The Comfort Zone..

I finally got around to finishing this book 'Born To Fly'. It's about a young Australian, a 19 year old by the name of Ryan Campbell who had a dream to become the first teenager to fly solo around the world..

To cut a long story short he made it and broke the world record.

Whilst it's a great story of having a dream and battling against the odds there is also a recurring theme of being out of your comfort zone.

When I was the same age as Ryan I was in my comfort zone well and truly. It was probably about a year and a half ago I decided to leave it, to try something new, to take a different path.

I remember one of my business mentors asking me many years ago before we went into a big meeting "are you nervous?" I replied "yes" He said "good" and went on to say that "sometimes in life you have to put yourself in a position that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up"

It has probably been about 10 years since that meeting but it's advice i've never forgotton.

From getting on a plane to travel to the unfamiliar, to playing music on stage and to what I still do for my day job - sit at reception waiting to go into a meeting absolutely shitting myself!

A quote from the book which stands out as it had already become a bit of a mantra for me over the past year or two. One that I have used to help me find my way back through life after a break up of a long term relationship..

'The right path is one that has adventure and excitement, one that allows you to set goals and makes every day new, adventurous and exciting. One that makes you want to get up every morning'

I sometimes wonder if at 19 and knew what I knew now would my life have turned out any different? Would it be better or worse? All I know is i'm doing my best to make up for lost time and getting out of my comfort zone as much as possible..

On Thursday, 8th October 2015 my little music project 'Andy Kidd' will make it's live debut as a 3 piece band. My friends Adam and Jamie have joined up on drums and bass and we've begun rehearsals. Our very first gig will be opening for one of my favourite bands 'New Regulars' at the Captain Cook Hotel in Paddington, Sydney. I've played plenty of gigs solo on stage but this is a whole new level.

New Regulars are awesome live and the venue has played host to Green Day no less!

I'm nervous. I'm excited. The hairs on the back if my neck are standing up as I type this...

This is living.

Another great mentor said to me once 'Everything is difficult until it becomes easy' and whenever I encounter something new or challenging I think of this advice.

I'm looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone with my new band mates carrying the thoughts that echo through the minds of every musician before the go on stage... 'hopefully we don't suck'