My Zone of Genius
When I am exposed to something new and I’m learning, I get really really excited. So much so that I usually can’t contain my excitement. It consumes me. I want to learn all of the things. I want to research, dig, search, and see things unravel. I want to try out the techniques I hear or read about. I want to try leadership tips or facilitation techniques. And when I do, when I put my new tricks into action and see what happens, it lights me up. It energizes me and I feel drawn closer to my zone of genius.
The zone of genius, the type of work that feels effortless. This work produces the most satisfaction for me. This stuff that energizes me shows up when I am given the opportunity to collaborate while learning, experimenting, and strategizing. And not just strategizing for the sake of the word but actually developing a strategy, implementing it, and seeing what happens. Being a catalyst for change where I am able to bring my best and whole self to the game, that is my zone of genius. I feel the most full in my life and the most energized when I can share what I’ve learned and mistakes I’ve made with inquiring minds. Maybe it will help them today, or maybe it will help them tomorrow, but the act of being generous in service of helping others or inspiring others is what really lights me up.
My zone of excellence was what has led me up to this point and it’s where I’ve spent the bulk of my professional life, but as time goes on and my career has evolved, that is no longer enough for me. I need more.
This past year, I’ve felt these moments of being “in my zone” more and more. The first time I really felt this was at my team offsite last July. It was inspiring, energizing, emotional, and engaging. The second time I felt in my zone was in Australia working alongside Simon McSorley. It was also energizing and engaging. I felt this again in March, the last time I saw most of my team in person before Covid. We were ready to tackle the world. For April and May, it’s easy to say my zone of genius was so far away it felt like another planet. There were some wins here or there with clients but it was merely in the zone of excellence, it was just delivering on the work as expected, but it wasn’t bringing me to my state of flow. But just like that, June hit, then July and I just started my altMBA and here I am again. Feeling grateful to be pulled back into my zone, where putting in the work feels effortless and I am in a state of flow. Like everything that was blocking me for the last few months has somehow evaporated and I am right where I need to be, ready to tackle the next new interesting thing.
What is your zone of genius and you have you been able to hone in on it? As you do an inventory of where you get your energy, you may be surprised, it’s not always what you think that is really filling up your cup. I encourage you to think about the moments in your life that you’ve felt like you’ve really hit your stride or felt energized by what you’re working on or who you’re working with.
