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The Genius Habit: How One Habit Can Radically Change Your Work and Your Life
A remarkable new guide to finding your Zone of Genius, spending more time being fulfilled and engaged at work, and jump-starting the career of your dreams
For young professionals and seasoned executives alike, The Genius Habit explores how a process of tracking thoughts and behavior can help you spend more time in your "Zone of Genius." Coined by consultant Laura Garnett, the Zone of Genius is that sweet spot in which you are challenged, fulfilled, and happily engaged in the work you're doing.
Both inspirational and practical, The Genius Habit introduces a methodology that has helped Laura's high-profile clients at LinkedIn, Capital One, and Verizon transform their careers and their lives. The Genius Habit gives employees—from entry-level assistants, to middle managers, to CEOs of major companies—the tools they need to gain clarity about who they are and where they are going, and to proactively create the career of their dreams.
For young professionals and seasoned executives alike, The Genius Habit explores how a process of tracking thoughts and behavior can help you spend more time in your "Zone of Genius." Coined by consultant Laura Garnett, the Zone of Genius is that sweet spot in which you are challenged, fulfilled, and happily engaged in the work you're doing.
Both inspirational and practical, The Genius Habit introduces a methodology that has helped Laura's high-profile clients at LinkedIn, Capital One, and Verizon transform their careers and their lives. The Genius Habit gives employees—from entry-level assistants, to middle managers, to CEOs of major companies—the tools they need to gain clarity about who they are and where they are going, and to proactively create the career of their dreams.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2019
245 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Laura Garnett
6 books5 followersLaura is a performance strategist, TEDx speaker, and the creator of the Genius Habit. She works with CEOs and executives to identify their unique genius and purpose, and craft an actionable plan to leverage them in their day-to-day work. She has consulted with organizations including Capital One, Open Table, LinkedIn, and Instructure. Prior to launching her own company, New York City-based Garnett Consulting, she honed her marketing, strategy, and career-refining skills at companies like Capital One, American Express, IAC, and Google.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 5, 2025
One of the recommendations throughout all leadership, management and career self-help books is to get to know yourself better. Really be open-minded to hearing feedback and paying attention to what you do best, what you enjoy most and what kind of impact you have on those around you as a means of measuring your effectiveness.
Along that same line, author and career coach Laura Garnett has provided a very positive, peppy and supportive book to help other people better understand their strengths and what they are most comfortable doing. The book is a strange mix of primary experience and observations with some very thoughtfully considered processes with probably a bit too much padding from secondary and tertiary sources. In some cases, it feels like she’s chosen the references to build or support her claims.
The strongest parts of the book are where she talks passionately about improving self awareness of one’s strengths and impact by creating a process to measure one’s own subjective experiences using performance tracker she has designed. You can download this with an e-mail sign-up http://www.lauragarnett.com/geniushab...
The author offers many groups of questions for self-reflection and for requesting feedback from colleagues to help build a stronger sense of confidence in one’s particular “Genius Zone” skillset.
As with many contemporary folks in the leadership and coaching field, she’s a strong believer in personality typing – but rather than using a system that exists and has been tested, she offers her own list of types which loosely resembles Meyers-Briggs, In these six groupings.
This could be a much stronger book if she focused much more on how to map the results of the Performance Tracker to the personality/genius types that she’s describing.
The “Genius Habit” is an ambitious term and perhaps a bit confusing – to many. Even in the book, she describes providing clients with examples of their “Genius Zone” to share in job interviews but says “don’t use the term since people aren’t familiar with it.”
While she provides a ton of great examples from clients and her own experience – but she can be quite repetitive throughout the book. The book is written in first person – this makes it very accessible but dilutes the strength of her key offerings when combined with the fluff -- repeated references to her own experience and use of the full names of authors and books throughout. There’s also something about the editorial style – I noticed that there was inconsistency in references to other researchers – for example, there are six mentions of “Carol Dweck” for example but “Carl Jung” is mentioned once and all following references are just “Jung.”
The massive variety of case studies is super interesting but sometimes a bit distracting – it would be great to have greater distinction about why a specific case study is being called out and perhaps moving some case studies to an appendix. The author makes a cursory nod toward meditation, exercise and other things – almost as if leaving those things out would be remiss. I recommend leaving those things out and focusing more on the process of developing greater self-awareness with use of the performance tracker and identifying one’s Genius Zone via her typology (or even another established typology).
