The Zone of Excellence is considered tricky because it is often confused with the ultimate goal or comfort zone, potentially leading to paralysis and preventing the individual from reaching their true potential, the Zone of Genius.

Here are the details explaining why the Zone of Excellence is tricky:

• It is the Comfort Zone: The Zone of Excellence is defined as the individual’s “comfort zone”.

• High Capability and Reward: In this zone, individuals are “really good at these things” and can perform them with “a level of Excellence” and “a little bit of ease”. They often “make really good money doing the things in this box”. People frequently ask them to solve problems in this area, and they say yes.

• Partial Fulfillment: While performing tasks in this zone, an individual may “somewhat feel fulfilled”. However, this “somewhat” feeling indicates that they are “not fully expending upon your gifts” or “not leaving it all on the court”. There is a lingering internal sense that “there is something else in you”.

• Risk of Paralysis: For some, this zone has them in a “bit of paralysis.” They feel stuck because they are comfortable and capable, but they are not operating at the highest level of their innate talents.

• Distinction from Genius: The critical distinction is whether the activities are what they want to do for the rest of their lives using their innate talents and gifts. If the individual cannot “definitively say yes” to that question, their Zone of Excellence is not their Zone of Genius. The pursuit of excellence can impede the step into genius, because no one aims to “be comfortable in life”; the goal is to “excel at the highest level”.