104. Stop Calling It "Just Something": How to Own Your Zone of Genius as a Service Provider

Do you ever catch yourself saying "I'm just good at planning" or "I just see the big picture"? If you're downplaying what comes naturally to you because it feels too easy, you're hiding the exact thing your ideal clients are desperately searching for.

Most service providers think they need to offer everything, strategy, implementation, daily management, to be successful. But here's what actually happens: you end up burnt out, doing work you hate, and attracting clients who want all the things instead of the one thing you're brilliant at. In this episode, I'm breaking down why you keep talking yourself out of your zone of genius (what I call your unique magic), and exactly what to do about it so you can build a business around what you actually love.

Key Points Covered:

✨ Why the thing you're calling "just something" is actually your most valuable skill, and how to own it

✨ The truth about industry labels and why you don't have to fit yourself into what an OBM or VA is "supposed" to do

✨ How specializing in your zone of genius attracts premium clients who specifically want what you're brilliant at (plus a real client example)

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🎧 Podcast produced and edited with love by @FerAssists 🩵

Transcript

[00:00:00] Andrea Elibero: Andrea here, your host and passionate business coach and scaling strategist for soulful service providers and coaches. Welcome to another episode of Soulepreneur Scaling Stories. Have you ever wanted to look behind the curtain of your fellow entrepreneur's business to see what actually went into scaling it?

[00:00:22] Andrea Elibero: Well, you are in for a treat 'cause that's exactly what we are doing here. In each episode, we will be uncovering the truth of the lessons and the stories behind what it truly takes for sold entrepreneurs to scale their businesses intentionally. I'm hoping that their stories will help you to unlock the true potential of your business so you can create your own soulful, abundant, and aligned laptop lifestyle through intentional scaling.

[00:00:46] Andrea Elibero: So whether you're just starting out on your scaling journey or you're a seasoned entrepreneur seeking inspiration, this episode has something incredible in store for you. Are you ready to rise, grow, and create a business that fully supports your dream life? Well, let's dive in. [00:01:00] Before we begin, make sure to hit that subscribe buttons.

[00:01:03] Andrea Elibero: You never miss an empowering episode filled with real stories and soulful insights.

[00:01:11] Andrea Elibero: If you are somebody who downplays what you're good at and what you do, stick around because you are going to want to hear what I have to say in this episode. So you are scrolling LinkedIn, you're seeing other O bms, VAs service providers, whoever talk about what they do. Like if you're an OBM, you see them talking about their systems and team management and you're thinking like, I mean, yeah, I could do that, right?

[00:01:34] Andrea Elibero: But that's not really what lights me up. And then you push that thought away because you're like, well, that's what an OBM is supposed to do, right? Like, that's what I'm supposed to do. Or maybe you're calling yourself a project manager even though what you are really doing. The thing that really makes you lose track of time is the strategy.

[00:01:52] Andrea Elibero: It's the planning, it's the seeing what your clients and these other people cannot see. Like that part is the part that you're amazing at. So [00:02:00] if you've ever felt like you're hiding your real expertise. Because it doesn't fit into this neat little box. Stay tuned and welcome again to solopreneur Scaling Stories.

[00:02:11] Andrea Elibero: I am Andrea. I help VA's OBM Service Pros go from overwhelmed generalistic confident specialists with offers actually excite them. And today we're gonna talk about why you keep talking yourself out of your zone of genius, what I like to call your unique magic and what to do about it. So I see this a lot, right?

[00:02:30] Andrea Elibero: And a lot lately I've seen this inside of expansion, my one-on-one coaching program. This is my signature offer. Rebuild out your offers and your positioning and how you talk about yourself and your marketing and all that good stuff. So one of my clients, she came to me and said something like, you know, I think I need to offer project management because that's what people hire for.

[00:02:50] Andrea Elibero: And so I said, okay, what part of project management do you actually love? And she says, well, I really love the planning. Like I [00:03:00] love taking their messy vision and turning it into this clear roadmap for them. I really get excited and. You know, I'm really good at doing that when somebody has so many ideas and they haven't finished half of their projects and things like that.

[00:03:14] Andrea Elibero: I'm really good at pulling that apart and helping them to get these things done, and I love it. But then when it comes to actually like doing implementation or Asana, or managing the daily check-ins. It just, it doesn't feel the same. It's not something that I really, really want to do. And then she's like, well, I feel like I should do it right?

