Fun Business Fun Money Podcast
EP 052 – Get your business in the right zone
Are you in the Comfort Zone? Or the Zone of Genius?
Lets get your business in the RIGHT zone for you to make money AND have more freedom.
In this quick tip episode (which is clearly not all that quick but absolutely worth listening to anyway!) we take a leaf out of the book “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks with a look at the different zones of expertise, and what makes you AWESOME.
KEY MENTIONS
TRANSCRIPT
Hey there, and welcome to the Fun Business Fun Money podcast!
Today is a quick tip episode, which in my mind should actually be QUICK and to the point, but thats not always how it ends up!
Lets see if I can keep this one under 10 minutes, but I also make no guarantees because when I get on a roll, I’m on a roll! So lets just roll with it! 🤣
Today we’re talking about “Getting your business in the right zone.” Preferably NOT the comfort zone, although theres an element of comfort involved too.
In a nutshell, we’re talking about your zone of genius.
If you’ve read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, or even heard people talking about the book, you’ll be familiar with this term.
The basic concept is that there are 4 zones where we operate, depending on our level of expertise, interest and enjoyment.
ZONE OF INCOMPETENCE
The first one is the zone of incompetence, where you’ve learnt something but its so brand new that you’ve really got no clue.
It might be interesting and a little bit exciting, because lets face it learning new things IS exciting, but its not really your thing – yet! – and plenty of others can do it a LOT better than you.
For me this is what it feels like every time a new variation of social media is released, Reels or even ChatGPT and all the other AI content related software.
In no time at all there are all these ‘experts’ selling courses and advising others on how to do it. And in most cases they’re only one step ahead of everyone else, they’re no better at it than anyone else!
ZONE OF COMPETENCE
The next level is the zone of competence, where you’re alright at it, you’ve given it a good go and got some experience, but in the end there are still plenty of people who are more suited to this thing than you are.
This is me with Canva, I’m quite capable of creating graphics but its not that fun that I would want to fill my day with joy and make time whiz by.
ZONE OF EXCELLENCE
Next is the zone of excellence. This is more like it, where you’re highly skilled and you stand out from the crowd because of it.
You deliver on promises and people can safely say you know your stuff. You become referrable when you’re operating in at least the zone of excellence.
ZONE OF GENIUS
Then at the top of mountain we have the zone of genius. You’re literally the best at what you do, no one compares and everybody knows it.
You’re a no brainer, must hire, shut up and take my money because I want to learn from the master, not the apprentice.
Your zone of genius can end up being so super specific that people might wonder how you could make a business out of it, or how you can make money – but you can!
Of course in order to get to the zone of genius you have to go through all the other zones first, everybody starts somewhere! You have to get the experience and knowledge required to claim that space and truly own it.
The thing is to get to ANY of the zones… you have to leave your COMFORT ZONE.
Things can get pretty comfortable at any level, in any zone. You think you’ve got something sussed out, you don’t need to learn anything more about it.
Theres nothing wrong with this, we can’t always operate in a state of uncertainty and change – and honestly theres enough of that going on in the world around us in 2023, a bit of comfort and stability in your business isn’t a bad thing at all!
WHAT IF…?
But what if you’re feeling comfortable in the zone of incompetence or even competence… and you can’t see it?
What if theres a small change you could make to hone your skills so sharp that you skyrocket into the zone of excellence and then the zone of genius in no time at all?
What if that small change is the catalyst to you finally achieving the success, the money and the freedom you visualise in your mind?
I know, thats a lot of what if questions I’ve just thrown at you! What can I say, I love exploring possibilities and looking beyond the comfort zone.
My BIG question for you today is to have a think about what YOUR zone of genius is, and are you operating in it?
Is there something you could improve that would push yourself a little further outside the comfort zone and make things so much BETTER for you and your clients?
Do people KNOW this is where you skills are?
Let’s quit faffing about trying to be everything to everyone, especially when theres someone else out there who can do it so much better than you! Let it go!
Narrow your focus, get specific and clear about who you are and what you do, then go out and tell the world! People need to know!
