The definition of genius is an extraordinary ability in something. When we think of geniuses, we think of people like Einstein or da Vinci; people who’ve had extraordinary accomplishments and achievements in this world. But think about that definition. An extraordinary ability in something. Something covers a lot of ground. We all have something we’re naturally extraordinary at. We all have things that come to us easily and effortlessly. And what’s amazing is we don’t even know how it is that we know these things. We just know them.
Beyond the aspect of genius is something I call Deep Genius. Deep Genius holds the building blocks and nuances that r make us the unique geniuses that we are. It highlights how valuable and incomparable we each are.
Your Deep Genius has three components. First, your innate skills, those things that you are just born with. Think of your uncanny ability to solve puzzles, your natural artistic sense, or your patience in listening to others. Second, your learned skills, things you picked up through school, education, or training. And third, life defining experiences. Those are skills inside of you that woke up by way of something happening to or around you.
Ask Yourself The Deep 3:
1- What are your innate skills, those things you are naturally great at?
It’s not uncommon to overlook your most valuable skills, simply because they come so easily to you. You might feel like you’re bragging or overstating your qualifications, so naturally the “Imposter Syndrome” sets in. For a lot of people, there’s a reluctance to acknowledge their gifts. This is when you can have another person’s help to reflect back to you an honest summary of what you’re great at.
2- What are the learned skills and knowledge that you’ve picked up through life?
When formal training or education mesh perfectly with your innate gifts, magic happens. Have you heard the story of Steve Jobs taking a calligraphy class in college? It made him fall in love with fonts and beautiful lettering. As a result, we can open up a document on our computers and know our Verdana from our Arial from our Avant Garde.
3- What life experiences have shaped you into who you are today?
Life teaches us things we may never have signed up for, but through those life events we reached growth we wouldn’t have found any other way. It could be something magnificent and wonderful like falling in love, the birth of a child, getting married, or finishing a triathlon. You may have never known the capacity to love as much or feel joy as deeply. It could be something painful like dealing with illness, death, tragedy, or loss. Yet somehow through those highs and lows, you survived. These are experiences that open us up to our growth edges and we realize we have strengths we never even knew we had.
Redwood trees have seed cones that are tightly sealed shut. They’re impossible to penetrate but contain seeds. How are those seeds going to get out to create the next generation of trees? It’s through intense heat, and that comes from forest fires. Something that can be looked at as tragic and catastrophic can actually be seen as the catalyst for the next generation of growth. Our life experiences, no matter what emotional charge they carry, have the power to lead us to our growth edges.
Your Task: Look Beyond What’s On The Surface
When you look at yourself and those you lead, view things beyond the obvious. Peer beyond the job title, the company jargon, the standardized assessments, the school, the GPA, or even the performance review. Look through the cracks and into the nuances of who people are to unearth their greatest value and contribution. That’s where the hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered.
Ignite Your Deep Genius
Click HERE to learn about igniting your Deep Genius and awakening a whole new level of leadership and accomplishment in your life.
