Wendy Spies's Talk at the Global Walmart User Excellence Conference in February 2013

1. T.O.P.
How I think about being in the zone.
Wendy Spies - GreatBridgeGroup.com
wendy@stanfordalumni.org

2. When was the last time you were in the zone at work?

3. The zone is where great work is flowing out of you,
where everything is
effortless…

4. How did that feel? How did the rest of your life feel?
Did you love getting out of bed in the morning?
Wouldn‟t you want to do that every day?

5. You should be
in the zone at
least 50% of
the time.
Are you?

6. If you aren’t in the zone as regularly as you like,
I have a simple idea that will improve your situation.

7. T.O.P. – If you align your Talent, Opportunity, and
Passion at work, then you will be in the zone!
TALENT
THE
ZONE
PASSION OPPORTUNITY

8. How do you get in the zone? What are your
Talents, Opportunities, and Passions?
TALENT
THE
ZONE
PASSION OPPORTUNITY

9. Your talent is
your natural
ability to do
something
consistently
well.
Talent: Do
you know
what you
excel at?

10. • What do people come and ask you for?
• What do they tell you that you are good at?
• When you are in a group, what tasks always fall on your shoulders?

11. Your opportunity is the chance to do something valuable for
the organization.Opportunity: Are you able to say „I have
the opportunity to do what-I-do-best every day at work‟?

12. What needs to get done that isn't being done? Or done better?
What jobs is your company always recruiting for? Or the competition?
Which people generating the most revenue? Ideas? Making decisions?
If they had 10 more hours in the week, what would they do?
If they could hire 2 more people, what would they do?
What if you stopped doing something what would happen?

13. Passion is the energy that comes from bringing
more of you into what you do. Passion: Do you
know what gets you out of bed in the morning?

14. What do you volunteer for whenever you get the chance?
What were you doing the last time you lost track of time at work?
What was the last project you wish had not ended?

15. My Talent, Opportunity, and Passion is…
TALENT: ferreting
out deep customer
needs
THE
ZONE
PASSION: OPPORTUNITY:
impacting the
building Great
world in a
Bridge Group
positive way

16. We have created a
scalable customer
insights system, so
that companies will
have a deeper
understanding of the
things that people
need and how to
bring that to them.
At Great Bridge I add
great value to the
organization every day
doing what I am good
at and love.
You can too, if you
align your Talents,
Opportunities, and
Passions.

17. Questions?
Wendy Spies
wendy@stanfordalumni.org
GreatBridgeGroup.com
Accurate Customer Insights

18. Appendix

19. Why is it that the
company would
want you to be
doing your best
every day?

20. Because they make more money!
Stock
Increase
Real Profit
Increase
Sustainable
Growth
Engaged
Customers
Engaged
Employees
Great
Managers
The Right
Fit
Identify
Strengths

21. Are you only 2/3rds there?
“Old Soldiers”
Talent Opportunity The organization gets good results. (But you feel
used up)
“Fully Engaged”
Opportunity Passion You take initiative. You are fully involved in and
enthusiastic about your work. (But you aren‟t any good
at it)
“Happy Monkey”
Passion Talent You can‟t wait to get started, you‟re doing what you love
to do. (But the organization gets no benefit)

22. Stuck? Go A Little Broader
• What are people one or two steps away
from you doing? Who are the influencers
you know and would like to know?
• Who looks like they are having the most
fun? Or getting the most praise?
• What your old friends doing? friends of
friends?
Does any of that interest you?

23. Are you really blocked?
Understand your fears and seek help!
• Get a trusted friend and tell them what you
are doing! Commit to it.
• Recruit other advocates.
• Understand your barriers. What do you need
to overcome? (not knowing, discomfort)
Create a plan.
• What are you willing to give up to get your
dream job?