Jim Newman, the business visionary who created the term 'comfort

Host: The room is quiet, the soft glow of evening light casting long shadows as the world outside slows down. Inside, the air is calm, almost reflective, as if a meaningful conversation is about to unfold. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of a notebook, lost in thought. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, gazing out at the street below.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, yet curious) “You ever think about the role comfort plays in our lives? How easy it is to stay within our boundaries, doing what feels safe, even though we know there’s more to be gained outside that comfort zone?”

Jack: (glancing at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Comfort zone, huh? Yeah, it’s easy to stay there—feels safe, predictable. But what do you mean? You’re talking about pushing ourselves to do more, to try new things?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she shares her thought) “I was thinking about something Dan Pena said. He mentioned Jim Newman, the business visionary who created the term ‘comfort zone,’ and how he showed Pena how to expand his horizons. Pena said, ‘Thanks to Jim, after I attended one of his PACE Seminars in 1978, I moved out of my comfort zone at Bear Stearns and became a super successful oilman.’ It made me think about how the willingness to step outside of our comfort zones is often the key to real success.”

Jack: (pauses, considering her words) “So, he’s saying that the decision to step outside of what’s comfortable, to push into new territory, was what led to his success? It wasn’t just about staying in his safe, familiar role—it was about taking that leap into something unknown?”

Jeeny: (smiling more deeply now, her eyes steady as she explains) “Exactly. Pena was comfortable in his job at Bear Stearns, but by stepping outside of that comfort zone, by challenging himself to take risks and explore new opportunities, he was able to tap into something much greater. Sometimes, the biggest successes come when we decide to take a chance on the unfamiliar, to move beyond what feels safe.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to resonate in the room, a quiet truth about how growth often requires us to step into the unknown. Jack stands still, his gaze softening as he reflects on the idea that true success often lies just outside our comfort zones. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels rooted in a deeper understanding of risk, growth, and potential.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more reflective) “I see what you mean. We get so caught up in staying in our lanes, in doing what we know, but sometimes the biggest opportunities come from taking risks, from doing something that feels uncomfortable, even scary. But it’s in that discomfort that we grow.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her eyes bright with understanding) “Exactly. It’s all about expanding your horizons. The comfort zone might feel safe, but it can also keep you stuck. To really succeed, you need to push beyond it, challenge yourself, and see what’s possible when you step outside of what’s familiar. That’s where the magic happens.”

Jack: (pauses, his expression softening as the idea sinks in) “It’s funny, isn’t it? How we often hold ourselves back because we’re afraid to leave the comfort of what we know. But the real opportunities, the ones that change everything, are waiting on the other side of that fear.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice calm, yet filled with quiet confidence) “Exactly. And the more we challenge ourselves, the more we realize that the comfort zone isn’t the place where growth happens. It’s the place where you stay the same. The key is to keep pushing your boundaries, to keep expanding, even when it feels uncomfortable.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as though the weight of their conversation has shifted into something empowering, something actionable. Jack turns from the window, his posture more relaxed, the realization that growth comes from stepping outside of comfort settling in. Jeeny watches him, content in the knowledge that the path to success and personal development often requires us to leave the safety of the familiar and venture into the unknown. The world outside continues its steady rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared understanding that true success often lies just outside our comfort zones.