Finding your sweet spot — a 2X2 framework
Matching talent with interests is something that businesses pay attention to. But it’s a hard thing to get right because people don’t always know who they are–a builder (one who sets up a business out of an idea) or a farmer (one who scales a business already set up).
Here’s a 2X2 framework, adapted from the Zone of Genius framework by Guy Hendricks, to guide and help you find who you are. Imagine two perpendicular axes of competence and passion. Whether you’re a builder or a farmer, place yourself in one of the four quadrants.
𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬: Work feels like play. Your everyday is the end of Shawshank Redemption. But don’t expect to spend 100% of the time in this zone. That’s hardly realistic even if you custom-make a position for yourself. So don’t be greedy. Just keep going. Common emotions/behavior: contentment, joy, fulfillment.
𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤: You are an ace at farming, but you don’t love being a farmer. Or you’re great at building but don’t see yourself as a builder. The Zone of Stuck entices you with better pay and better designation. You tell yourself stories and have a functional working life, but it lacks the fulfillment of the Zone of Genius. Common emotions/behavior: cognitive dissonance, feeling torn, whining
💡Tip 1: The ambitious are likely to find themselves here. As Chris Dixon from a16z describes in his piece Climbing the Wrong Hill, ‘Their ambition seems to make it hard for them to forgo the nearby upward step’. So beware.
💡Tip 2: Ask yourself: Would I do it for no money and no praise? If the answer is a Hell, No! then you’re in this zone.
𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝐨𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭): You’ve the heart but not the chops. You can either get better or you can quit. Some have the luxury to outsource as well. Common emotions/behavior: ‘Why is God so hard on me?’ OR ‘Chuck it, this is not for me’
𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐭: In any role, this is unlikely to be the dominant zone. Else it’s a miracle you’re paid to be bad at something you hate doing. Common emotions/behavior: ‘Why am I doing this, again?’
We resist change because we worry about being pushed to a less favorable zone. And sometimes luck goes our way and we find yourself with an opportunity to excel at what we love doing. Regardless, it is important to know what is beyond our control. Business will change tracks, priorities will change. When that happens, it is important to not make compromises and lose sight of our Zone of Genius.