“The Genius Habit” is a strong introduction to the way that our author thinks about work and how to help people shape their careers – I look forward to a greater exploration and strengthening of her concepts and tools in her future works.
ORIGINAL URL: http://www.livegreenwearblack.com/201...
© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.
Along that same line, author and career coach Laura Garnett has provided a very positive, peppy and supportive book to help other people better understand their strengths and what they are most comfortable doing. The book is a strange mix of primary experience and observations with some very thoughtfully considered processes with probably a bit too much padding from secondary and tertiary sources. In some cases, it feels like she’s chosen the references to build or support her claims.
The strongest parts of the book are where she talks passionately about improving self awareness of one’s strengths and impact by creating a process to measure one’s own subjective experiences using performance tracker she has designed. You can download this with an e-mail sign-up http://www.lauragarnett.com/geniushab...
The author offers many groups of questions for self-reflection and for requesting feedback from colleagues to help build a stronger sense of confidence in one’s particular “Genius Zone” skillset.
As with many contemporary folks in the leadership and coaching field, she’s a strong believer in personality typing – but rather than using a system that exists and has been tested, she offers her own list of types which loosely resembles Meyers-Briggs, In these six groupings.
Process Creation—Making Everything Work Better
• Chaos-to-Order Problem-Solver
• Improvement Strategist
• Needle Finder
• Process Architect
• Good-to-Great Strategist
Visionary—Redefining the World
• Barrier-Breaking Visionary
• Opportunity Excavator
• Innovative Idea Strategist
• Possibility Architect
• Vision Strategist
• Strategic Visionary
• Visionary Change Maker
Strategist—Creating the Path
• Analytical Solution Strategist
• Efficiency Strategist
• People Strategist
• Possibility Strategist
• Results Strategist
• Training Results Strategist
• Solutions Excavator
Synthesizing—Bringing People and Ideas Together
• Collaboration Strategist
• Diagnostic Problem-Solver
• Discerning Ideator
• Synthesis Expert
Catalyzing—Igniting Opportunity
• Connection Catalyst
• Holistic Crisis Problem-Solver
• Social Advocate
• Team Maximizer
Builders—Ideas and Structures
• Creative Results Architect
• Deal Conductor
• Design Strategist
• Experience Producer
• Innovative Rebuilder
• Language and Idea Architect
• New Business Growth Strategist
This could be a much stronger book if she focused much more on how to map the results of the Performance Tracker to the personality/genius types that she’s describing.
The “Genius Habit” is an ambitious term and perhaps a bit confusing – to many. Even in the book, she describes providing clients with examples of their “Genius Zone” to share in job interviews but says “don’t use the term since people aren’t familiar with it.”
While she provides a ton of great examples from clients and her own experience – but she can be quite repetitive throughout the book. The book is written in first person – this makes it very accessible but dilutes the strength of her key offerings when combined with the fluff -- repeated references to her own experience and use of the full names of authors and books throughout. There’s also something about the editorial style – I noticed that there was inconsistency in references to other researchers – for example, there are six mentions of “Carol Dweck” for example but “Carl Jung” is mentioned once and all following references are just “Jung.”
The massive variety of case studies is super interesting but sometimes a bit distracting – it would be great to have greater distinction about why a specific case study is being called out and perhaps moving some case studies to an appendix. The author makes a cursory nod toward meditation, exercise and other things – almost as if leaving those things out would be remiss. I recommend leaving those things out and focusing more on the process of developing greater self-awareness with use of the performance tracker and identifying one’s Genius Zone via her typology (or even another established typology).
“The Genius Habit” is a strong introduction to the way that our author thinks about work and how to help people shape their careers – I look forward to a greater exploration and strengthening of her concepts and tools in her future works.
ORIGINAL URL: http://www.livegreenwearblack.com/201...
© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.
December 15, 2018
Read More Book Reviews on my blog
It's Good To Read
Summary:
This is a self-help book, all about how the author tries to bring you along her motivational path, to harness the you inside, and give you a framework to develop the habits of a genius.
Broken into five main parts, the author first tells you the reader you are already a genius, you just haven’t tapped into it yet. Your genius is particular to you. The author provides certain tools, most notably her Performance Tracker, that aims to support the reader on the journey.
