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Sign Pro Strategies Outside Their Comfort Zones

Overcoming fear, managing “don’t do this” situations and more.

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NO ONE WANTS TO be uncomfortable but sometimes the vagaries of the sign industry tug hard on a sign pro’s sleeve, saying, “Come on outside here on this ledge. The sun is brighter out here!”

Should you decide to take that step we offer the following advice from your fellow sign professionals in the Signs of the Times Brain Squad. We asked them the following question in the December 2024 survey:

Please tell us any other tips or bits of advice you have about getting out of your comfort zone, overcoming fear, or just managing situations where your body and mind are telling you, “Let’s not do this.”

Their answers touch on planning, overcoming fears, breaking down a problem and more. To get you primed for the journey, consider the response from Joe Allen from So Easy Signs in Middletown, OH: “Our entire journey has been about operating out of the proverbial comfort zone. We’ve learned to embrace that as part of our growth cycle. We keep faith in that we have good processes, people, and accept challenges as an opportunity to learn and expand our repertoire of services and products,” he says.

May you find that you can embrace the challenge, too!

[For our related articles, “22 Ways to Try Uncomfortable New Things,” click here and “Sign Pros Prepare For Hard But Important Tasks” click here.]

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Planning

  • Research the market, competition and production requirements for the new initiative thoroughly before committing (aka “look before you leap”). — Paul Williamson, Art Sign Works, Murrieta, CA
  • Always check and recheck the ROI of any situation you face. “What is the result to the bottom line, my employees, our reputation if I do or don’t do this action?” — Ted Dewitt, Signarama Covina, Covina, CA
  • Have a plan and go over it, a lot, prior to beginning the job. Have a plan B. Simply decide that you are not able to do that anymore … weigh the risks. It may be too costly if you fell off that ladder or someone got hurt. — Cindy Gillihan, Gilly’s Super Signs, Placerville, CA
  • A well-thought-out plan makes things far easier. Plan before you implement. — Jim Sutterfield, Signs Plus Inc., Bellingham, WA
  • I remind myself that making a decision, as long as it is as informed as possible, is always better than not making one. — Ian McLellan, Hill House Graphics, Bristol, RI

Just Go For It

  • Sometimes tough choices lead to necessary changes. A favorite saying in the sign industry is, “Leap and the net shall appear!” — Joe Gibson, Ramsay Signs, Portland , OR
  • Jump in the middle of it, start kicking it around, make mistakes, learn and repeat. I do this with everything. — Myke Baugh, Roughrider Signs & Designs, Jamestown, ND
  • Opportunities are few and far between. When you see one, you have to grab it because it likely has a very narrow expiration date. Use it or lose it. — Gary Johnson, Great American Sign Co., Basking Ridge, NJ
  • Take care of the hard tasks as soon as they come up. The longer you put off a difficult task the harder it is to approach it. — Rick Ream, Media 1 Wrap This, Sanford, FL
  • When committing you need to be all in. There will be obstacles and road blocks and perhaps some humility, you should expect all of it. It’s part of the growth process. — Rick Ferraro, Spectrum Sign Systems, Blaine, MN
  • If you are going to get out of your comfort zone you have to 100% commit. If you go in with hesitancy you are dooming yourself for failure. Always know you will come out of it ahead, either with a new skill or with the knowledge of why it failed. — Jonathon Yasko, North American Signs, South Bend, IN
  • You only live once. If you fail… you learn. If you succeed you learn. It sounds crazy but you have to JUST DO IT! — Jeremy Vanderkraats, Signs by Van, Salinas, CA

Overcoming Fears

  • For years, I struggled with avoiding confrontation, both in my business and personal life. It felt easier to sidestep difficult conversations or let unresolved issues linger, but deep down, I knew this avoidance only added to my stress and hindered my growth. Over time, I realized that confronting issues head-on doesn’t have to mean conflict — it can mean clarity, resolution and building stronger relationships. I’ve worked on reframing confrontation as an opportunity to communicate, understand and grow. Now, whether it’s discussing a sensitive matter with a client, addressing a disagreement with a loved one, or standing firm on my values, I embrace these moments with confidence and integrity. The freedom and empowerment I’ve gained from facing my fear of confrontation have been transformative, both in my business and my personal life. — Gary Gower Jr., G&L’s Sign Factory, Bethlehem, PA
  • Make sure the proper safety measures are in place to determine if your feelings are fear of hurting yourself or if it’s just the natural fear of trying something new. If there’s a safety concern, address it immediately. If trying something new is worrying you, just think of how much of a badass you will be once you conquer it. Celebrate these things. If you are not moving forward you are moving backward! — Sara Geiger, Fox Cities Sign, Appleton, WI
  • We must remember that fear is taught. We have so many tools from the internet at our disposal. Before I take on a new task, I research and find reputable sources. However, I also rely heavily on my natural insights from prior experience. — Earl Walker, Image360 Tucker, Tucker, GA
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Break It Down

