One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from my boss was not something I wanted to hear at the time. The advice I received was, “Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone. You will be better for it.” I had just been told that I was going to be going to the Caribbean by myself to assist with training and installation of a new product. I had not previously worked hands-on with this solution and I did not know the customer very well. It was a question of self confidence.
So I spent the next couple of weeks in the Clearfield lab working with the product and developing my training seminar. The install went very well, I met some awesome new people and it was a positive experience. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I learned that with proper preparation I can do whatever I put my mind to. Every time I am tasked with a new challenge that seems too daunting, I remember back to past events where I stepped out of my comfort zone.
Clearfield recently released a new product called FieldShield which is a paradigm changing product that reduces fiber drop installation and maintenance costs while eliminating many of the challenges associated with other fiber drop technologies. When you see the product, it may seem to be a little outside your “Comfort Zone” but remember that expanding your horizons and challenging the status-quo way of thinking can be very beneficial in the long run. So talk with other companies that have tried FieldShield and give it a try. You won’t be sorry.
By Tom Warren