This is part 1, the Challenge. Essentially, it seems to be about breaking the bad habits of a lifetime, find your zone of genius, and using your new-found knowledge to avoid re-making the mistakes of the past e.g. leaving a job without really analysing why you were unhappy there.
Part 2 discusses Impact. This discusses not following your passion, but rather discovering your purpose and combining that with your genius (i.e. that method of work you are exceptional at).
Part 3 is about Joy, the ability to self-motivate as well as to focus on the process of work, not just be a slave to the ultimate goal i.e. avoid becoming an achievement junkie.
Part 4 considers Mindfulness. This stems from getting a detailed grasp on who you are, and knowing the kind of contribution you can make. This leads to greater confidence.
Part 5 finishes on the topic of Perseverance, remaining curious, and eliminating the fear of failure. The only constant is change, as the mantra goes, but the two qualities of grit (never giving up) and curiosity (openness to new ideas, etc.) should be core to your successes.
After some sections, the reader is given a series of closed, yes/no questionnaires, and depending on the number of each response, fall into a particular categorisation e.g. one or two yes’s in a particular section means that that particular issue is a problem for you. In all chapters, the reader is given open-ended questions, to reflect on and complete.
The reader is encouraged to use the Performance Tracker to help identify their Zone of Genius, and leveraging it to make better use of innate skills. This is turn creates and reinforces positive habits, and a virtuous circle is born.
Overall:
The author is very liberal with her own life experiences, and also shares those of her family and clients, in order to illustrate a point, or to give greater context to a particular theory. The author also refers to numerous bodies of work and research.
It is well-structured, and is positive and constructive in its approach. It will be useful for some people, but I think not all.
I found it very simplistic in its approach. There was too much on the analytical, theoretical approach, whereas most people want actionable tasks. Chapters about perseverance and habit-breaking have been done ad nauseum, and readers need something more.
The 329 pages could easily have been reduced, as I feel there is a lot of padding in there. Sometimes the point the author was making got lost in the plethora of examples and anecdotes. There was quite a lot of superfluous stories in there, which really added nothing.
The open-ended questions were in a sense limiting, as not everyone can go deep into themselves, and for people new at this type of stuff, this could be daunting and off-putting.
Overall, it is an ok read, but over-long. For me, there was nothing really new in it, just essentially another list. That said, I have read widely in this area over the years, so for someone new to it this could be a useful primer.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me a free copy of the book, in return for an honest and objective review.
Summary:
This is a self-help book, all about how the author tries to bring you along her motivational path, to harness the you inside, and give you a framework to develop the habits of a genius.
Broken into five main parts, the author first tells you the reader you are already a genius, you just haven’t tapped into it yet. Your genius is particular to you. The author provides certain tools, most notably her Performance Tracker, that aims to support the reader on the journey.
This is part 1, the Challenge. Essentially, it seems to be about breaking the bad habits of a lifetime, find your zone of genius, and using your new-found knowledge to avoid re-making the mistakes of the past e.g. leaving a job without really analysing why you were unhappy there.
Part 2 discusses Impact. This discusses not following your passion, but rather discovering your purpose and combining that with your genius (i.e. that method of work you are exceptional at).
Part 3 is about Joy, the ability to self-motivate as well as to focus on the process of work, not just be a slave to the ultimate goal i.e. avoid becoming an achievement junkie.
Part 4 considers Mindfulness. This stems from getting a detailed grasp on who you are, and knowing the kind of contribution you can make. This leads to greater confidence.
Part 5 finishes on the topic of Perseverance, remaining curious, and eliminating the fear of failure. The only constant is change, as the mantra goes, but the two qualities of grit (never giving up) and curiosity (openness to new ideas, etc.) should be core to your successes.
After some sections, the reader is given a series of closed, yes/no questionnaires, and depending on the number of each response, fall into a particular categorisation e.g. one or two yes’s in a particular section means that that particular issue is a problem for you. In all chapters, the reader is given open-ended questions, to reflect on and complete.
The reader is encouraged to use the Performance Tracker to help identify their Zone of Genius, and leveraging it to make better use of innate skills. This is turn creates and reinforces positive habits, and a virtuous circle is born.
Overall:
The author is very liberal with her own life experiences, and also shares those of her family and clients, in order to illustrate a point, or to give greater context to a particular theory. The author also refers to numerous bodies of work and research.
It is well-structured, and is positive and constructive in its approach. It will be useful for some people, but I think not all.
