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The Genius Questions: Discovering What You Love to Do
Todd Giannattasio
March 02, 2024
It’s time to unlock your full potential with The Genius Questions.
Too many people spend their days dreaming of a career or a life that feels more aligned with our passions and strengths.
The Big Leap book by Gay Hendricks shines a light on this very issue, offering a powerful set of questions to help us find our way.
These aren't just any questions; they're designed to steer us towards what Hendricks calls our Zone of Genius—the place where our deepest passions and unique abilities converge.
The Four Genius Questions To Ask Yourself
Hendricks introduces four Genius Questions in The Big Leap, each a beacon guiding us toward discovering our true calling:
1. What do I most love to do? (I love it so much that I can do it for long stretches of time without getting bored or tired.)
2. What work do I do that doesn’t seem like work? (I can do this kind of work all day without ever feeling tired or bored.)
3. In my work, what produces the highest ratio of abundance and satisfaction to the amount of time spent? (Even if I only do a few minutes of it, an idea or deeper connection often appears and eventually leads to huge value.)
4. What is my unique ability? (This is my special skill that, when fully realized and put to work, can provide enormous benefits to me and any organization I serve.)
These questions aren't just thought experiments.
They're tools for introspection, designed to peel back the layers of our daily routines and reveal what truly makes us tick.
Three Unique-Ability Questions to Help Find Your Zone Of Genius
Beyond the Genius Questions, Hendricks offers three additional queries to help us drill down into our Zone of Genius:
1. I am at my best when I am ____.
2. When I am at my best, the exact thing I am doing is ____.
3. When I am doing this, the thing I love most about it is ____.
These questions require honesty and vulnerability.
They ask us to look beyond the surface, beyond what we're good at or what pays well, to find what lights us up from the inside.
Applying the Genius Questions to Your Life
Answering these questions isn't always easy.
It requires time, quiet, and reflection.
It might mean setting aside an hour in your day, finding a quiet space, and really digging deep. Write down your answers.
Look for patterns.
What you discover might surprise you.
Tips for Applying the Genius Questions
Set aside dedicated time in a distraction-free environment to contemplate these questions.
Write your answers in a journal, and don't rush. Let your thoughts flow freely.
Discuss your findings with a trusted friend or mentor who can offer insights and encouragement.
Overcoming Barriers to Living in Your Zone of Genius
It's one thing to identify your Zone of Genius, another to live in it.
Fear, self-doubt, and external pressures can all steer us away from our true path.
Challenge these barriers by reaffirming your worth, embracing risk, and gradually incorporating your passions into your daily life.
How To Overcome Barriers
Identify fears that hold you back and confront them with evidence of your past successes.
Take small, manageable steps each day towards activities that align with your Zone of Genius.
Seek out communities or individuals who support and inspire your journey towards living in your Zone of Genius.
Finding What You Love And Aligning Your Life With It
The journey to discovering and embracing your Zone of Genius through the Genius and Unique-Ability Questions is transformative.
It's about more than finding what you love; it's about aligning your life with it.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks doesn't just ask us to dream big—it gives us the tools to make those dreams our reality.
Your answers to these questions might evolve, just as you do.
Keep revisiting them, keep refining your understanding of your Zone of Genius, and keep taking steps, however small, towards a life that fully embraces your unique abilities and passions.
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