Commit to Living in your Zone of Genius

Summary

The script emphasizes the importance of conscious leadership's eighth commitment to living in one's 'zone of genius.' It explains that this involves stepping out of areas of incompetence, competence, and excellence to focus on what one does best and loves most. This courageous move can feel risky, as it challenges the status quo of success based on competence. The concept of 'genius' is clarified as one's unique, effortless ability that offers a disproportionate return on energy invested, regardless of external rewards. The script invites leaders to confront their beliefs and fears about embracing their true genius, which is a hallmark of conscious leadership.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Commitment to living in one's 'zone of genius' is a courageous act that requires leaders to redefine their time and energy investment.
• 🔍 People often seek to understand their strengths and weaknesses through assessments and surveys to identify their 'zone of genius'.
• 🛑 Moving out of zones of incompetence, competence, and excellence can feel risky but is necessary for embracing one's 'zone of genius'.
• 🏆 The 'zone of excellence' is where individuals excel and are often rewarded, but it may not be their true 'zone of genius'.
• 🔄 The 'zone of competence' is where tasks are performed adequately but without exceptional results, often serving as a time filler.
• 🚫 Some leaders may still engage in activities they are incompetent at, which can hinder their growth and effectiveness.
• 🤔 The concept of 'genius' can be intimidating, but it simply refers to one's unique abilities and talents that come naturally.
• ⏳ Being in the 'zone of genius' often results in losing track of time and feeling a sense of effortless accomplishment.
• 💡 'Genius' is not just about what one is paid for, but rather the activities that one would engage in regardless of external rewards.
• 🚀 Beliefs about the consequences of living in one's 'zone of genius' can be limiting, such as fears of financial instability or jealousy from others.
• 🛠 Transitioning to the 'zone of genius' involves overcoming these limiting beliefs and embracing one's unique talents as a conscious leader.

Q & A

What is the 'zone of genius' according to the script?

The 'zone of genius' refers to the area where an individual excels effortlessly and uniquely, doing something they love and do well without concern for compensation or recognition.

Why is living in one's 'zone of genius' considered a courageous commitment?

It is courageous because it involves moving away from areas of incompetence, competence, and excellence, which can feel risky as it requires changing the way one invests time and energy.

What is the difference between a 'zone of excellence' and a 'zone of genius'?

A 'zone of excellence' is where one does things exceptionally well, often better than most, and is typically rewarded for it. A 'zone of genius,' on the other hand, is where one's unique talents and passions lie, and it often feels effortless.

Why do people often stay in their 'zone of competence'?

People stay in their 'zone of competence' because they perform tasks adequately, similar to others, and it becomes a time filler, a part of their routine life without the need for significant change or risk.

What are some common fears or beliefs that might prevent someone from embracing their 'zone of genius'?

Common fears include the belief that they might go broke, outshine others and face jealousy and resentment, or that it would create a burden. These beliefs can deter individuals from fully committing to their unique talents and passions.

How does living in one's 'zone of incompetence' affect a leader or an individual?

Living in one's 'zone of incompetence' means spending time on tasks they are not good at, which can be inefficient and unproductive, potentially hindering personal and professional growth.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between success and living in one's 'zone of excellence'?

The script suggests that many people have become successful by living in their 'zone of excellence,' where they perform exceptionally well and are rewarded and promoted for their skills.

Why is it important for leaders to identify and live in their 'zone of genius'?

It is important because leaders who live in their 'zone of genius' can leverage their unique talents to make a disproportionate impact, inspire others, and drive innovation and success within their organizations.

What is the significance of the 'zone of genius' in the context of conscious leadership?

In the context of conscious leadership, living in the 'zone of genius' is a defining trait that helps leaders to authentically express their unique abilities and contribute meaningfully to their teams and organizations.

How can leaders assess whether they are in their 'zone of genius'?