I found it very simplistic in its approach. There was too much on the analytical, theoretical approach, whereas most people want actionable tasks. Chapters about perseverance and habit-breaking have been done ad nauseum, and readers need something more.
The 329 pages could easily have been reduced, as I feel there is a lot of padding in there. Sometimes the point the author was making got lost in the plethora of examples and anecdotes. There was quite a lot of superfluous stories in there, which really added nothing.
The open-ended questions were in a sense limiting, as not everyone can go deep into themselves, and for people new at this type of stuff, this could be daunting and off-putting.
Overall, it is an ok read, but over-long. For me, there was nothing really new in it, just essentially another list. That said, I have read widely in this area over the years, so for someone new to it this could be a useful primer.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me a free copy of the book, in return for an honest and objective review.
November 10, 2018
I picked up this book because the title appealed me. I thought I would end up learning new ways to cultivate habits that would make me more productive at work. But after reading this book, it gave me a lot more to think about. Starting with word Genius in the title. Genius is not defined in traditional sense as someone with high IQ but rather your own problem solving and thinking process that is specific to you and you know you are good at it because it's yours and you have been using it forever so naturally you are good at it, you are Genius at it. Also the definition of work has changed with changing generations. Before work was something that you just do and that helps you pay bills but as we have evolved with technology and new platforms to work on, work need not be only something that we have to do but something that we should enjoy. After all if you are going to do it for long time you might as well enjoy it. Right?
The process starts with knowing if this work or that job is right for you. This books walks you through a process that helps you determine whether your current job is the right fit for you by using the concept of Genius Habit and Zone of Genius. May be the job does allow you to use your Genius Habit and lets you work in your Zone of Genius but you are still not happy due to other factors. Well, in that case the book recommends some strategies to make it better. There are some well thought out questions that helps you navigate through your “job situation” whatever that may be. Peppered though the book are case studies to demonstrate the process and some references to sociological and psychological research to scientifically back the process.
Overall I think this is a well written book with a non-traditional view of relationship between self and the work/job we do. If you are looking for a book that helps you evaluate whether a particular job is a good fit for you or whether you are looking to move on from your current job this book will provide some useful information to help you find your path.
P.S: I received this book via NetGalley. Thank you Sourcebooks publishers and Laura Garnett for letting me review this book ahead of it's published date.
The process starts with knowing if this work or that job is right for you. This books walks you through a process that helps you determine whether your current job is the right fit for you by using the concept of Genius Habit and Zone of Genius. May be the job does allow you to use your Genius Habit and lets you work in your Zone of Genius but you are still not happy due to other factors. Well, in that case the book recommends some strategies to make it better. There are some well thought out questions that helps you navigate through your “job situation” whatever that may be. Peppered though the book are case studies to demonstrate the process and some references to sociological and psychological research to scientifically back the process.
Overall I think this is a well written book with a non-traditional view of relationship between self and the work/job we do. If you are looking for a book that helps you evaluate whether a particular job is a good fit for you or whether you are looking to move on from your current job this book will provide some useful information to help you find your path.
P.S: I received this book via NetGalley. Thank you Sourcebooks publishers and Laura Garnett for letting me review this book ahead of it's published date.
December 7, 2018
#netgalley#eARC#SELFHELP
First of all I must say there are so many self help books around and they tend to use similar examples and research and follow similar patterns. Sometimes you see complete lack of originality.
.
.
But this one is different. Its nicely formatted and enjoyable.
.
Book starts with biography of author and her struggles in her career early on and what she learnt at her initial assignments.
.
.
Name of the book is misleading.
If you are looking for some magical single habit; you would find none. Book defines that it is must for every individual to find his genius habit, to nurture it, to find work matching it, to fight difficulties and persist in spite of early failures.
.
.
Book is divided into sections focusing on different aspects of finding your genius. Author uses examples of big shots like Elon musk, Jeff bezos, Warren Buffet and cites her own biography and case stories of her clients at her consulting firm.
.
.
At points their are too many questionnaires and too much data. Examples of her clients appear too long at times.
.
.
But when she discusses topics like mentor, sleep, public speaking about grit; she wins your attention back and reader feels there is great learning content on offer
.
.
I wish book had fewer client stories and fewer questionnaires but still it is different sort of self help book.
.
.My rating 4/5
🍩🍩🍩🍩
.
.
