How Working In Your “Zone of Genius“ Makes Work More Enjoyable

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What’s your first reaction when you hear the word work? Do you feel a sense of dread and a low-level buzz of anxiety, or do you feel a sense of purpose, accomplishment, even excitement?

If you fall in the first camp, it’s definitely time to change your zone. And even if you are good at what you do and mostly enjoy it, changing your zone could make work an even more fulfilling experience.

According to Gay Hendrix, author of The Big Leap, there are four zones we function in: 

  1. The Zone of Incompetence: these are things you just aren’t good at.
  2. The Zone of Competence: these are things you can do, but aren’t something you are great at.
  3. The Zone of Excellence: this is where most people who enjoy work land. People in their zone of excellence are doing things they are really good at, are comfortable doing, and often can earn a really good living doing.
  4. The Zone of Genius: Someone in their Zone of Genius feels like they are exactly where they are meant to be. When they are working in this zone, they lose track of time, feel alive, feel the most like themselves. It’s the thing that they are uniquely and naturally talented at. 

People often get stuck in their Zone of Excellence, which makes sense: it’s full of things they are really good at. But eventually, people get bored in this zone. They aren’t doing the thing that makes them feel alive, the thing they were created to do. When someone can transition to their Zone of Genius—even for a small part of the day—it transforms things. Work goes from a dreaded “must-do” to an enjoyable activity. Creativity, ideas, and energy are unlocked. Lives are changed.

So: how do you figure out your Zone of Genius?

  1. Make a list of things you are good at
  2. Go through the list and highlight the items that you most look forward to, the ones that make you feel “in the zone”
  3. Look through the highlighted items for patterns. What do they have in common? 
  4. Start paying attention to how you feel when you do these tasks. What deserves to make it on a new list: Zone of Genius. 
  5. Think about how you can integrate items on your Zone of Genius list into your daily work. If it’s not possible in your current work situation, consider starting (or rekindling) a passion project instead. Even a few minutes a day dedicated to doing something in your Zone of Genius can make an impact.

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5 Creative Ways to Monetize Your Passion

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Side hustles. The gig economy. It seems like everyone is talking about ways to make money doing what you love these days. If you’ve been wanting to try and see if you, too, can make money off your passions, read on for 5 creative ideas!

Make a product: If you love to make things, consider selling them. Bake cupcakes, hand-pour candles, make small batch soap, or start painting–there are thousands of options! Think of ways you can put a little twist on your product to make it stand out from others: maybe each bar of soap has a prize inside or instead of painting on canvas you are painting tote bags or the covers of journals. Once you’ve determined your product and your creative twist,  start an Etsy shop or look around your town for somewhere where you can rent a booth or participate in pop-up markets.

Share your expertise: What are you an expert in? Do you keep up with all the latest social media trends? Are you a stickler for grammar? Or is organizing closets and garages your idea of a perfect Saturday? These are all things people will pay you to do for them! You can use sites like Upwork or Fiverr to find virtual jobs, or local Facebook groups or NextDoor to find in-person opportunities.

Create content: It isn’t the fastest way to make money, but it can be lucrative for those who are able to find and connect with an audience. Consider starting a blog, podcast, or a YouTube channel to try out earning with advertising revenue. Or, if you have content you think people will pay directly for, perhaps setting up a Patreon account or creating a course to sell is the way to go. 

Print on Demand: If you love graphic design or art, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of an inventory-based business, consider uploading your designs to print-on-demand sites like Society 6 or Spoonflower. Your cut may be smaller than if you were handling the whole process, but once you get your art uploaded, it can be a relatively passive income stream.

Flip Items: If you can spend hours hunting for treasures at estate sales, yard sales, and thrift stores, consider flipping items. If you have a good eye for finding diamonds in the rough, you might be able to make some money turning one person’s trash into someone else’s treasure. Utilize Facebook’s Buy-Sell-Trade groups or Marketplace, apps like Poshmark, or if finding vintage knickknacks is your specialty, consider renting space in your local antique store. 

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t start making money right away; it can take time to build up a business. But with a little hard work and imagination, you can move some of your favorite activities from hobby to money-making venture. 

Do you have an experience monetizing your passions? If you have creative money-making tips or ideas of your own, drop them in the comments!

How to Deal With Conflicting Advice Online

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Have you ever gone searching for advice on the internet? You find a great article or blog post, read it enthusiastically, taking note of all you need to do. Then… you click to another post you’d bookmarked. When you start reading, you realize that the advice is exactly the opposite of what you just read. 

What to do?

First—do a gut check. Does one set of advice resonate with you more strongly? If you have an “off” feeling about what you are being told to do, there’s a reason… trust your instinct. There is lots of great information online… but there are also a lot of people out there trying to scam you, seeing if they can make a “get rich quick” scheme work for them, or just spreading misinformation. Pay attention to whose advice you are trusting and how it makes you feel. 

