Characteristics of Genius – Action-Oriented

The A in PROTAG is for Action-oriented.  The Cambridge dictionary defines it as:

willing or likely to take practical action to deal with a problem or situation

One of my favorite books is just a short motivational one by Andy Andrews titled “Butterfly Effect.”  In it he shares the impact of just doing what you are supposed to do… not being afraid of taking action… and how it can change the world.  These things can be huge like leading men into battle, or small, like sharing your interest in nature with a child.   No matter what, these actions make a difference.  They are sharing your genius

How many times have you stayed quiet or stopped yourself from doing something because of fear?  Could that have changed someone’s world?  That fear could have been just of making yourself look foolish or not feeling comfortable.  When you push through that fear you get something so worthwhile.  You get to express your true genius.

Angela Duckworth felt that action (or effort) was so important she used it twice in her equations to show what was needed for achievement.  She says that Talent x Effort = Skill and Skill x Effort = Achievement.  In order to develop your talent you need to take action by putting in effort and then you need to put in more effort in order to take the skill you have developed and solve problems.  For example, she noted a study of competitve swimmer.  Sociologist Dan Chambliss found that it was the effort that was put in daily training that determined success rather than natural talent or abilities.

But action needs to be put in the right direction.  In his book, The One Thing, Gary Keller suggests asking the focusing question:

“What’s the ONE Thing you can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

This question helps to focus our efforts so that they can really make a difference.  It is important to realize that he isn’t advocating being totally focused on one thing to the exclusion of all else.  By using this question we can filter out the things that are distractions.  Each day we can begin by asking ourselves what is the ONE Thing we need to do right now and then do it.  When it is done, we can ask the question again.

Gay Hendricks in his book The Big Leap also covers this topic.  He talks about focusing on your “genius zone”.  The genius zone is where you get in the flow and can really dive deep.  One story he told was about a high-powered executive who took all day to try and install a new printer.  After being unsuccessful he asked a neighbor boy to do it and he got it done in less than an hour.  The executive was very capable in some areas but was definitely not functioning in his “genius zone” in this instance.  If we can filter out things we don’t need to do and allow others to do them for us, we give them a chance to express their genius.

Encourage your students to be action-oriented by also helping them focus on what really matters at the time.  It can make a difference to so many people!

If you would like to learn more about different characteristics to develop that will help you realize your genius and develop a genius paradigm check out these articles:

Characteristics of a Genius – Perspicacity
Characteristics of a Genius – Resolute
Characteristics of a Genius – Optimism
Characteristics of a Genius – Talent
Characteristics of a Genius – Generosity