First of all I must say there are so many self help books around and they tend to use similar examples and research and follow similar patterns. Sometimes you see complete lack of originality.
.
.
But this one is different. Its nicely formatted and enjoyable.
.
Book starts with biography of author and her struggles in her career early on and what she learnt at her initial assignments.
.
.
Name of the book is misleading.
If you are looking for some magical single habit; you would find none. Book defines that it is must for every individual to find his genius habit, to nurture it, to find work matching it, to fight difficulties and persist in spite of early failures.
.
.
Book is divided into sections focusing on different aspects of finding your genius. Author uses examples of big shots like Elon musk, Jeff bezos, Warren Buffet and cites her own biography and case stories of her clients at her consulting firm.
.
.
At points their are too many questionnaires and too much data. Examples of her clients appear too long at times.
.
.
But when she discusses topics like mentor, sleep, public speaking about grit; she wins your attention back and reader feels there is great learning content on offer
.
.
I wish book had fewer client stories and fewer questionnaires but still it is different sort of self help book.
.
.My rating 4/5
🍩🍩🍩🍩
.
.
September 19, 2018
THE GENIUS HABIT is a solidly written motivational book on how to identify your career passion, personality, and focus, as well as the habits that hold you back or move you forward. The author's methodology includes tools to identify these areas, as well as tools for tracking your productivity (or possible lack thereof). She offers stories of clients at various stages of their careers, highlighting what worked and what didn't. Readers looking to make changes in their career might find this book helpful. It seemed geared more toward people who work for corporations rather than entrepreneurs, but the tools could be useful for everyone.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2020
This book is like going to a therapist for your career. It's hard to get clear on where things are going wrong. It's even tougher to know what to do to get out of it and feel productive and happy in your work again.
There are so many great exercises and clarity prompts in this book. I've even used some in helping my own clients to get clear and move forward.
There are so many great exercises and clarity prompts in this book. I've even used some in helping my own clients to get clear and move forward.
August 29, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5
November 2, 2018
To be featured in the March-April 2019 book review for Global Business and Organizational Excellence, a Wiley publication.
March 26, 2019
I finished this in under 24 hours (thanks to my e-ARC expiring). It was a quick read, but a solid read.
I've read so many books on this topic, as I teach a lot of material like this to my students, so I'm always looking for books to use in class. This may make the cut.
It's well-organized, it's a good mix of good advice and anecdotes (both from her own experience and her clients'), and the reflection exercises in each section seem very practical. This also is geared toward people with "real" jobs. I certainly don't mean that disparagingly, but so many of the books out there that I've read recently are clearly written by Youtubers, wannabe influencers/bloggers and freelancers who are on their own schedules. Those are all legitimate career paths, but books written by those folks, but who then attempt to market to the other 98% of people working 9 to 5 for someone other than themselves, are mostly useless because it's not realistic. This book does seem relevant and helpful for those who are on a more strict career path. That said, some advice may not be feasible, and I don't necessarily agree with her assertion that we value aspects of our careers that are contradictory to how we were raised (i.e, something about how folks who grew up feeling like they lacked support would then want a career where they can support others). But, overall, I found myself nodding along with most of what she had to say.
Thanks, Netgalley, for the copy!
I've read so many books on this topic, as I teach a lot of material like this to my students, so I'm always looking for books to use in class. This may make the cut.
It's well-organized, it's a good mix of good advice and anecdotes (both from her own experience and her clients'), and the reflection exercises in each section seem very practical. This also is geared toward people with "real" jobs. I certainly don't mean that disparagingly, but so many of the books out there that I've read recently are clearly written by Youtubers, wannabe influencers/bloggers and freelancers who are on their own schedules. Those are all legitimate career paths, but books written by those folks, but who then attempt to market to the other 98% of people working 9 to 5 for someone other than themselves, are mostly useless because it's not realistic. This book does seem relevant and helpful for those who are on a more strict career path. That said, some advice may not be feasible, and I don't necessarily agree with her assertion that we value aspects of our careers that are contradictory to how we were raised (i.e, something about how folks who grew up feeling like they lacked support would then want a career where they can support others). But, overall, I found myself nodding along with most of what she had to say.
Thanks, Netgalley, for the copy!
February 10, 2020
The Genius Habit: How One Habit Can Radically Change Your Work and Your Life. The title alone had my attention. I wanted to read this book and make sure it lived up to its title!