[00:03:32] Andrea Elibero: 'cause if I'm a real project manager, if I'm calling myself that, shouldn't I do everything? And my answer was, no. You shouldn't do all of those things. So here is the thing, is that she was trying to fit herself into this label, this industry label that. It is not really for her, it's not really what she wants to be doing, but she's really like molding herself into would kind of like fit into this thing.

[00:03:58] Andrea Elibero: So let's break that down [00:04:00] a little bit. So first off is you are confusing the zone of genius. You have this like amazing things with just something so, you know, I've heard so many times people say things like, oh, I'm just good at planning. Oh yeah. I just see the big picture. I just ask questions that help them and get clear and they.

[00:04:20] Andrea Elibero: You know, that's just around project management, things like that. And this happens with so many things. Oh yeah, I just do this. I'm like, no big deal. Right? And I'm like, just like you just do this and I really need you to understand you. Who's listening or watching this to understand that the thing that you are playing, downplaying the thing that you are saying, I just do.

[00:04:42] Andrea Elibero: This is probably the most valuable skill that you have. It's what your clients rave about. It's what makes them say things like, oh my God, talking to you, or, you know, working with you has been the best part of my business at. Like, like it's amazing, right? One of my [00:05:00] clients had a client tell her that she felt like, you know, in this example, that she was a snow globe coming to rest.

[00:05:07] Andrea Elibero: Like, that's so beautiful. You know? That's such a beautiful metaphor one, and how relieving that is for this person and the thing, the thing is, is that that's not just anything that's my client's magic. That's her unique magic. But, uh. And it's the same with you and whatever you are doing in your business that you're so good at, but you're downplaying it because it comes easily to you.

[00:05:33] Andrea Elibero: And this happens with everybody, right? You think, well, if it's easy for me, it must be easy for everybody, so it must not be that valuable. Or you don't even know what it is because it is just easy for you. But this is so, so, so wrong. Your natural talent, that thing that feels completely effortless to you is exactly what people pay premium prices for because it's not effortless for them.[00:06:00] 

[00:06:00] Andrea Elibero: They're drowning in that thing and you are the one who so easily, right? Bring brings clarity, who so easily helps them get out of it, and you think it's no big deal, but for them it changes everything for them and their business. So that's the first thing. Don't downplay your zone of genius. Second thing is that you're trying to fit into industry expectations instead of owning your unique approach.

[00:06:26] Andrea Elibero: So if I asked you right, like where did you learn what an OBM or project manager or VA is, quote unquote supposed to do? Probably from either a course of somebody promoting, say, Hey, get, get, you know, like this is what you're supposed to do from job descriptions, from other people doing this thing from Facebook groups, you know, whatever random places.

[00:06:49] Andrea Elibero: And then. Because you're seeing it out there. Maybe you think like, and then you see other people who are quote unquote successful. You know, they're saying that they make this money, they're saying, you know, [00:07:00] whatever. They have these clients, like you see them kind of being boastful about what they do, and you're thinking like, oh, like, okay, I can do that.

[00:07:07] Andrea Elibero: That looks successful, and so I need to do what they're doing. And that's like, okay, right. Like. The analogy that comes to mind, it's like being a chef who's amazing at creating recipes, but then you're also forcing yourself to be the line cook, the dishwasher, the server, the pastry chef, right? Because that's 'cause a restaurant needs all of these things.

[00:07:28] Andrea Elibero: No, no, but you're the chef. You're the person who creates the vision. And you know, in this example, right? Someone else can execute it. Or maybe you're the pastry chef, maybe you're super creative, but you're not. Like it doesn't really like, yeah, you can cook other stuff, you know, regular food, non dessert food, but it doesn't light you up, it doesn't excite you.

[00:07:47] Andrea Elibero: And it's not as good as your pastries. It's not as creative. Or maybe you're the manager of the restaurant and you love making the schedules and hiring people and things like that, but ask you to wash a dish. Like it's not gonna come out [00:08:00] clean, you know, like, or it comes out okay. But it's not the thing.

[00:08:04] Andrea Elibero: And I could go on and on, right? And you see where this is going, but this is what happens in your business. If you are brilliant at strategy, at planning, at seeing the path forward, that's your role. If you're brilliant at systems at breaking those down, that's what you should be doing. If you are brilliant at the implementation and you are not into.

