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Zone of Genius
I just completed reading the book “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks. It was written 10 years ago, but the truths are still evident. In the book Gay talks about finding and living in your Zone of Genius.
We all have one, but why don’t we live in it all of the time? When I think back to the most shining example of that place —being in the zone — I immediately gravitate to “the shot” and Michael Jordan. He defied gravity and sunk the winning shot at the buzzer to propel Chicago towards their run of titles. An unbelievable moment, willed to happen by arguably one of the planet’s greatest athletes, who up until that moment was struggling to close out the game.
As I think about finding my own Zone of Genius, I hold that Jordan moment as a mental framework of that “feeling” — the euphoric moment when you are in your element and that inner magic is pouring out. Somewhat unconsciously and inexplicable as to why and how. It is just there and you are drawing on the power of it.
That is what it is like for me when I connect dots and solve a client’s narrative. The passion of digging in to see what makes the client tick. The investigation of the market, the category, the clients, the channels, the culture and the chasm that exists between the aspirations of the vision and the ultimate delivery of the goods. The conversations that are not happening. The void. The opportunity.