Pleasantly surprised, I found myself reading this wonderful collection of words. It was so astounding that I actually shared what I had read on my social media lives! All this amazing information needs to be shared!
Author Laura Garnett talks about finding your Zone of Genius in your environment. This would be with your family, at work, and in any activities you participate in. It’s about figuring out what you’re good at and thriving there. It’s about know the areas you need to work on and grow in. This idea helped me realize in my own life why I wasn’t very happy in my work life. It helped me see where I can enjoy my work and ways in which I can improve.
She tells readers about the difference between passion and purpose; ideas I’ve struggled with for years. And about how happiness shouldn’t rest in your achievements. There are so many great nuggets wishing the covers of this book!
This book was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review. I give it 5 out of 5 tiaras and highly recommend it for anyone who’s looking to improve their outlook in life.
Pleasantly surprised, I found myself reading this wonderful collection of words. It was so astounding that I actually shared what I had read on my social media lives! All this amazing information needs to be shared!
Author Laura Garnett talks about finding your Zone of Genius in your environment. This would be with your family, at work, and in any activities you participate in. It’s about figuring out what you’re good at and thriving there. It’s about know the areas you need to work on and grow in. This idea helped me realize in my own life why I wasn’t very happy in my work life. It helped me see where I can enjoy my work and ways in which I can improve.
She tells readers about the difference between passion and purpose; ideas I’ve struggled with for years. And about how happiness shouldn’t rest in your achievements. There are so many great nuggets wishing the covers of this book!
This book was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review. I give it 5 out of 5 tiaras and highly recommend it for anyone who’s looking to improve their outlook in life.
March 2, 2019
This book does not talk about one habit as hinted at by the title and blurb, but about recognizing what your genius it. Written by a coach, it takes you through the process of tracking your performance, figuring out what you are at good at and what you like to do, and how you should do more of it. There are plenty of anecdotes and examples - unfortunately the writing style was not super engaging for me and the overuse of words like genius (diluting its meaning) made me not enjoy and connect with it as much as I would have otherwise. Try a few pages to see if it works for you. Disclaimer: I received an ARC from netgalley.
October 18, 2018
Genius book!
Well Researched! Practical! Easy to follow :)
I love her style of writing and felt that quite a few concepts has been brought together (these concepts blend really well).
I like how it breaks the myth of our preconceived ideas (I had one, I have to have a mentor...) Thankfully, there was a chapter in the book, which kind of makes perfect sense.
I highly recommend this book, it will be your go to guidance book!
I have yet to complete 'Performance Tracker' and very much looking forward to using this!
Thank you Laura for a great book.
Well Researched! Practical! Easy to follow :)
I love her style of writing and felt that quite a few concepts has been brought together (these concepts blend really well).
I like how it breaks the myth of our preconceived ideas (I had one, I have to have a mentor...) Thankfully, there was a chapter in the book, which kind of makes perfect sense.
I highly recommend this book, it will be your go to guidance book!
I have yet to complete 'Performance Tracker' and very much looking forward to using this!
Thank you Laura for a great book.
April 23, 2019
A drawn out way of saying 'know thyself', this book focuses on building a career on those things you already do well and enjoy (note: apparently I should be an international courier). I'm not giving it a great rating because frankly, not everyone can be a consultant. It's unreasonable for everyone to have a job where you don't want to go home for the weekend because you love the job so much (it's also unhealthy in a work-life balance way). Sure, find the things you're great at, but also work on your areas of Proximal Development- step out of your comfort zone and become even more amazing.
July 29, 2020
"The energy that it takes to be proactive and take control of your life is the same energy it takes to grind through a life you don't love."
Laura Garnett's book 'The Genius Habit' is an insightful resource filled with reflective tools and questions to help you to discover exactly what type of work will bring you fulfillment.
"A passion can provide direction, but if you cant connect it to your genius, ultimately it won't be enough..."
It is not about 'doing what you love', but about finding out the type of thinking you use to solve problems when you are deeply in the zone.
"Your genius is the way you process information that is most enjoyable and effective for you."
Laura uses some fantastic questioning to help you reflect on your working life, and to pinpoint moments when you experienced flow. You can then use these experiences to uncover your unique talent for solving problems.
When you are able to link your work to the way you think best, you find a niche that fills you with energy and motivation. If you can also find a way to solve problems that help others to overcome similar challenges, you are connecting with a deeper purpose.