[00:08:26] Andrea Elibero: Strategy, then you should be doing that piece. Just because industry says, oh, this is what that role is, does not mean that you have to do all of those things. You will be, I argue that you'll be more successful if you actually ignore that and just focus on the thing that you love and the thing that you are amazing at and forget the rest of it.

[00:08:52] Andrea Elibero: Hmm. Third, you are afraid if you specialize, then you'll lose opportunities. I completely get this right. It feels really [00:09:00] scary. It feels like you're shrinking your world and you're like, okay, I'm struggling to get like general clients if I niche down, if I specialize in something. The idea of getting more specific feels really terrifying.

[00:09:13] Andrea Elibero: You think, well, if I only, if I say I only do this one piece, then that'll turn people off who want this whole thing. Yeah. Yes it will. And that's the exact point, because if you're somebody who does all the things, you're attracting people who want all the things, the strategy, the implementation, the like every single piece of it, and then.

[00:09:37] Andrea Elibero: In turn, that means for you that you're doing work that you hate. And I am sure if you're listening to this that there are things that you do that you really, really dislike doing them and things that you're not that amazing at, right? But you're doing them anyways. Things that you've procrastinated, but you're doing them anyways.

[00:09:53] Andrea Elibero: And then what happens if you continue down this road? Ask me how I know I have been there. You'll become. [00:10:00] Burnt out and resentful of your business, and then maybe you might even think like, oh, maybe I'm not just cut out for this. Maybe I should go back to a regular job. But that's not the case. The case is, is that you're just not doing the thing you're supposed to be doing, the thing you were born for.

[00:10:16] Andrea Elibero: When you own this sono genius, this unique magic, and you focus and tell people and market that. Then you attract clients who specifically want what you're brilliant at. And the fun part is that you get to be in charge more, right? You get to be proactive in your business. You get to make the rules instead of reactive to their business.

[00:10:39] Andrea Elibero: You get pretty premium clients. You get to charge more, and all of this is because you're not just somebody who does all the things, right? You're really doing. A specialized thing that you really love and you've, I know you've heard the saying, uh, the riches are in the niches. I don't know how you say niches.

[00:10:56] Andrea Elibero: If it's niches, niches, I dunno. I like niches, but that [00:11:00] doesn't rhyme. So I know you have heard the riches are in the niches and you've heard it so much because it's true. It is true. When you are everything to everyone, you are nobody's first choice. You blend in with all the people who say, oh, let me work on the backend of your business.

[00:11:15] Andrea Elibero: I will save you time. That's not really compelling, right? But when you get to own your specific magic and the thing that you are so excited about and you love doing, you become the only choice for these right people, and you attract them so much easier. Your marketing becomes easier. Messaging how you talk about everything you do becomes easier.

[00:11:36] Andrea Elibero: Clients can refer you ease more easily. Everything gets easier in your business. So now let's do a little quick exercise and like pause if you need to, you know, come back to this because I have some questions for you. So think about the last time that you did work that made you completely lose track of time.

[00:11:58] Andrea Elibero: And not because you were panicking, but because you [00:12:00] were like in it, you were excited, you're like, oh, I could do this all day. Like, I love this. What was it that you were doing? What was this work that you like, oh, this is so fun. Like I would love to do this all day long. Were you maybe mapping out a launch plan?

[00:12:13] Andrea Elibero: Maybe you were breaking down somebody's big vision into phases. Maybe you were figuring out the solution to a problem that they couldn't see. Maybe you were teaching somebody your process. Maybe you were doing like email organization. Maybe you were creating graphics, you know, maybe you were creating systems of figuring out what's broken.

[00:12:33] Andrea Elibero: Anything like that. Now ask yourself. Am I owning this as something that I am amazing at my zone of genius, my unique magic? Or am I calling it just something and kind of thinking like, oh, anybody can do this. It's not really that cool. It's not that important. If you are in the second category, this using the word just quote unquote, you are talking yourself out of your zone of genius, out of your unique magic, and why do I care?

[00:12:58] Andrea Elibero: Like why should you care? [00:13:00] Why is this important? It matters because your clients. Hire you for the things that you do that you're amazing at, that then transform their businesses. So if you are just planning is what helps them finally see the path forward. That's not just anything. That's your thing and you need to own that.

