The Comfort Zone Edit: News, Notes & Need-to-Knows
"My son said, 'You always go out of your comfort zone.' And I said, 'I do?'"
Photo from Left to Right: Jessica Handelman, Bettina Klein, Me, Cammy Cruso, Alex Friedman, and Danielle Butin, founder of Afya.
I was asked by the amazing Jessica Handelman to moderate an incredible panel last week for UJA’s Professional Women called Smart Women, Smart Conversations. When I received the bios of the incredible women entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs I’d be interviewing (see here), I found myself thinking, Hmm, not sure.
Why did I feel that way?
First, I had never met any of them. I didn’t know anything about their businesses. And I wasn’t sure I was the right person for this panel. But why? Was it imposter syndrome—the very thing my dear friend Sophie Elgort, Photographer, Director, and Artist, talks about in my book?
On Page 57 of Embracing The Calm In The Chaos (which, OMG, is already two years since its publication!), I note that one hallmark of an entrepreneur is never feeling completely satisfied or entirely confident in what you’ve achieved. (Though, in other chapters, I emphasize the importance of patting yourself on the back along the way.) Sophie noted: “Many artists are full of self-doubt and suffer from imposter syndrome, which is when you question your own accomplishments and accolades. The way to get past it is to keep making work and to continue creating. The road to where you want to go is not always linear—you have to pursue various paths, persevere, and learn to not take no for an answer.”
So, I called Jessica. This was the first panel she organized at her newly minted job at the UJA, and I was honored that she asked me to moderate. She reassured me, saying: “Stacy, I have seen you speak, and you wrote a whole book on this topic. I want you to show how these women started their businesses and got in the trenches just like you. No one wants to hear how they sold it for 100 million dollars—they want to hear how they did it.”
That was all I needed to hear. I’m in!
At that moment, I realized that over the past few years, I’ve interviewed 70+ founders across 200+ episodes on my podcast #MOMSGOTTHIS with Michelle Park. Through my brand, BOY MEETS GIRL®, I’ve spent 25+ years telling stories, bringing people together, and creating conversations that inspire and connect communities. Recently, I’ve been on a book tour for Embracing The Calm In The Chaos as well as On Being Jewish Now (
), a powerful anthology featuring 75 authors and advocates.Throughout my journey, I’ve been interviewed 1000+ times—on podcasts, TV shows, and panels—and I’m passionate about amplifying voices and sharing stories. My book features 30+ interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs—both those who built their own companies and those who carved out impactful roles within organizations.
So, moderating this panel was a natural extension of my work—bringing powerhouse women together to share their journeys, insights, and impact.
And so, I stepped out of my comfort zone and DID IT! And I’m so glad I did.
These women were incredible—you should get to know each one of them. I wish you all could have been there.
After the panel, I received so many emails and messages (like the ones below), and I knew I had made the right decision.
Thank you, Jessica, for believing in me. And thank you to the 200+ women who came out to celebrate and uplift these entrepreneurs.
The next morning, I shared with my son, Dylan, that I was proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone. He looked at me and said, “Mommy, you always go out of your comfort zone.” And I said, "I do?"
His words made me pause and reflect on just how many times I really have pushed beyond my limits—starting a business from scratch, public speaking, asking friends to endorse my book ( thank you
), and so much more.I guess he’s right. I love you Dyl.
I wanted to hear from my readers and friends about their moments of stepping out of their comfort zones, and here are some of their incredible responses. I’d love to hear from you, too! Share below how you’ve pushed yourself beyond your limits.
noted, “For me, as an introvert, it was incredibly uncomfortable to expand beyond writing a blog and start showing up on video so that I could really connect with me people. It took a lot for me to do that, and in the beginning,g I was awkward and clunky. But the more I did it, the better I got, and then, before too long, I actually ENJOYED it because the connection I built with my community was so much stronger!” noted, “I am not a sales rep personality at all. It is something I’ve worked on for twenty years. Any sales activity (I’m not talking about marketing—I’m good with marketing) is outside my comfort zone. For the past six months or so I’ve been leaning into that uncomfortable space ,and my business is doing better than ever before!”News, Notes, & Need-to-Knows:
News: Join me live on Instagram tomorrow at 11 AM EST with friend Author, Activist, and Actress Sheetal Sheeth. There will be some fun giveaways too, so you do not want to miss.
Notes: Dylan wants to start a company, so I’m helping him on his kidpreneur journey—I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! 🙂 I explained that launching a shopping website comes with many costs and complexities, just like I advise entrepreneurs on when starting a business ( you can learn more about that here). So we talked about first sharing his product on my poshmark account to test the waters. He woke up this morning and said he wanted to donate 10% of the sales to Alzheimer’s and Dementia research, so we are doing that too. His company is called #1MOM ( yes, if you read my boo,k I probably should wait on sharing this with you as we do have to work on his trademark but I was to excited to so I am sharing). Check it out here and can also link on the image below. He will have to work on going out of his comfort zone, too. More to come. :)
Need-to-Knows:
TV SHOWS:
My best friends from growing up in Chicago, Ike Barinholtz ( featured in my book and on my podcast, too) and David Stassen, wrote this new show, Running Point, and it got picked up for Season 2. I binged it, and you will too. IT IS SO GOOD.
My dear friend and frequent collaborator, Sophie Elgort, just launched a show on PBS called Portrait Mode. I am so proud of her. Check out all episodes here.
BOOKS:
Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renee Rose. If you're fascinated by how a company is born and want to learn about the creator of Barbie, this is for you. I’m almost finished with it, and it’s amazing! I also went live with her at the Barbie Exhibit here in NYC with Alix Strauss and
.
Composed with the cadence of a waltz—up, up, down—through flashbacks to childhood memories in Miami and a music camp in Michigan, It Could Be Worse is a heartwarming, at times heart-wrenching, multigenerational story of a woman supported and embraced by many while shaken to the core by a few. “The gorgeous prose and raw, unflinching narrative both heal and inspire. A stunning debut.” (Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of Woman on the Edge)
The Joy Of Funerals a novel in stories by Alix Strauss. I am just getting started, and OMG. This is Alix’s 20th Anniversary Edition.
From the very first page, readers are drawn into the strange, often humorous world where nine women grapple with sex, power, love, and death. Meet a widow who lusts...a daughter who aches...a lover who obsesses...a shopaholic who hungers... a daredevil who desires...a single woman who longs...an outsider who hopes...an artist who craves...and a funeral-junkie who needs. These are the women who inhabit the eerily honest, often heartbreaking world Alix Strauss has created in The Joy of Funerals.
XO,
Stacy
Great piece as always, @stacy! It is so important to remember to step out of your comfort zone sometimes!