Brick-wall

“There is a deeper purpose for your work and greater meaning for your life. Escape from your comfort zone and explore it”.

The Comfort Zone Illusion - Leaving Your Comfort Zone Is Not So Hard After All

Susan Neustrom

Change, I know a little bit about change. Well, I really know quite a lot about change both from a personal and a professional standpoint. Over the past seven years, I taught many adults and nonprofit organizations and small businesses how to experience change from a new perspective by using a comfort zone approach to achieve a successful outcome.

After all, I was stuck in my comfort zone, too afraid to change, and it took me 30 years to get enough courage to finally take the first step. Without a doubt I was trapped, too fearful to even think about doing anything different than what I have done for much of my career. No surprises, no drama, nothing to stir me out of the place I believed was my comfort zone. Even though I knew there had to be a better approach, I was content to stand on the sidelines and watch leaders ineffectively command followers into action. It has been 15 years since I initiated the first step of change and took a risk at being a leader. I can tell you with all honesty, leaving your comfort zone is not so hard after all when you understand what is occurring. Hence, my book, “The Comfort Zone Illusion, Leaving Your Comfort Zone is Not So Hard After All” offers a “how to” guide based on my experience and the experience of people I coached.

In fact, what I believed to be the most difficult challenge of my life was really the beginning of a tremendous journey of discovery giving me the skills to lead several nonprofit organizations and make significant changes in my life and my leadership.

I am dedicated to helping leaders take control of planned and unplanned change, eliminate fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, and ignite self-motivation for long term success, therefore, I speak, train, and coach to the human side of leadership. My topics focus on change and leadership and the challenges of meeting resistance, leaving your comfort zone, awakening self-motivation, creating an inclusive, welcoming environment and getting everyone excited about never-ending change.

Oh, by the way, I’m also a comfort zone survivor who traveled an unbelievable change journey and can help you leave your comfort zone to become an inspiring, ideal leader. It’s easy!

Credentials

  • Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership (Ed.D)/Argosy University
  • Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership/Training and Development/Lewis University
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Management/National Louis University

Certifications and Membership

  • Certified in Whole Being Positive Psychology
  • Certified Mentor Coach
  • Certified SCORE Business Mentor
  • International Coaching Federation Member

Professional Experience

  • Assistant Vice President/ Community Bank
  • Director of Human Resources/ Nonprofit agency serving adults with intellectual disabilities
  • Executive Director/ Nonprofit organization working with incarcerated men and women
  • Executive Director/ Nonprofit organization serving seniors with dementia and other cognitive impairments
  • Director of Foundation/ Nonprofit senior living community
  • Board of Directors for several nonprofit organizations
  • Current faculty of National Louis and DePaul University
  • Author of “The Comfort Zone Illusion-Leaving Your Comfort Zone is Not So Hard After All”
  • Collaborative author of “Unshakeable Happiness”