is what Tom Ford did with his fragrance, Soleil Blanc. If it hadn’t sold well during its test run, it would have quietly disappeared.

Improve your hustle by making it mutually beneficial.

Steve Jobs was renowned for his hustling. As an eighth grader, he called Hewlett-Packard to request spare parts and landed himself a summer internship. Throughout his career, he encouraged people to call their own shots. Since most people don’t ask for what they want, he saw this as the defining difference.

Such an empowered attitude toward hustling is all well and good if you’re a proactive genius like Jobs. But for most of us, hustling can be incredibly uncomfortable. We worry about what others will think if we ask them for something and offer nothing in return.

Want to see all full key ideas from The Discomfort Zone?

Key ideas in The Discomfort Zone

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is The Discomfort Zone about?

The Discomfort Zone (2018) shows us how we can become more comfortable with the fears that hold us back. But it also goes one step further, explaining how we can harness these fears to drive success. Using real life examples, Farrah Storr examines the true nature of uncomfortable feelings and provides strategies to manage them so we can reach our full potential.

The Discomfort Zone Review

The Discomfort Zone (2020) by Farrah Storr is a thought-provoking exploration of how stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to personal and professional growth. Here's why we recommend reading this book:

Offering insightful stories and examples, it shows how embracing discomfort can lead to new opportunities and breakthroughs.
Through the lens of her own experiences, Storr shares practical strategies for overcoming fear and embracing discomfort in order to achieve success.
The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to question their own biases and limitations, making it a compelling read that inspires personal transformation.

Best quote from The Discomfort Zone

Acknowledging your own internal discomfort is about one of the bravest things you can do...

—Farrah Storr

Who should read The Discomfort Zone?

Victims of performance anxiety
Seekers of true fulfillment
Ambitious professionals wanting to create business opportunities

About the Author

Farrah Storr is a journalist and editor. In 2018, as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, she was awarded a PPA Award and a BSME Award. In 2017, she was included on a list of the UK’s 1,000 most influential people. The Discomfort Zone is her first book.

Categories with The Discomfort Zone

Career & Success Personal Development

Book summaries like The Discomfort Zone

Great by Choice

Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen

Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why Some Thrive Despite Them All

Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong

21 min

3.8

Fail Fast, Fail Often

Ryan Babineaux and John Krumboltz

How Losing Can Help You Win

Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success

14 min

4.5

Didn't See That Coming

Rachel Hollis

Putting Life Back Together When Your World Falls Apart

The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout

Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self

27 min

4.5

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Marie Kondo

The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

14 min

4.2

Man’s Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The harrowing experiences of the author in a concentration camp

What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know

21 min

3.9

The Little Book of Stoicism

Jonas Salzgeber

Timeless Wisdom to Gain Resilience, Confidence, and Calmness

5 min

3.8

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Lindsay C. Gibson

How to Heal from Difficult, Rejecting, or Self-involved Parents

How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict

Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success

How to Work Less to Achieve More

20 min

4.4

The Success Principles

Jack Canfield

How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

19 min

4.4

AI for Business Leaders

Michael Ramsay

A Practical Guide to Business Growth and Success

And Why Some Companies Never Give In

19 min

4.5

The Art of Clear Thinking

Hasard Lee

A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions

12 min

3.8

The Next Millionaire Next Door

Thomas J. Stanley & Sarah Stanley Fallaw

Enduring Strategies for Building Wealth

Overcome Procrastination & Improve Your Productivity

Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level

The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst

New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind

28 min

4.7

Feedback (and Other Dirty Words)

M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Dowling Grealish

Why We Fear It, How to Fix It

22 min

4.4

Not the End of the World

Hannah Ritchie

How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet

A Revolutionary Approach to Success

Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour

Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life

20 min

4.5

Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself

Joe Dispenza

How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

A Brief History of Humankind

The secrets of 40 millionaires' wealth, revealed

No-BS Secrets to Success (No Matter What Life Throws at You)

18 min

4.3

Leadership Is Language

David Marquet

The Hidden Power of What You Say – and What You Don’t

Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

22 min

4.4

Competing in the Age of AI

Marco Iansiti & Karim R. Lakhani

Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World

9 min

3.5

Resilient

Rick Hanson with Forrest Hanson

How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness

26 min

4.5

How to Talk to Anyone

Leil Lowndes

92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships

25 min

4.1

The First Rule of Mastery

Michael Gervais

Stop Worrying about What People Think of You

50 Everyday Acts of Courage to Thrive in Work, Love, and Life

21 min

4.1

A Guide to the Good Life

William B. Irvine

The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure

The Mind Management Program for Confidence, Success and Happiness

19 min

4.3

The Seven Circles

Chelsey Luger & Thosh Collins

Indigenous Teachings for Living Well

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

13 min

4.2

The Idea Is the Easy Part

Brian Dovey

Myths and Realities of the Startup World

Getting Up to Speed Quickly in Today’s Ever-Changing Sales World

How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

30 min

4.4

Bringing Out the Best in People

Aubrey C. Daniels

How to Apply the Astonishing Power of Positive Reinforcement

4 min

3.6

Untangle Your Emotions

Jennie Allen

Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It

16 min

3.6

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.