The Cone of Genius

Building A+ leadership.

As a kid, when asked, “Would you like it in a cup or a cone?” I always chose the cone. There’s something about the experience—the balance of flavors, and the crunch. 

You’ve likely heard of the “zone of genius”—that place where your passions, skills, and experience align. It’s the work you do that feels effortless and rewarding. But, as entrepreneurs, we don’t get to hang out in our zone of genius all day. We’ve got a whole cone of things to handle.

The Cone of Genius

Now, imagine your zone of genius as the base of a cone—the sturdy, crunchy part that holds everything together. It’s where you thrive. But the rest of the cone? That’s where all the other tasks live. You know, the things you didn’t quite sign up for when you started your business: bookkeeping, customer support, marketing strategies, you name it. It’s the stuff you’d rather not be doing, but still, you have to.

And here’s the kicker: in the early days of being a founder, you don’t get to just choose a "cup" where everything is neat, easy, and handed to you. Nope, you chose the cone. The whole thing. You’re responsible for it all, top to bottom. But it’s a good thing.

Chipping Away at the Rest of the Cone

So, while the lower part of that cone—your zone of genius—is your favorite, the upper portion represents the skills and tasks you have to tackle to build your business. You’ll eventually chip away at these areas, piece by piece, delegating to others who are better suited for those tasks.

But not until you’ve chipped your way through the entire cone to your zone of genius. Only then can you hire the right people to take over, because your experience gives you the insight to find the ones who can do it better than you ever could.

A great hire is like someone who hands you a cone and adds a new topping you didn’t even know you needed. You’ll know they’re the ones when they teach you something new during the interview process.

Always Choose the Cone

So, the next time you’re asked, “Cup or cone?” remember: the cone might be messier, but it’s a whole lot more satisfying. In business, choosing the cone means embracing the entire journey—starting with what you do best and finishing by letting go of the rest.