And then KEEP TELLING PEOPLE! You can’t tell them once and expect everyone to know and remember this about you.
Its so important now more than ever to be very specific about who you are and what you do, and to put it on repeat.
Theres so much noise, there people shouting to be heard, everything is fast paced, we’re being pushed by social media platforms to create short video content thats quickly consumed and discarded, like literally yesterday’s newspaper thats now a fish and chip wrapper – not that we use newspaper for fish and chips these days!
MEANWHILE…
Theres you in your zone of genius, all cool, calm and collected because you know exactly what you do and who its for.
You’re talking about it on repeat and its SO OBVIOUS to everyone that you’re the person to solve this problem people have.
You’ve become a ‘must hire’ rather than a ‘nice to know’.
What is your zone of genius? What are you awesome at?
Write it all down! Set a timer for 8 minutes, because thats going to push you to think deeper than the quick obvious stuff, and not so long that you’re going to be twiddling your thumbs.
Write your “I am awesome” list and include absolutely everything you’re legit awesome at.
I’m talking qualifications, certifications, degrees, awards, any kind of recognition, skills you have, including things that don’t relate directly to your business as well. I’m talking EVERYTHING you’re awesome at!
Some of mine would be that…
🤩 I’m a certified Sacred Money Archetypes coach
🤩 I’m a certified Money Breakthrough Business coach
🤩 I’m super fun to be around
🤩 I have an amazing ability to connect the dots from a seemingly random bunch of puzzle pieces so your business now makes sense in a really simple way
🤩 When I truly commit and set my mind to something I’m all in, achieving goals is actually easy because theres no other option but to succeed.
(Kind of like Thanos in the Marvel Universe, I’m inevitable but from a fun, sunshiney angle rather than the end of humanity perspective because thats not cool!)
I’m also a great cook and I’m pretty good at creative writing. Does that mean I should write books? Or open a cafe or restaurant? NO! Because while I like those things I’m just not that into them.
You don’t have to do all the things you’re good at.
Focus on the things, or single thing, the ONE thing, that you’re so good at that people can’t help but take notice.
This is all part of specialising AND niching, getting really clear about the thing you’re truly exceptional at, that the right people are willing to pay money for.
Talk about THAT in your social media content and you become a ‘must hire’ rather than a cute generic ‘nice to know’.
We don’t have time for cute or generic, ok?! 😉
This is what I help clients with in IGNITE, my 1-1 coaching program and workshops.
Thats MY zone of genius – coaching amazing entrepreneurs to get out of the weeds and into a beautiful clear space where they’re easily making $10K in revenue each month, and progressing to $10K and more take home pay and profit.
If you’d like to know more about IGNITE, send me a DM – I’m @funbusinessfunmoney, all one word, on both Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re on LinkedIn make sure we’re connected there too, just search for Deirdre Amies and you’ll find me, send a message to say hi!
And you can email hello@deirdreamies.com if thats your preferred method too. You’ll find ALL the links to those in the description and in the show notes.
Get specific! Niche your stuff right down and be crystal clear about the work you do and who you do it with, or for. Thats the magic money making zone of genius right there.
I’m going to talk a lot more about your niche, ideal clients and getting really really specific in upcoming episodes, so make sure you’re following the Fun Business Fun Money podcast on your chosen platform. Hit the plus button, the follow button, whatever it is, so you receive notifications when each episode is released.
Thats what I’ve got for you today, get thinking about YOUR zone of genius and whether people actually know this about you.
Quit trying to be everything to everyone, because as we all know, if you’re trying to talk to everyone you end up being HEARD by no one.
And thats just not cool!
You deserve to be heard AND you deserve to be paid for your amazing work.
Take care, have fun working on your “I am awesome” list and getting into your zone of genius, and I’ll catch you in the next episode! Theres no way this one was going to be under 10 minutes and I’m not even sorry! 😂
Want to make a BIG SHIFT in your business?
IGNITE private coaching could be the answer you’re looking for! Click here to check out the details, or send me a message for a quick chat about which option is the best one for you right now.
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