  • When coaching my team, we break down their fears or concerns into smaller pieces… When you want to become better at public speaking … start small at a networking or Chamber event … work your way up to bigger presentations … and then speaking engagements. The key part here is to set a plan in place! — Bob Chapa, National Branding | Signarama Troy, Troy, MI
  • When I first started my signs business, I was driving to a very complex/stressful sign install. I read a church message board on the way that said, “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” I think about that quite often when things start to go sideways on a job and have shared it with my two sons. — Dennis Schaub, FastTrack Signs, Bellefontaine, OH
  • Try, make small manageable steps. Day by day you’ll get through it. — Mary Hester, Dragon Prints, Roxboro, NC
  • Just try to do one small thing at a time. Keep in mind that “95% of something is better than 100% of nothing.” It is nice to look and reap the rewards of what’s done. — Louise Jackson, Signs of Art Graphic Design, Philadelphia
  • Walk away — go do something unrelated to business for at least a week or two. When returning it will be with new vision and enthusiasm. — Jeff Thomas, Crossroad Sign, Lynnwood, WA
  • I’m not going with fear at all in any of these proposed answers. Usually it is the unknown and having never done it before. Thus, baby steps, smaller shorter goals lead the way. People don’t do it because they don’t know they need to, then they don’t know how to do what they are asked to do. — Edward DeZuzio, Butler Sign Co., Wayne, NJ
  • The most important step always comes at the beginning… which is to just take that first step. Once [it’s] taken, you’re already on your way. — Mark Marshall, Bakers’ Signs & Manufacturing, Conroe, TX

Seek Support

  • Try leaning on others within the organization in times of need, or an outside advisory group/EOS implementor. Reading books, listening to podcasts and overall positive vibes can help to guide the way. — Shaun Ensign, Legacy Sign Group, Westville, IN
  • Ensure that you have folks in your circle that are worthy to look up to as well as will push you to be a better person. I see so many times out of convenience that we surround ourselves with people who are just like we are, inhibiting or at least slowing down our growth potential in the process. — Matt Baker, Bakers’ Signs & Manufacturing, Conroe, TX
  • I don’t remember where I got this, but a bit of wisdom that has stuck with me is, “If you want help, ask for advice. If you want advice, ask for help.” — Dave Hostios, Trav-Ad Signs, Huntsville, AL
  • Not to be sexist, but get some women into decision-making positions. Men are more resistant to change. — KC Rutiaga, Fresno Neon Sign Co., Fresno, CA

The Worst Seldom Happens

  • Seriously consider, what is the worst thing that can happen? Most of the time that will not happen, and if it does, you have considered it, and you are prepared for it. Usually you will get good results or poor results. But you have learned something, perhaps a change that will give you great results. But you will have to try again. — Jasper Burton, Cuerden Sign Co., Conway, AR
  • Do the hard thing! My mind tends to consider every possible scenario and focuses on the absolute worst. This is typically the cause of any delay. Instead, I try to focus on what I need to do and not on what I can’t control and what might happen. Usually what does end up happening is far better than I anticipated and actually could have been easier had I just done it earlier. — Russell Toynes, Studio Dzo, Austin, TX
  • Just be aware that the worst that could happen seldom does. — Mike McClure, Ad Art, San Francisco

Obey Your Instincts

  • Listen to your gut. — Mary Gasca, Redrum Graphics, Simi Valley, CA
  • I have to listen to inner intuition more and quit letting my left brain dictate everything. — Carey Gray, CAT Graphics Inc., Great Falls, MT
  • If your gut says, “let’s not do this,” it’s probably not a good idea. — Mike Crosley, Northeastern Sign Corp., South Colton, NY

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Opportunity For Growth

  • Getting out of your comfort zone may result in a failure or setback. But oftentimes, it’s in these moments we grow the most. — Stuart Stein, Stein Sign Display, Watertown, SD
  • I always try to tackle one new initiative every year, to learn about it and deep dive into it. Often it’s something I don’t know a lot about. This keeps my mind fresh and makes me a better designer going forward. — Keith Davis, KRD Design, Chester Springs, PA
  • Taking on the role of center manager has really pushed me outside of my comfort zone in general, but I am constantly looking to grow and looking for ways to improve my leadership style and ways of making our company grow. The next step for me is to really hold people accountable for the small stuff and have those conversations early on. — Jess Otte, Fastsigns of Columbus, Columbus, IN
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[For our related articles, “22 Ways to Try Uncomfortable New Things,” click here and “Sign Pros Prepare For Hard But Important Tasks” click here.]

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