The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni

92. Easy For You to Say

28 snips

Jul 29, 2025

Ever called something 'easy' without considering others' struggles? This discussion dives into the mischief of labeling tasks, exploring how it can discourage those who find them challenging. Discover how working within your genius can lead to fulfillment, while also recognizing individual strengths. Personal stories reveal the balance between skill mastery and joy in work, emphasizing the importance of valuing diverse talents. Ultimately, embracing our differences can foster a more supportive environment for everyone.

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ANECDOTE

Misleading 'Easy and Fun' Advice

Pat shares a story about a young man encouraging his son to choose a supply chain major, claiming it's easy and fun.
This illustrates how working within your genius feels effortless to you but not necessarily to others.

INSIGHT

The Harm of 'Easy' Labeling

Assuming others find tasks easy as you do can demotivate and discourage them.
People may feel inadequate when they can't replicate what seems effortless to someone else.

INSIGHT

Joy Linked to Working Genius

Joy and fulfillment come from working within your genius, not just mastering a skill.
Even if you improve at a task outside your genius, it may remain unenjoyable.

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Are you unintentionally discouraging others by calling something “easy”?

In episode 92 of the Working Genius Podcast, Pat and Cody explore the pitfalls of assuming that what’s easy and fun for you will be the same for others. They explore how working within your genius can make tasks feel effortless and how this can mislead us when advising or leading others. This episode is a reminder to value your own strengths and to honor the differences in how others are wired.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) The Myth of Easy and Fun

* Pat shares a story about someone saying a college major was “easy and fun” without considering individual differences.

* The idea that what's easy within your genius can be misleading for others.

(03:18) Why 'Easy' Can Hurt

* Labeling tasks as “easy” can unintentionally demotivate or discourage others who struggle.

* People may feel inadequate or undervalued when they can't replicate what seems effortless to someone else.

(06:29) Practice vs. Joy

* Mastery alone doesn't lead to fulfillment if you're not working in your genius.

* Pat reflects on writing as a gift and contrasts it with skills he’s developed that still feel like a chore.

(09:29) Self-Awareness and Respecting Differences

* How practicing wonder isn’t fulfilling for Cody even if he gets better at it.

* The need to avoid pushing people into roles they’re not wired for.

(13:01) Real-World Consequences

* Misjudging others’ working genius can lead to years stuck in an unfulfilling career.

* Parenting and workplace examples that show how important it is to honor different gifts.

This episode of The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

The Six Types of Working Genius model helps you discover your natural gifts and thrive in your work and life. When you’re able to better understand the types of work that bring you more energy and fulfillment and avoid work that leads to frustration and failure, you can be more self-aware, more productive, and more successful. The Six Types of Working Genius assessment is the fastest and simplest way to discover your natural gifts and thrive at work: https://www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment

Subscribe to The Working Genius Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4iNz6Yn), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4iGGm8u), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/Working-Genius-YouTube).

Follow Pat Lencioni on https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth and http://www.youtube.com/@PatrickLencioniOfficial.

Be sure to check out our other podcast, At The Table with Patrick Lencioni, on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4hJKKSL), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/4l1aop0), and YouTube (https://bit.ly/At-The-Table-YouTube).

Let us know your feedback via podcast@tablegroup.com.

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.