Second—remember that you are a unique individual. The exact way someone else does things probably isn’t going to be the exact best way for you to work. It’s okay to mix and match advice. Following someone else’s path isn’t the key to your success. Discern which advice is going to work for you and your lifestyle. If you are waking up with young kids throughout the night, an early morning power work session might not work for you—no matter how easy that blogger or influencer makes it look. 

Finally—trial and error is okay! It’s a great way to learn. If you see something you get really excited about, and try it out only to realize it’s not for you… no problem. Consider it a learning experience and move on to the next thing. 

Assess. 

Mix and match. 

Try and see. Before long you’ll be ready to give your own advice on the internet—just remember that it won’t be the right advice for everyone!

5 Signs You Need to Slow Down

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If you think you don’t have time to slow down—think again. It’s easy to get caught up in hustle culture and think you always need to be going, going, going. But while you might feel productive doing more, more, more, this line of thinking will hurt you in the long run. If you don’t take time to take care of yourself, relax, and recharge, you’ll end up burned out—or worse, sick and unable to chase your dreams.

Here are five signs it’s time for you to slow down:

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS: Have you ever experienced an unexplained racing heart, nausea at the thought of your to do list, intense fatigue or insomnia? Any of these symptoms could be a sign that you need to take some time to care for yourself. Anxiety can trigger a racing heart and nausea, while fatigue and insomnia both can be signs of burnout and depression. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to write “call the doctor” on your to-do list. While rest and relaxation are a great starting place for resolving these issues, it’s important to get a check-up to make sure none of these symptoms are signs of a bigger problem! 

UNHEALTHY HABITS: Think about the last time you got eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, were able to get a workout in, or cooked a healthy meal. If any (or all) of these things seem like distant dreams, it’s time to pause and assess how you can rearrange your time. We’ve all heard the cliche: “Put on your own oxygen mask first.” It’s a cliche for a reason—because it’s true. If you don’t take time to prioritize your health, before long you won’t be able to fulfill your responsibilities. What changes can you make that will help you replace your unhealthy habits with healthy ones? All-nighters and junk food might get you through the next deadline, but they won’t serve you well long term.

OVERWHELM: Do you often feel overwhelmed, like you’ll never catch up or can’t even figure out where to start? If just looking at your to-do list sends a wave of panic over you, it’s a sign you need to slow down, take a deep breath, and take some time to create a plan. As Dale Carnegie said, “An hour of planning can save you ten hours of doing.” Don’t run three errands when you could run one, or waste time trying to multitask when five dedicated minutes could knock a task off your list. Instead of letting disorganization steal your time and overwhelm you, try these three simple tricks to help you move from scattered to focused. 

LESS THAN 100%: Get really honest with yourself for a minute—are you giving your best to your responsibilities (both personal and professional) or are you cutting corners because you are too over-committed? If you aren’t giving your best, it’s time to stop and think about what you may need to trim from your life. Just because you enjoyed a volunteer opportunity or social commitment five years ago doesn’t mean you need to stay committed to it for the rest of your life. You can also think about this in terms of what you could pay someone else to do: is a subscription for grocery pickup or delivery worth the amount of time you’ll get back when you don’t have to spend an hour at the store every week? Would paying a neighbourhood kid to mow the lawn give them a little extra spending money and you some much-needed time to work on your business? Find the places where you can create a little margin in your life—when you have some breathing room, you’ll be able to devote more energy and attention to the important things.

LACK OF FUN: When’s the last time you did something just because you enjoyed it? Are you constantly rushing from task to task or are you taking time to enjoy life? If you don’t have time for hobbies, friends, or other things that fulfill you outside of work, it’s time to slow down and figure out how to make space for those things. Stop and think about the last time you did something just for fun. If you can’t remember, grab your calendar right now and find some blank space. Brainstorm a list of things you’d love to do but don’t ever have time for—that art exhibit you’ve been dying to see, a long walk on your favorite trail, a night out with your friends. Pick one and write it on your calendar. Treat that time block just like you would treat an important meeting. Now look ahead and schedule another thing from your list. Life is meant to be enjoyed—if you are constantly speeding through it, you are missing beautiful moments you’ll never get back.

Slowing down doesn’t mean you are giving up on your dreams or that you’ll get less done. Taking time to care for yourself can actually boost your creativity and productivity. Go ahead, give it a try—you’ll be amazed at how much more fun life is when you have the time and energy to enjoy it! 

4 Reasons Multi-Passionate Creatives Need a Coach

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You’ve identified that you are multi-passionate. You’ve always known you are creative. And your dream is to take your varied creative interests and build a flexible life you love! What you aren’t quite sure about is exactly how a coach is going to help you make that happen.

