Ramunas Berkmanas Of Ramberk On How to Grow Beyond Your Comfort Zone to Grow Both Personally and Professionally

An Interview With Maria Angelova

Practice self-care. Taking care of yourself can be a form of self-improvement and personal growth. If you’re not used to taking time for yourself, try stepping out of your comfort zone and making self-care a priority. This could mean setting aside time for hobbies, exercising, or simply taking a break and relaxing.

It feels most comfortable to stick with what we are familiar with. But anyone who has achieved great success will tell you that true growth comes from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. What are some ways that influential people have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone to grow both personally and professionally? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ramunas Berkmanas.

Ramunas Berkmanas is an expert in the digital marketing industry with expertise in SEO, media buying, affiliate marketing, analytics and digital business management. He has been working online as a full-stack marketer since 2014 and advocates for pushing boundaries and taking risks to achieve success. Ramunas is also an avid blogger, you can find all of his latest writings on his blog at ramberk.com.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

I was born and raised in Lithuania, a small country in Eastern Europe. From a young age, I was surrounded by nature and my family’s deep sense of freedom. I had the privilege of being able to choose who I wanted to be, but this also led to times of confusion as I struggled to find my purpose in life. Nevertheless, my family instilled within me the importance of taking risks and staying true to myself no matter what obstacles I faced. This mindset has been integral in helping me pursue my goals and build a successful career as an entrepreneur.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite life lesson quote is, “It is not the destination, but the journey that matters.” This quote has been extremely relevant to me in my life. As I pursue my goals, it reminds me that the outcome should not be my primary focus. Instead, I need to enjoy and appreciate every step of the way. This mantra has enabled me to stay motivated and grow as an individual along my path to success.

Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

One book that made a significant impact on me is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It has helped me to become more aware of my thoughts and feelings, and to be more mindful in each moment. Through this book, I learned to recognize and accept those thoughts and feelings without judgement or fear, allowing me to be fully present in the moment. It has also taught me to find stillness within myself and to appreciate even the most mundane moments of life. The Power of Now has been a powerful reminder that I am capable of tapping into peace, joy, and love at any time if I just stay present.

Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. What does “getting outside of your comfort zone” mean?

Getting outside of your comfort zone simply means stepping out of your usual routine and doing something unfamiliar. It can be a physical activity, such as trying a new sport or going to a foreign country, or it can be a mental task like learning something completely new or taking on an unfamiliar challenge. By pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone, we can become more open to new experiences, build resilience and confidence, and foster growth in both our personal and professional lives.

Can you help articulate a few reasons why it is important to get out of your comfort zone?

Have you ever noticed that whenever you try something new or step out of your comfort zone, you usually end up learning something valuable or having a really memorable experience? That’s because getting out of your comfort zone is a great way to challenge yourself and grow as a person. It can help you develop new skills, overcome fears and challenges, stimulate your creativity, and boost your confidence. Plus, it’s a great way to open yourself up to new experiences and ideas, and it can even lead to increased happiness.

Is it possible to grow without leaving your comfort zone? Can you explain what you mean?

It is possible to grow without leaving your comfort zone, but the growth may be limited. When we stay in our comfort zone, we become comfortable with certain routines, behaviors and habits and can often be resistant to change or trying something new. This can lead to stagnation and a lack of personal development.

Can you share some anecdotes from your personal experience? Can you share a story about a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and how it helped you grow? How does it feel to take those first difficult steps?

Since school, I had an interest in programming but never had the opportunity to try it. So, a few years ago, I decided to take up programming classes, even though I had no prior knowledge or experience with computer coding. Taking those classes opened up a whole new world for me and added valuable skills to my marketer arsenal. It was daunting at first, but with every accomplishment I felt more motivated and inspired to keep learning. In the end, pushing past my own boundaries was incredibly rewarding and has tremendously broadened my horizons.

Here is the central question of our discussion. What are your “five ways to push past your comfort zone, to grow both personally and professionally”?

1. Take classes or try something new. Taking classes in something you’ve always been interested in is an excellent way to challenge yourself and learn new skills. Even if you don’t have prior knowledge or experience, having the courage to take a class can be incredibly rewarding. As I did with programming classes even though I had no prior experience with coding. It was daunting at first but with every accomplishment, I felt more motivated to keep learning.
2. Talk to new people. Engaging with people who come from different backgrounds and experiences can open doors for you that you never knew existed before! On top of expanding your social circle, getting out of your comfort zone and conversing with strangers can provide unique opportunities for learning and personal growth.
3. Practice self-care. Taking care of yourself can be a form of self-improvement and personal growth. If you’re not used to taking time for yourself, try stepping out of your comfort zone and making self-care a priority. This could mean setting aside time for hobbies, exercising, or simply taking a break and relaxing.
4. Share your thoughts and opinions. If you’re used to keeping your thoughts and opinions to yourself, try stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing them with others. This could be in a group setting, through writing, or even through public speaking. Sharing your ideas and opinions can help you develop your communication skills and build confidence.
5. Seek feedback. Asking for feedback from others can be intimidating, but it can also be a valuable way to grow and improve. Whether it’s in your personal or professional life, seeking feedback from others can help you identify areas for growth and development.

From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that keep someone from pushing out of their comfort zone?

There are many factors that can contribute to someone feeling hesitant or unwilling to step out of their comfort zone. Some common barriers include fear, lack of confidence, lack of motivation, limited resources, past experiences, and social pressure.

For example, someone might be afraid to try a new activity because they are worried about failing or being judged. They might lack the confidence in their abilities or feel unmotivated if they don’t see the value in doing so. Limited resources, such as time or money, can also make it difficult for people to take on new challenges. Past experiences, whether positive or negative, can also shape how someone approaches new situations. Finally, social pressure from friends, family, or society can make it difficult for people to try new things or take risks that go against the norm.

There is a well-known quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “Do something that scares you every day”. What exactly does this mean to you? Is there inherent value in doing something that pushes you out of your comfort zone, even if it does not relate to personal or professional growth? For example, if one is uncomfortable about walking alone at night should they purposely push themselves to do it often for the sake of going beyond their comfort zone? Can you please explain what you mean?

To me, the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt is a reminder to challenge ourselves and push past our comfort zones. Doing something that scares us can be an important part of personal and professional growth, as it helps us build resilience and gain confidence in our abilities. However, this doesn’t mean that we should do something dangerous just for the sake of pushing beyond our comfort zone.

For example, if someone is uncomfortable walking alone at night, they should use caution and choose not to do so unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s important to recognize when taking a risk is worth it and when it isn’t. In other words, pushing our boundaries isn’t about ignoring safety or common sense — it’s about being mindful of where we want to go and taking measured risks in order to get there.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, it would be a movement of mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, allowing for better self-awareness and understanding of how we interact with the world around us. Practicing mindful awareness brings about many benefits such as reducing stress, cultivating empathy, improving concentration, and enhancing creativity. By embracing these values, we can create an environment of love and acceptance that will lead to a happier, more harmonious society.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

If I could have lunch with any person in the world, it would be Mark Manson. He is an insightful and thought-provoking author who has made a major impact on the self-help genre. His writing is filled with powerful insights and lessons that challenge us to think deeply about our lives and strive for meaningful growth. Lunch with Mark would no doubt be an enlightening experience.

How can our readers follow you online?

Readers can follow me on my blog ramberk.com, Instagram @theramberk and Twitter @theramberk.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.