By Guest Author Cory De Silva
This feels like a bit of a cheat, since Dad was featured on Taylor Welch’s podcast not long ago. But I promise I read the book on my own time and found it helpful.
Here was one specific section that stood out to me:
“There are likely two or three activities that you can do better than anyone else in the world. You have to find them. When you do them, you feel like you will live forever. Nobody understands how you do them so well—and honestly, you don’t either. You can’t explain breathing to a plant; you just breathe. Your zone of genius is like that. It’s where you can demonstrate such a high level of excellence that people stop and watch when they see your work” (42).
This got me thinking: Are there gifts that I’m not utilizing? Do I really have a zone of genius? If so, what is it?
Welch’s idea reminds me of an exercise Dad teaches in his Purpose Train class. In it, he asks clients to receive an early childhood memory from the Lord. As they experience this memory, they pay attention to what activity they’re doing: playing, teaching, or telling a story. This gives them insight into their area of excellence (or God-given purpose).
Zone of Genius
Welch claims that our zone of genius is an integral part of us, like DNA. I recommend trying to identify this area by narrowing it down to 2 or 3 activities, just as the book suggests.
When I did this exercise, I set aside 20 minutes and came up with these answers:
This isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting point. I suggest you do the same.
Your Homework for 2026
See if you can discover 2 or 3 activities that set you apart from everyone else. If you’re a successful business owner, you might say, “making money!” But I think genius goes much deeper than that.
For instance, a business owner might clarify by saying, “My zone of genius is friendliness. I’m so comfortable around people that I can bring them together.” That is a true gift, and it’s something that separates them from the rest of the world.