Leaders can assess this by reflecting on activities that they find effortless, enjoyable, and that lose track of time while doing, and whether they would do these activities even without external rewards.

What steps can be taken to transition from other zones to the 'zone of genius'?

Leaders can take steps such as self-assessment, seeking feedback, identifying their unique strengths and passions, and gradually reallocating time and energy towards activities that align with their 'zone of genius'.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Embracing the Zone of Genius

The script discusses the eighth commitment of conscious leadership, which is to live within one's 'zone of genius.' This concept is often intriguing to leaders and teams, who are eager to understand their strengths and areas of excellence. The commitment is described as courageous because it involves stepping away from areas of incompetence, competence, and even excellence to focus on what one does best and uniquely. This transition can feel risky, as many have achieved success in their zone of excellence, where they perform exceptionally well and are recognized and rewarded for it. However, the zone of genius is where one's unique talents and abilities lie, and it's something that is done effortlessly and with passion, regardless of external rewards. The challenge is to overcome fears such as financial instability or the potential for jealousy from others, and to make the bold choice to invest time and energy in one's zone of genius, which is a hallmark of conscious leadership.

Keywords

💡Conscious Leadership

Conscious Leadership refers to a style of leadership that emphasizes self-awareness, ethical decision-making, and the ability to inspire and empower others. In the video, it is the overarching theme, with the script discussing the 15 commitments that embody this philosophy. The concept is central to understanding the message that leaders should be living in alignment with their values and purpose.

💡Zone of Genius

The 'Zone of Genius' is a concept that describes the area where an individual excels naturally and effortlessly. It is the place where one's talents and passions intersect, leading to a high level of performance and satisfaction. The video encourages leaders to identify and live within this zone, as it is where they can have the most significant impact and feel most fulfilled.

💡Commitment

In the context of the video, 'commitment' is one of the 15 pledges that leaders are encouraged to make as part of their conscious leadership journey. Specifically, commitment number eight is the focus, which is about living in one's 'Zone of Genius'. This commitment is portrayed as a courageous act that requires leaders to reassess how they invest their time and energy.

💡Incompetence

In the script, 'incompetence' is used to describe areas where a leader may not perform well or lacks skills. The video suggests that leaders should move out of their zones of incompetence, which can be a risky but necessary step to focus on their strengths and passions, rather than spending time on activities they are not good at.

💡Competence

'Competence' in the video refers to areas where a leader performs adequately but not exceptionally. It is described as a 'time filler' and a place where leaders may be doing 'government work' of their lives. The script encourages moving beyond mere competence to reach one's 'Zone of Genius'.

💡Excellence

Excellence is portrayed as the area where a leader performs exceptionally well, often better than most people. While it may have been the 'go-to thing' for much of a leader's career, the video suggests that it may not be their 'Zone of Genius'. Excellence is something that is often rewarded but may not necessarily be where one's unique talents lie.

💡Risk

The concept of 'risk' is introduced in the context of moving out of one's comfort zones of competence and excellence to live in the 'Zone of Genius'. The video acknowledges that this transition can feel risky, as it involves stepping away from what has made one successful in the past.

💡Genius

In the video, 'genius' is not about being exceptionally intelligent or talented in the traditional sense. Instead, it is about one's unique abilities and passions that come naturally and effortlessly. The script explains that being in one's 'Zone of Genius' results in a disproportionate return on energy invested and a loss of track of time due to deep engagement.

💡Self-assessment

Self-assessment is the process of evaluating one's own skills, strengths, and areas for improvement. The video mentions that people often seek to understand themselves better through assessments and surveys. It is a critical step in identifying one's 'Zone of Genius'.

💡Beliefs

The script discusses 'beliefs' as the internal thoughts and perceptions that may influence whether a leader is willing to step into their 'Zone of Genius'. These beliefs can include fears of failure, jealousy from others, or the burden of responsibility that comes with living out one's unique talents.