What I love about this book is not only that it is practical, but that it can be used by anyone looking to enhance their working experience, not just entrepreneurs looking to create their own lifestyle.
Understanding your Genius Habit is a great way to experience more joy and flow in your life—if you haven't read it yet, I recommend picking up a copy!
"...being successful is not about how much money you make or how many people you influence; it's when you feel great about the work you do every day."
Laura Garnett's book 'The Genius Habit' is an insightful resource filled with reflective tools and questions to help you to discover exactly what type of work will bring you fulfillment.
"A passion can provide direction, but if you cant connect it to your genius, ultimately it won't be enough..."
It is not about 'doing what you love', but about finding out the type of thinking you use to solve problems when you are deeply in the zone.
"Your genius is the way you process information that is most enjoyable and effective for you."
Laura uses some fantastic questioning to help you reflect on your working life, and to pinpoint moments when you experienced flow. You can then use these experiences to uncover your unique talent for solving problems.
When you are able to link your work to the way you think best, you find a niche that fills you with energy and motivation. If you can also find a way to solve problems that help others to overcome similar challenges, you are connecting with a deeper purpose.
What I love about this book is not only that it is practical, but that it can be used by anyone looking to enhance their working experience, not just entrepreneurs looking to create their own lifestyle.
Understanding your Genius Habit is a great way to experience more joy and flow in your life—if you haven't read it yet, I recommend picking up a copy!
"...being successful is not about how much money you make or how many people you influence; it's when you feel great about the work you do every day."
January 9, 2020
In The Genius Habit, Laura Garnett discusses how to cultivate practices that grows one's distinctive way of thinking and solving problems. She aims to help readers improve their self-awareness by providing a performance framework that will enable them to label their strengths and weaknesses. dubbed the performance tracker. With the help of numerous personal stories, client testimonies and references, Garnett refrains the importance of self-awareness and the need for constant personal assessment. Unfortunately, there was not any new or unique concept in the book that would make it stand out. Her message is important and I would recommend that readers try out this book in audio format because of her conversational tone throughout the book.
P.S. This book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
P.S. This book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
I am an avid reader of books and articles that classify strengths and personality. I was surprised to read something so different and unique. I really liked this book because it is a new system and way of looking at strengths. Her approach reminds me of Richard Bolle's book, "What Color is Your Parachute," from the 1990s because it really drills down to help someone find their exact giftings.
I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the book could have benefitted from more actual how-to on how to classify yourself into the different categories. I would have loved to see more examples of each strength.
I did really enjoy the case studies and would have loved to have seen even more, if possible.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be studying it more in-depth, and doing the exercises. Thanks, Laura!
I agree with another reviewer who mentioned that the book could have benefitted from more actual how-to on how to classify yourself into the different categories. I would have loved to see more examples of each strength.
I did really enjoy the case studies and would have loved to have seen even more, if possible.
But overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be studying it more in-depth, and doing the exercises. Thanks, Laura!
February 16, 2019
Knowing your “zone of genius” will help you anchor yourself so you can grow in your career, be happy, and reach your full potential. That is the my main take away from this book.
I would say that this says a lot on how Laura Gartnett helped her clients achieve their full potential and progress in their careers. Given the setting where the ideas of the book is coming from, this book is very practical and provides the readers with the tools to operate on the concepts of Zone of Genius.
Since the ideas are practical and can have immediate impact once implemented, this is apt for busy working professionals who would like to know the steps on how to start being successful.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this book in exchange for my honest views.
I would say that this says a lot on how Laura Gartnett helped her clients achieve their full potential and progress in their careers. Given the setting where the ideas of the book is coming from, this book is very practical and provides the readers with the tools to operate on the concepts of Zone of Genius.
Since the ideas are practical and can have immediate impact once implemented, this is apt for busy working professionals who would like to know the steps on how to start being successful.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this book in exchange for my honest views.
September 13, 2019
I don’t usually read business or self-help books, but the this was a good audiobook to listen on the drive to work. I liked her main point: Finding work that fulfills you will lead you to success. Your zone of genius is the work you can lose yourself in and that makes you feel fulfilled at the end of the day. Everyone is a “genius” at something, and when you find that skill and are able to use it during purposeful work, you succeed. She also addresses burnout, and making sure you are taking care of yourself by exercising and sleeping in order to do your best work. I downloaded the performance tracker from her website, and I plan on completing it weekly to help guide me towards work I love as I build my career.
