Are you a genius? This very question was asked at the 2010 TEDGlobal Conference in a powerful talk that redefined genius as something we all have, but need to find within.
"No man is born into the world whose work is not born with him." James Russell Lowell
Yet, we've been conditioned to believe that geniuses are something we only read about in history books; Einstein and Mozart but not us. Genius is about identifying your assets (skills, strengths, passions, creative abilities, assumptions/beliefs, values, guiding principles, vision and expertise) because these intangibles will lead you to your unique genius.
The place to start in assessing your genius is to take some self-assessments that help you know yourself better and identify your innate signature talents. Then begin to identity your unique life purpose or life signature.
Your assets include all of your natural and cultivated aptitudes and skills. The simplest way to view your assets is to think of them as professional capabilities that are predominantly cultivated on the left (logical) side of your brain. You have likely been programmed to assess your market value based on those attributes since you were a child. For most people, the best measure of their human capital, at least in the workplace, is measured within the context of personal accomplishments.
Next, answer these five tough questions:
2. What gives you the greatest joy, satisfaction and renewal in your life and how could you do more of it?
The message is: Life is not a dress rehearsal. You can solve your problems using the mind you know you have. You can stop seeking answers outside yourself. You can look within where genius lives.
It should be noted that in the business world, we don't speak much about the heart. Yet, since all businesses are ultimately people serving people, our life's work should come from the heart. Long after your products or services have been delivered, the feelings and knowledge shared during the business relationship remain. People need connection, belonging and meaningful contribution. They need to know that their life and work matter. Many people find that personal or career transformation is an excellent time to better understand their life's work and direction.
Though there is a debate about whether leadership is an ability people are born with or is cultivated, these skills deal with your ability to manage teams to accomplish goals and to inspire initiative in others. Leadership skills also involve your ability to maintain a productive climate and to motivate, mobilize and meet high performance standards.
A leader has the capacity and confidence to draw others toward a desired conclusion. This quality has saved the day countless times through history and plays a crucial role in human events.
Gina A Rudan: Practical Genius: The Real Smarts You Need to Get Your Talents and Passions Working for YOU
Kevin W. McCarthy: The On-Purpose Business: Doing More of What You Do Best More Profitably