Coaching can be an invaluable resource for multi-passionate creatives. Regular coaching sessions will help you spend less time floundering around trying to figure out what to do next, and instead help you focus on the steps you need to take to create the life you long for.

Here are four ways a coach can help:

1 / An outside perspective can help you see patterns and clarify your vision. Sometimes you are too close to a situation to see things clearly. A coach can talk you through your interests, help you identify patterns in past experiences and current interests, and guide you in developing a clear vision. Figuring out what to do next is overwhelming when there are so many things you love to do. Coaching sessions help you explore options and review patterns so you can narrow down where you want to go next.

2 / A coach will help you process and make a plan. It’s easy to have a big brainstorming session and come up with a whole list of ideas you are excited about! It’s harder to take that list and figure out what your next step is. A coach will talk you through your ideas and help you filter them. Talking through what makes sense now, for the season you are in, will help you identify which ideas are ready to be pursued and which need to be saved for later. Once you’ve narrowed down your list and picked a place to start, your coach will help you create a plan. When you are excited about a new idea, it’s tempting to run full-speed ahead with whatever you are most excited about. A coach will help you think through what needs to be done first so your idea has a solid foundation to grow on. 

3 / A coach keeps you accountable and on track. When you are reporting back to someone, it’s a higher level of accountability than when you just tell yourself you are going to do something. If you promise yourself you are going to set up your new website this week and then don’t—you are the only one that knows. If you know your coach is going to check in with you about your progress, it gives you the accountability (and support) you need to make it happen. Regular coaching sessions give you benchmarks for reporting on your progress, plus a place to talk through what’s working and what isn’t, so you can adjust course as needed.

4 / A coach challenges you to take things to the next level. You are brilliant and capable, but an outside force will push you in a different way than relying just on yourself. Your coach will have a different perspective and experiences than you do, which will require you to stretch your imagination—always a beneficial exercise. Bouncing ideas off of someone else is often more productive (and more fun) than thinking alone. Having a coach to brainstorm, process, and plan with will take you from a list in your notebook (or ideas floating around your brain) to someone who is putting things into action and making visible progress. 

A bonus tip: a coach is on your side, cheering you on. Never underestimate the power of having someone in your corner, committed to seeing you make progress on your dreams.

If you’d like more information about coaching, you can find the guides here.

Start Creating the Flexible Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of

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I’ve been offering coaching for a while, but I find that people are often confused about what coaching is and how it can help them. This four-week blog series is designed to help you understand who I am, who YOU are, and how I can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

JUMP TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

We all have our own reasons for wanting a flexible life. Maybe being tied down to an office makes you feel like you are trapped. Spending more time with your family might be a priority for you. Or, maybe you dream of being location-independent so you can see the world! Whatever your motivation, it’s time to start creating that life.

You’ve established your vision; now it’s time to unapologetically own who you are and feel confident in building a life you can be proud of.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

1. Start small: It’s tempting to make all the big changes at once. But it’s also easy to get overwhelmed that way. Instead, identify the first step towards your vision—and write it down. This first step will be different for everyone. Set up your website. Pick a name for your LLC. Cut back (just a little) on hours at your full-time job or dedicate the first two hours of Saturday morning to working on your business plan.

2. Stay flexible: Life happens. Things don’t always go according to plan. That’s okay. What matters most is your response. Don’t allow one setback to ruin everything. Take a deep breath and consider how you can pivot. Is there another approach you can take to execute your plan? If you feel stuck, remember that you are a person with multiple skills, talents, and interests. Pivoting to a new idea might end up giving you a new perspective on the original plan. Not right now doesn’t mean never.

3. Work to your strengths: When you are starting something new, it might feel like you have to do everything yourself. But sometimes that turns out to be both inefficient and frustrating. If you love to paint but dread crunching numbers, consider hiring a bookkeeper. If hiring someone isn’t in the budget, think about your network. Do you have a friend with an accounting background who would be willing to make a trade with you? The trade doesn’t have to be your product or service—maybe they would love a night of babysitting or assistance redecorating a room in their house. Get creative with what you have to offer!

4. Find what works for you: Pay attention to what is working and what isn’t and make small adjustments along the way. If you are too distracted by chores at home to dedicate time to your new endeavour, block off a few hours to work at a coffee shop instead. Notice when your mind is clearest and your energy highest, and see if you can adjust your schedule so that you are doing the work that requires the most thought during that time of day. Stay curious—don’t be afraid to see what would happen if you try something in a new way. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to the old way!

Congratulations! You are embarking on an exciting journey and I am cheering you on as you take these first steps towards creating a life you love! And remember—to build a strong foundation, first take the time to understand who you are and create a clear vision. If you need any help or encouragement along the way, download one of my self-coaching guides!