April 29, 2020
This is quite likely one of the better self-help job-related books I've consumed. It is BROADLY applicable to pretty much anyone and not just for those working in a corporate setting. While I don't find it life-changing, it gave several insights, it's highly probable I'll visit it again in the future, especially if I find myself discontented with my work and/or on a job hunt (tho I don't see that in my future, you never know). I will be definitely recommending this to others, from the HS senior trying on ideas for post-secondary to friends and acquaintances that are looking to reinvent themselves or place themselves in an employment situation more likely to fulfill them and/or play to their strengths.
December 31, 2022
This was not really a good book for me. I misunderstood who this book was for. I was looking for a business motivation book, but this is more of a manual of how to be a successful employee. It kept coming back to finding a way to make your work meaningful. The book is ok....it's a good way of looking at how to help employees feel fulfilled, but as an entrepreneur, this book really didn't do anything for me. I finished it simply because I rarely leave books unread and I had hoped that I could glean some nuggets that I could apply, but they were few and far between. If you are an entrepreneur, this book is NOT for you....don't waste your time.
July 17, 2020
As I prepare to return to the workforce the next few years I was intrigued to ear read this book. I will say I struggled a bit without a written copy of the many questions provided throughout the book (and couldn't find these questions as a download). Garnett did provided some helpful tools that aid in knowing yourself better and how that can relate to productive, focused work. I did struggle to actually develop my 'genius' as discussed in the book. As I move closer to returning to work I may look into a paper copy of this book to see if seeing the questions helps me more?!
May 8, 2024
This book was very enjoyable and contains number of reflective exercises to really help you explore what your "genius" is in the workplace. I initially listened to the audio version, but after finishing it, I found myself so impressed that I ordered a paper copy so I could take more time to work through the various questions and thought exercises. Laura Garnett really changed my outlook on my career and my life with the information she presented. I strongly recommend it for those looking to find meaning in their work and career.
April 3, 2019
This is a wonderful book; using a series of homework examples that have you explore what parts of your personality fit what your "genius" is. We've believed for too long that people can learn to do any job; but the truth of the matter is that we all naturally excel at different things. And this book helps you find your own are in which you will find it easier to excel.
This would definitely be best as a physical book. Something you can fill out and look back on.
This would definitely be best as a physical book. Something you can fill out and look back on.
May 8, 2020
part one of the book was worth the price of admission. this is where garnett's 'special sauce' really lies, and i found it immensely helpful. so much so that i'm not giving this two stars, which would otherwise be my inclination. from part two on, the vitality, specificity and actionability decline steadily; brushing against subjects that are much better pursued via other books, or working with a solid therapist. very strong start. very weak finish.
October 3, 2022
The Genius Habit hones in on discovering what drives you in your career path. Often, we follow paths our predecessors have paved. However, Garnett explains how important it is to discover what areas YOU excel in. She then moves on to encourage the reader to steer their career in this direction. While some of the advice is a bit outdated, you can definitely find what resonates w/you and hopefully begin to move in that direction.
February 17, 2019
4.5 stars really. Provides excellent actionable steps. Offers a clear reasoning why tapping on a person’s natural ability is a winning strategy. She also lists plenty of genius titles to get the reader started. I read many books about motivation and efficiency and this book has some great ideas.
Thanks to the publisher for access to an early copy.
Thanks to the publisher for access to an early copy.
September 20, 2019
I might have found this book useful earlier in my career but at this point alot of the information in it was redundant with all the books she referenced. I did not find anything novel in her thesis or approach. But if you're newer in your career or need some career / life coaching it may be helpful.
May 4, 2020
In my opinion, this book has some jewels at the ending chapters. It frustrated me how almost everything was always traced back to your parents. I think this book is a good read, but you should definitely start by reading the books mentioned in this book as references like grit, peak performance, or mindset.
November 18, 2019
Highly recommend this book if you are looking to track your productivity, find your “genius” and better explain yourself in job interviews.
James Clear Atomic Habits is a good warm up to this deeper work into the questions he asks in his book.
James Clear Atomic Habits is a good warm up to this deeper work into the questions he asks in his book.
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May 31, 2020This is a helpful way at looking at yourself and working out where your talents are best deployed. It allows you to embrace being a genius - but perhaps over uses this word! Has helped me to coach others... now to try it on myself!
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