The zone of excellence trap

Let’s talk about something most high-performers quietly wrestle with:

You’re really good at your job.

But you’re secretly exhausted by it.

The feedback is great, and the results speak for themselves.

But the deeper truth?

It’s no longer lighting you up.

And you can’t figure out why.

You might think you’ve outgrown the work.

Or maybe you’re just burnt out.

But here’s another possibility:

You’ve built a career inside your Zone of Competence, not your Zone of Genius.

So, What’s the Difference?

Let’s break it down using one of my favourite frameworks from Gay Hendricks:

Zone of Incompetence: Stuff you’re not great at. Taxes. HR software. Corporate compliance training.

Zone of Competence: You can do it, but others can too. Admin tasks. Routine production. Ops work.

Zone of Excellence: You’re really good at it. You’re known for it. But it drains you over time.

Zone of Genius: It energizes you and you’re great at it. Time disappears when you’re doing it.

Here’s the trap:

A lot of talented, mid-career creatives get stuck in the Zone of Excellence.

You’ve spent years mastering your craft.

You’ve built a reputation on your reliability, precision, and leadership.

But now? It’s all output and no spark.

How It Showed Up For Me

For years, I was the go-to creative lead.

Clients came to me to "make it beautiful" or "bring it to life."

I could take any brief and turn it into a polished, strategic, well-executed product.

But deep down?

I wasn’t creating, I was solving.

I wasn’t experimenting, I was delivering.

I realized I had become a machine for other people’s ideas.

High-performing, but increasingly hollow.

That’s when I started asking better questions.

How to Find Your Actual Zone of Genius

If any of this is hitting home, try this:

1. Track your energy, not just your output.

At the end of each day, ask:

→ What gave me energy today?

→ What drained me, even if I was good at it?

Look at the patterns that emerge, and start paying attention.

2. Differentiate praise from passion.

Just because people celebrate your work doesn’t mean it’s your best work.

Some of your true genius might be invisible right now, because you’ve never shared it.

3. Revisit what you loved before you became “professional.”

What did you create before deadlines and paychecks?

Photography? Writing? Making weird art no one understood?

That’s not childish nostalgia. That’s your raw signal.

4. Make space for play, not just productivity.

Your genius often shows up when you’re not trying to monetize or optimize.

Give yourself permission to explore without an outcome.

Redesigning Around Your Genius

You don’t need to quit your job or burn down your business.

But you do need to start shifting:

→ Say “no” more often to things that just keep you busy

→ Say “yes” more often to things that light you up, even if they scare you

→ Build a small habit around your genius zone every week (15 minutes is enough)

Bit by bit, you’ll shift from just surviving in your Zone of Excellence…

to thriving in your Zone of Genius.

Let’s make this real:

Hit reply and tell me:

→ What’s one thing you’re great at that drains you?

→ What’s one thing you love, but haven’t prioritized?

Your genius is in there somewhere. Let’s help you find it.

—Mike

P.S. If this hit home, forward it to a friend who’s quietly killing it, but slowly burning out. They probably need this reminder more than they realize.