Pursley Pep Talks: The “Comfort Zone” Trap

Swimming World will publish a collection of coaching perspectives written by Alabama head swimming coach Dennis Pursley. This is the 20th installment of a series that will be rolled out throughout the coming months.

THE “COMFORT ZONE” TRAP

Many years ago at a coaches’ conference, one of the presenters made a statement that has stuck with me ever since. I have forgotten his name and the theme of his presentation, but I still remember this simple phrase that has had a lasting effect on my life: “The best choice is usually the most difficult choice.” This little secret has been discovered by everyone who has achieved significant levels of success in any field of endeavor.

The natural inclination for most of us is to seek our comfort zone, to shy away from new and unfamiliar challenges. Personal growth, however, is attained precisely through challenging ourselves to step out of our comfort zone in pursuit of our oals. If we fail to do this, we are unlikely to experience progress, success and fulfillment. Although we all long for it, a comfortable life is rarely a productive life.

There are endless applications of this principle in the many choices and decisions we make regarding our involvement with competitive swimming: the level of commitment to preparation and lifestyle we are willing to make in and out of the pool, the challenge to respond to the alarm clock on a dark and cold winter morning, our reaction to a challenge set that requires us to step up to a higher level of performance, the challenge to conform to team protocol when it deviates from our normal routine and personal preferences…and the list goes on.

If we are to realize our full potential as a team and as individuals, we must constantly be on guard against falling into the “comfort zone” trap. Are we willing to do whatever it takes (consistent with our values and moral principles) to achieve the desired result? Rather than base our choices and decisions on our personal preferences and natural inclinations, we must base them on their relationship to our goals and aspirations. More often than not, these are the most difficult choices and decisions.

About Dennis Pursley

After getting his start as a volunteer coach on Don Gambril’s first Alabama staff, current Alabama head coach Dennis Pursley has gone on to one of the most extraordinary careers in the sport of swimming, a career that led him to be named one of the 25 most influential people in the history of USA Swimming in 2003.

Pursley has helmed coaching staffs throughout the world, including stops as the first head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport, the inaugural director of the United States National Team and most recently the head coach of Great Britain’s 2012 Olympic squad. Pursley returned to the deck in 2003 as the head coach of the Brophy East Swim Team in Phoenix Ariz., before becoming the head coach of British Swimming in 2008.

Pursley and his wife Mary Jo have five children, Lisa, Brian, David, Steven and J.J. Lisa and David have joined him on the Alabama staff.

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Liz (Grant) Dillmann

9 years ago

I swam for the Australian Institute of Sport in 1983, chiefly under Bill Sweetenham, but Dennis was there and I’m familiar with his coaching, and his preference for Marmite over Vegemite! He is truly a driven and talented coach.
I have a junior son in HS, a butterflier, who is ranked 4th in Illinois on collegeswimming.com if you’re interested in watching his progress.

Bob Wynkoop

9 years ago

I had the privilege of swimming for Coach Pursley in the late 70’s at Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville. The comfort zone trap is a typical “Dennyism” which demonstrates his value to me as a person; he was preaching and teaching these life lessons long before he was a famous guy…. His influence extends far beyond swimming to those with whom he has touched. I will always regret and wonder “what if…” If I had taken his offer, out of my comfort zone, and followed him to further my swimming career; ironically getting out of my comfort zone allowed me to attend medical school and practice emergency medicine for decades, to be successful in my personal and professional life, directly extending from his life lessons of dedication and perseverance.