I think... everyone needs a friend who will give you a pat on the hand and push you out of your comfort zone. Not because the friend is being mean, but because the friend believes so much in your potential that it seems a waste that you are hindering your own success by staying in the security of your comfort zone.

And even more importantly, everyone needs a voice in the head that will do just that, in case the friend is too far away from you to do that.