Over the course of the last year, I have been given the gift of learning to identifying my top skill sets. These lessons were not without skepticism and questioning. But, I can say that these lessons have transformed the way I work and the types of work I take on. Because I was lucky enough to have someone share with me the #1 secret to identifying your top skill sets. And it is this: The tasks and projects are you best at. AND When you finish the task, you have more energy than when you started the task. It is that simple. Related:5 Things You Should Be Doing If You’re Unemployed When I tell people about this secret that was shared with me, they immediately know what I am talking about and know the work that they are awesome at and gives them energy. And I tell people that you should focus everything you have into making sure that as much of your day as possible doing those things that you are awesome at AND give you energy. This is what is called your “Zone of Genius." The creator of this concept is Gay Henricks from the book “The Big Leap." There is of course nuance to this. When you do things that you completely rock AND get energy by doing them, this puts you squarely in your “Zone of Genius”. When you do things that you completely rock at and it drains your energy, that is your “Zone of Excellence”. You want to spend the bulk of your time, if not all of it in your Zone of Genius. The first time I heard about this concept about a year ago from the brilliant Giovanni Cavalieri, I was incredibly skeptical as I am sure you are right now. This is impossible. Just getting to do what you do best and get energy from. Pfft…. crazy talk! You can’t possibly spend all your time working in your Zone of Genius. Can you? Maybe not all your time, but 90+% of your time can be spent in your Zone of Genius if you’re on the right team at the right company. The thing about Zone of Genius is that you are more efficient when you are working in that zone. You get more done than anyone else at that skill. You probably spend the rest of your time in the Zone of Excellence. These are the tasks that you should be actively looking for people who have these tasks in THEIR Zone of Genius. When you are doing tasks and projects that are outside of your Zone of Genius, you are drained. The problem is that many of us are spending our entire day in the Zone of Excellence or even the Zone of Competence (which is exactly what is sounds like). Getting rid of the tasks in the non-Zone of Genius can be a challenge. But, oddly enough, there are people who’s Zone of Genius is your Zone of Excellence or Zone of Competence and should be taking on those tasks to fulfill their time in their Zone of Genius. It generally works out, not all the time, which is why I can’t get to 100% Zone of Genius. But suffice it to say, when you know where your Zone of Genius is, you can spend time honing in on tasks, projects and roles that highlights your best skills that you can bring to the table so that you can spend even more time working in your Zone of Genius. My Zone of Genius is all about helping people connect with their dream job. What’s yours? This post was originally published on an earlier date.
There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.
When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!
Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.
1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs
Bigstock
Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.
2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car
Bigstock
Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.
3. Plan An Office Outing
Bigstock
Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!
4. Organize Group Walks
Bigstock
Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
5. Eat Lunch At The Park
Bigstock
When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.
6. Organize Office Sports
Bigstock
Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.
7. Join A Professional Group
Bigstock
During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.
8. Have An Office BBQ
Bigstock
Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.
9. Wake Up Early
Bigstock
Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!
10. Strategically Use Your Time Off
Bigstock
Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.
11. Bike To Work
Bigstock
If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!
There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!
Need more help with your career?
Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!