If you’re anything like me, there are times in your business life when you feel like anything but a genius. Certain aspects of your business flummox you, over and over, each time you think of them. There are things you think you’ll never learn, don’t understand, can’t put together. They make you feel stupid, useless, and not at all like a leader — it’s frustrating and embarrassing, quite frankly. I mean, we’re entrepreneurs, for crying out loud!
Sometimes these things can bring you down pretty hard. And stop you in your tracks.
For me, it’s spreadsheets and working with large amounts of numbers. Nothing can make me feel quite as frustrated and monkey-brained as a large spreadsheet full of columns of numbers. My eyes take in the information and the thinking part of my brain just shuts down. Even if I do understand what I’m looking for in the data, I have to be very patient with myself to be able to find it and interpret it. Ask my former controller or any accountant I’ve ever had and they’ll tell you it’s true — after they roll their eyes in disbelief at how many times they’ve had to go over things with me. (Ouch, feeling stupid again just telling you about this.)
I have to remember my genius.
For some of my clients, it’s sifting through the large amounts of information they’ve gleaned from all the workshops and teleclasses and coaches they’ve gone to, and figuring out just how it all relates to their businesses. What works for their business and what doesn’t? What do they really need and what can go by the wayside, or wait awhile? It feels overwhelming.
For others, it’s just the idea of setting up a business at all — how do you do it? How do you position it to grow? How to you begin to build a team that will work for you? What about systems and processes? How does the whole thing work together?
Sometimes people get so hung up on not being good at these things that confound them that they lose sight of their genius, and even, maybe, doubt their suitability as a business owner.
One of the things I love to do with my clients is remind them, when they’re feeling very un-genius-like because of some aspect of their business that has them flummoxed, of exactly what they’re so wonderful at. Sometimes it surprises them for me to say it, even though they know it’s true.
So the next time this happens to you (and you know it does), pretend you’re my client for a moment — and hear me saying these words to you:
“Do you know how wonderful you are? You’re a genius at ABC, that’s your thing. There isn’t anyone who can do what you do, and people need to learn this from you. You’re the guru, you’re ‘it,’ the one person who knows this, from that vantage point, better than anyone else. That’s what people come to you for. That’s your genius! No one cares if you can do XYZ or if you understand MNO. Someone else can do that for you. Your gift is ABC. Your genius is ABC — I see it so clearly in you.”
You’re a genius!
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this post! How easily it is to forget that we all have AWESOME strengths that we bring to the table. And, wasn’t it something unique that we had to offer that MADE us become entrepreneurs in the first place? Focus on what we are good at, hire someone else to do the other! LOL
Thank you, Martha. Several years ago there was a book out called “Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. I was sooooo happy to read their recommendation to focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses — finally I could let go of the bookkeeping and go do what I was best at! I was hung up on this for a long time.
But that’s what we’re taught growing up: You’re not good in math, so you’d better take more math courses. UGH!
Sounds like you’ve got the same problem I’ve got…and I think we share it with most entrepreneurs…we’re our own biggest critic and worst enemy.
I know I struggle every day with seeing myself as an expert at anything when sometimes I feel like I can barely find my shoes in the morning!
Todd, you’re right — I don’t think I know one entrepreneur who doesn’t suffer from this. And there’s no reason to — we’re all geniuses!
Thanks for the pep talk, Marcia!
Who was it that said something like… Genius isn’t knowing everything, it’s knowing who to ask (or where to find the answer) when you don’t know!
Excellent advice! It’s very helpful to remember that we all need a support team and it’s okay to ask others for their expertise.
your happiness guru,
Evelyn
#blog30
Hey, Deb and Evelyn — so true!
Deb, I’m not sure who said that, but I think it was Einstein who said, “I never clutter my mind with things I can look up.” I use that a lot when I don’t know something. (!)
M
Great reminders Marcia! We all have profound gifts to share, but get stuck in the morass of doing what we’re not brilliant at.
Nice to be with you in the 30 Day Blogging challenge., #blog3o.
Bobbye Middendorf
The Write Synergies Guru