[00:13:20] Andrea Elibero: You need to give yourself permission to fully embody that you are amazing at this thing and that this is what you do and tell people that. So let me give you a real example from inside of expansion. Um. So this client, I'll call her Maya. She came to me calling herself a project manager. I said she's been doing this work for about a year.

[00:13:42] Andrea Elibero: Um, you know. Making okay money, but feeling exhausted when we dug in and you know, as you heard earlier said, I love this planning part. I love taking somebody's messing ideas and turning them into a clear roadmap, but then they want me to build it out, manage the team, do daily check-ins, and I just like that part just [00:14:00] makes me want to shrink back.

[00:14:01] Andrea Elibero: And so I haven't really been promoting it or talking about it that much because I'm not excited about it. And so I asked her, you know, what if we just did the planning part, what if that was your offer? And honestly, she was like, looked at me like, that's not possible. I wrote a second head. She's like, no, but that's not full service.

[00:14:20] Andrea Elibero: Right? That's just planning. Just, I'm gonna take that word out of everybody's vocabulary. Just so now we talked about it and now we're repositioning her as a strategic planner, not a project manager, not an OBM. She's a strategic planner. Who helps creative entrepreneurs turn their scattered vision into a clear, doable roadmap?

[00:14:41] Andrea Elibero: We have it. You know, we say it better than that, but I won't spoil it. I won't share it because that's her thing, but that's it, right? This is her thing. And now she's currently updating her messaging, reaching out to potential clients and really excited about this. And you know, we don't have, obviously she's just doing this, but I don't have the results yet 'cause she's just implementing this.

[00:14:58] Andrea Elibero: But I can already tell you [00:15:00] that she is more excited about her business than she has been in months, because now she's finally owning what she's really good at, instead of trying to be something that she's not. And the other thing that happens when you then share and talk about, you know, and kind of create offers around your unique magic, your zone of genius is that you love it and so you're excited about it and that magnetism comes through when you're talking to people about it, and that automatically attracts people and so much more so than you sharing about things and offering things that you're not that excited about.

[00:15:36] Andrea Elibero: People can feel your energy a hundred percent. So with that, here is what I invite you to take away from this episode. One is stop calling your natural talent. Just something it is not. It is your zone of genius. It is what your ideal clients are looking for. Number two, you do not have to fit yourself into generic industry [00:16:00] labels.

[00:16:00] Andrea Elibero: You get to create your own positioning based on what you are brilliant at and own that. And number three, specializing in something does not limit you. It positions you as the expert. Experts get paid more, they work with better clients, and they actually enjoy their work. And that thing that you are downplaying right now might be the exact thing that transforms somebody else's entire business.

[00:16:24] Andrea Elibero: So stop hiding it. Stop calling it just something and own it. So if you're listening to this and thinking, oh my God, I have been doing this, I've been talking myself out of my zone of genius, ICU, and if you want help figuring out what your zone of genius, your unique magic actually is, and how to package it up into an offer that excites you and that you're so excited about, and that's going to make.

[00:16:49] Andrea Elibero: Your business and life so much easier and flow so much better. This is exactly what we do inside of expansion. It's my four month coaching program, one-on-one. We get crystal [00:17:00] clear on your unique magic. We package it up into offers that feel so aligned and we build the messaging and the confidence to talk about it.

[00:17:07] Andrea Elibero: And a marketing system, which is really cool. And we don't do cookie cutter anything. We build your business around who you actually are, not who you think you're supposed to be. So if you're ready to stop hiding your real expertise and start owning it, reach out to me, connect with me, all my links are below, and let's chat about whether expansion is right for you.

[00:17:27] Andrea Elibero: And before you go, I want to leave you with this. The thing that you are calling, just something might be the exact transformation that your ideal client is desperately looking for. So stop downplaying it, own it. That is where your best clients are waiting. And thank you so much for being here. If this resonated, send it to another service provider who needs this reminder, and I will catch you in the next episode. Thank you so much for joining us today. I really hope you found [00:18:00] inspiration and insights from today's episode. You know, scaling your business intentionally and from the inside out is a transformational process, but I'm here to support you every step of the way. Head on over to dancing leaf solutions.com/resources for free tools to help you do just that.

[00:18:16] Andrea Elibero: And thank you again for being a part of the Soulepreneur Scaling Stories community. Your presence and dedication to growth inspiring me every day.