Join Victoria Cumberbatch as she breaks down the Zone of Genius – your secret weapon for personal and professional growth. She walks us through how finding your genius can help you feel more fulfilled and successful in your work. Victoria gets real about her own journey and shares some handy tips to help you figure out where your genius truly lies.
ABOUT YOUR TEACHER
Viki is an ACC resilience coach, here to support the neurodiverse from living in states of tension to thriving in states of intention. Rooted in a neuro-friendly, trauma-informed approach, she supports individuals and teams through coaching, breathwork, and community-centered experiences.
EPISODE RESOURCES ✍️
Check our her website: here
Let’s look at each zone, what it means, and how to use this knowledge to build a career that feels uniquely tailored to you.
Zone of Incompetence
What is it?
These are the activities that drain your energy, leave you exhausted, and often fill you with a sense of “I should be better at this.” For marketers, this might look like struggling endlessly with web design, technical SEO, or data analytics—tasks that aren’t just difficult, but actually sap your confidence and momentum.
Signs you’re here:
- Chronic procrastination
- High anxiety or self-doubt
- Frequent use of “should” and “have to” language (hint: shame often lurks behind these)
Viki’s advice: Track where your time goes. Notice the tasks you put off or dread. Recognizing these helps you start shifting them off your plate, whether through learning, automation, collaboration, or delegation.
Zone of Competence
What is it?
Here, you can do the tasks—they’re not impossible—but they’re tedious, time-consuming, and definitely not energizing. For a marketer, this might be routine admin, basic social scheduling, or reporting processes you tolerate because someone has to.
Signs you’re here:
- You can get through the work, but there’s little inspiration
- These tasks tend to fill up your calendar, leaving less space for what actually excites you
- You’re operating in “autopilot” mode
Viki’s advice: Don’t rush to outsource before you understand the task. Spend time learning how to make it work for you, then systematize, automate, or delegate. Routine is your friend here, but so is honest auditing of your energy.
Zone of Excellence
What is it?
This zone is where you get praise, results, and external validation. Your marketing strategies work, your campaigns deliver, and people call you an expert. But sometimes, it doesn’t quite feel right—it’s comfortable, not truly fulfilling.
Signs you’re here:
- You’re sought out for your skills, but something feels “missing”
- You know what to expect, but the spark isn’t always there
- The task is easy for you, but you’re not deeply energised by it
Viki’s advice: Don’t get stuck here! Excellence can mask your real genius, keeping you safe but disconnected from your true calling. Use excellence as an integration zone, but keep reflecting on what actually lights you up.
Zone of Genius
What is it?
This is where the magic happens. Time flies, energy grows, and work feels deeply fulfilling. For marketers, your genius might be creative brainstorming, big-picture strategy, live facilitation, or transformative teaching—whatever feels naturally rewarding and almost effortless.
Signs you’re here:
- You easily enter a flow state and lose track of time
- Tasks energise you instead of draining you
- You receive compliments for things you barely notice you’re doing (because it’s second nature!)
- You feel satisfied, fulfilled, and content
Viki’s advice: Aim for spending at least 40-70% of your time in this zone—however you measure your work week. Not sure what your genius is? Audit your tasks, watch for patterns, and ask trusted peers what they notice you do exceptionally well.