Traditionally, boys and men are encouraged to engage in a wide variety of risk-taking endeavors and have plenty of opportunities to do so. Girls and women, however, are encouraged to conform and play by the rules.

As a woman business owner and as a coach of women in business, I've seen that no matter how successful we get, we all eventually hit the edge of our comfort zone, limiting our ability to take risks.

For some this zone is smaller than others. That learned behavior of conformity combines with the self-limiting beliefs we've adopted over the years and holds us back from taking even the smallest of risks.

What's exciting is that now, more then ever, women are well poised to break through these cultural and gender stereotypes. We CAN change our behavior and challenge our limiting beliefs.

Risk is an opportunity to shift your thinking and stretch out of your comfort zone; the willingness to try a new behavior or a different thinking style. The more risks we take, the higher our chances are of being successful. And the more personal success we experience, the more confidence we will feel.

I'm sure there are things you've done in the past that were a risk to try, and that some of these resulted in feelings of joy you couldn't have imagined.

I know that every time I stepped into fear or away from comfort, I grew, I learned something new about me, I adapted and I expressed my potential more fully.

So instead of seeing risk as a hurdle, a mountain to climb or a barrier to your success, I invite you to look at risk as your ally. Taking a risk is a chance to build trust in yourself and allow yourself to show up and passionately claim WHO you really are.

What risks do you need to take to achieve your next level of success?

Here are some questions to get you started:

1.What would you do if you knew you COULD NOT FAIL?
2. Where are the boundaries of your comfort zone now?
3. How could you expand those boundaries by taking a risk?

Think big here; don't get stuck wondering how you'll do it. For now, just focus on defining the ways you might step out of your comfort zone.

You'll know when you've found some risks worth taking, because you'll feel it in your body. Knots of nervousness, fear and excitement in your stomach, maybe your head will even be spinning a bit.

You might want to run in the other direction, or get into a debate with yourself about why the risk is impossible.

The more resistance you're feeling, the closer you probably are to identifying the most important risk you need to take right now to step out of your comfort zone and into your next level of success.

Remember, "behind every successful woman is herself." - Anonymous

You can do this!