Bala karthiga M

Hard to Swallow Pill: You’re Probably Playing Small.

Most people are slogging away in their Zone of Competence (stuff they’re decent at but don’t love) or, even worse, their Zone of Incompetence (where they suck but haven’t realized it yet).

And that’s tragic. Because buried under all that mediocrity is your Zone of Genius—the thing that makes you a walking, talking goldmine of value. The skill that, when unleashed, makes success feel effortless (and makes other people jealous as hell).

But 99% of people never find it. Why? Because they’re too busy following bad career advice, listening to their mom’s outdated life plan, or chasing “passion” like it’s a Tinder date that never texts back.

This guide is your wake-up call. No fluff. No vague motivational speeches. Just brutally effective steps to pinpoint exactly where your genius lies and how to monetize it like a boss.

Step 1: Stop Asking What You’re “Good” At (It’s a Trap)

Let’s get this straight: Being good at something doesn’t mean you should build a career around it.

I know someone who’s excellent at writing 10-page reports on supply chain logistics. He’s also bored out of his skull doing it.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What makes time disappear? The tasks where you forget to eat, sleep, or respond to your partner’s texts? That’s a clue.
• What do people repeatedly ask you for help with? This is what others already see as your superpower.
• What do you do effortlessly that others find impossible? If people keep saying, “How the hell did you do that?” you’re onto something.

Example: Steve Jobs was technically good at computer engineering, but his real genius? Merging technology with user experience. That’s why he didn’t just build computers—he created an empire around simplicity and aesthetics. Find the layer of your skill that makes you unique, not just what you’re good at.

Step 2: Identify the Work That Feels Like Cheating

Your Zone of Genius is the skill that feels so easy, it’s almost unfair—but it delivers massive value to others.

Here’s what I mean:

• A guy I know builds brands that make millions—but to him, it’s just “common sense.” (It’s not.)
• A woman I worked with can break down complicated legal jargon into bite-sized, understandable insights. To her, it’s “just how her brain works.” (Nope. That’s genius.)

How to Spot It:

• What have you done for free that people later said, “I would have paid for that”?
• What’s something you can explain in five minutes that takes others five hours to grasp?
• If someone forced you to teach a masterclass on one skill tomorrow, what would it be?

Example: Gary Vaynerchuk’s genius isn’t social media—it’s seeing trends before others and storytelling like a pro. He turns that into viral content and billion-dollar brands. Find your unfair advantage.

Step 3: Do This Simple (Yet Brutally Effective) Audit

Grab a piece of paper. Write these four categories down:

1. What you love doing (but might not be paid for yet).
2. What you’re insanely good at (but don’t love).
3. What people will throw money at you for.
4. What makes you feel powerful as hell when you do it.

Now, cross-check these lists. Where do they overlap? That’s your Zone of Genius.

Make It Even Sharper:

• Ask five friends/colleagues what they think you’re amazing at (you’ll be shocked by their answers).
• Look at every job/project you’ve hated—what was missing?
• What’s the easiest thing you’ve ever been paid for? Could you scale that?

Example: Tim Ferriss was good at running a supplement business but hated it. He was obsessed with productivity hacks. His Zone of Genius? Turning complex optimization strategies into actionable steps. That’s how The 4-Hour Workweek was born.

Step 4: Ignore the “Find Your Passion” Nonsense (Do This Instead)

“Follow your passion” is the worst advice since “Buy Bitcoin at $60K.”

Instead:

• Follow what makes people pull out their wallets. Passion doesn’t pay the bills—value does.
• Test things in the real world. Stop overthinking and start DOING. Freelance. Start a side project. Launch a tiny product. Get actual feedback.
• Pivot fast when something clicks. The moment something works and feels effortless, double down hard.

Action Steps to Find a Money-Making Passion:

1. Offer three different skills as freelance services (one will take off).

2. Create content around your expertise and see what gets traction.

3. Ask people: What would you pay me for? (Then sell that.)

Example:

• MrBeast didn’t start with a billion-dollar YouTube brand. He tested viral content formulas until he found what worked.
• Seth Godin didn’t set out to “follow his passion.” He identified how he could simplify marketing and became the king of it.

Test relentlessly. The market will tell you what works.

Step 5: Leverage the Hell Out of Your Genius (and Get Paid Like a King)

Once you’ve nailed your Zone of Genius, the next step is to monetize it like a pro. Here’s how:

• Productize it – Package your genius into a consulting service, course, or product people will happily overpay for.
• Monetize content – Share your insights online (YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn) and watch opportunities chase you.
• Charge for access – Your genius isn’t free. Set up high-ticket offers (coaching, strategy calls, VIP services) that match your value.
• Automate & scale – Stop trading time for money. Build digital products, online courses, or scalable services that make money while you sleep.

Example:

• Ali Abdaal went from doctor to multi-millionaire productivity coach by sharing what he already knew—how to study and optimize workflows.
• Marie Forleo turned her knack for business and personality into B-School, a multi-7-figure course.

Final Words: Stop Playing Small & Step Into Your Genius

Here’s the truth: The most successful people aren’t necessarily the smartest or hardest-working. They’re just the ones who lean into their Genius Zone and make the world pay for it.

You’ve got two choices:

1. Keep grinding away at things that feel like work (and stay underpaid, overworked, and frustrated).
2. Find your Genius Zone and build an empire around it.

Your move.

If this hit home, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Or better yet, act on it for yourself.

If this hit you like a sledgehammer to the soul, you’re exactly the kind of person who needs to be reading my Substack—where I drop brutally honest, no-fluff insights on building a high-impact career and business around your genius.

Subscribe now and start playing in the big leagues: https://substack.com/@balakarthiga