💡Defining Trait

A 'defining trait' is a characteristic that sets someone apart and is essential to their identity. In the context of the video, living in one's 'Zone of Genius' is described as a defining trait of conscious leaders, suggesting that it is a key attribute that distinguishes them from others.

Highlights

Commitment number eight of the 15 commitments of conscious leadership emphasizes living in one's zone of genius.

People often seek to understand their zone of genius through assessments and surveys.

Living in the zone of genius is a courageous commitment that involves moving away from zones of incompetence, competence, and excellence.

Leaders may need to change how they invest their time and energy, which can feel risky.

Most people have become successful in their zone of excellence, which is not necessarily their zone of genius.

The zone of competence is where people perform well but not exceptionally, often serving as a time filler.

Some leaders continue to spend time in their zone of incompetence, despite not being good at certain tasks.

The term 'genius' can be off-putting, but it simply refers to one's unique, effortless abilities.

Genius is associated with activities that one does effortlessly and for which they receive a disproportionate return on energy invested.

People in their zone of genius often lose track of time and do what they love regardless of payment.

Beliefs about living in one's zone of genius can include fears of financial failure or outshining others.

Conscious leaders are willing to transition out of their zones of incompetence, competence, and excellence to live in their zone of genius.

The concept of genius is redefined as one's unique abilities rather than extraordinary talent.

Leaders are encouraged to face their fears and embrace their zone of genius for personal and professional growth.

Living in one's zone of genius can lead to a more fulfilling and impactful leadership role.

The transcript challenges traditional notions of success and encourages leaders to redefine their approach to work and life.

Leaders are urged to reassess their time and energy investments to align with their zone of genius.

Transcripts

commitment number eight of the 15

commitments of conscious leadership says

I commit to live in my zone of genius

now when we work with leaders and teams

and organizations it's often very common

that people will say what's my zone of

genius people love to know about

themselves they'd like to take

assessments they'd like to take surveys

they want to learn about themselves they

want to know what is it that I do really

well but what we've discovered over the

years is this is a courageous commitment

because when a leader decides to live in

their zone of genius they're deciding to

move out of their zones of incompetence

competence and excellence they're gonna

change the way they invest their time

and energy in the world and this will

always feel risky to see most of us have

become incredibly successful living in

our zone of excellence our zone of

excellence there are things that we do

exceptionally well we do it better than

most people and when we do it people

respond we get paid for it we get

promoted this has been our go-to thing

for much of our career but it's not our

own of genius or people spend time in

their zone of competence this is stuff

that I do pretty well I do it about as

well as anybody else and it becomes a

time filler it's just kind of doing the

government work of our lives and people

get used to doing their zone of

competence some leaders are still

spending time doing things they're

incompetent at they're not good at

organizing their files they're still

organizing their files they're

incompetent at hiring people they're

still in the hiring process they're

incompetent at speaking they're still

speaking you see when you face into this

commitment you have to ask yourself am I

willing to be in my zone of genius now

what is genius that word turns some

people off they think that Beethoven was

a genius or the Rolling Stones are

genius genius just means attendant

spirit it means that which has been in

you

all of your life your uniqueness genius

is that thing that you do effortlessly

and easily and when you do it you lose

track of time when you're in your zone

of genius you get a disproportionate

return on the investment of energy

expended genius is that thing that you

do that believe it or not you do whether

you got paid for it or not but whenever

we think about the zone of genius we

think could I really do that which I

love so much what comes into our mind

are all of our beliefs about what would

happen if we devoted ourselves to our

zone of genius beliefs like we'd go

broke that's the starving artist who

lives in their genius but goes broke or

we think if I really lived in my genius

I'd out shine everybody around me and

I'd have to live with the experience of

people being jealous and resentful or we

think if I lived in my genius it would

just create burden so the question are

you willing to live in your zone of

genius and transition out of your zones

of incompetence competence and

excellence this is a defining trait of

conscious leaders