…
I had a realization this week while building my new work schedule.
And honestly, it changed how I’m thinking about this next season.
As many of you know, I officially retired from education.
(Still feels weird to type that.)
After 27 years in schools, I’m stepping fully into Terrie Power Coaching full-time.
Which is exciting.
And also a little disorienting if I’m honest.
Because when you leave a career with built-in rhythms, structure, meetings, calendars, lunch breaks, deadlines, and bells literally telling you where to be…
you suddenly have to create all of that yourself.
Welcome to entrepreneurship. 😅
And this week, as I sat down with my planner to map out my momentum schedule, I caught myself doing something interesting.
I started building a schedule based on what sounded productive.
Not based on how I actually work best.
That’s a problem.
The mistake I almost made
I could have easily built my week around generic business advice.
Batch content here.
Sales calls here.
CEO day here.
Admin over there.
Networking somewhere else.
And none of that is inherently bad.
But then I stopped and thought…
Why would I build a business around someone else’s wiring?
That’s when two tools I use with clients came rushing into the conversation.
The Enneagram.
And Working Genius.
My schedule needs to work with me, not against me
As an Enneagram Nine, I already know a few things about myself.
I need clarity.
Too much decision fatigue can make me stall.
Unstructured open space sounds dreamy until it quietly becomes avoidance.
Anyone else?
So that matters.
But Working Genius added another layer.
If you’ve never heard of it, Working Genius is a framework by Patrick Lencioni that helps you understand the kinds of work that naturally energize you… and the kinds that quietly drain you.
And THIS is where it got interesting.
My Working Genius strengths are Invention and Discernment.
Meaning I naturally come alive when I’m:
thinking
creating
problem solving
processing ideas
strategizing
seeing possibilities
Which means if I fill my schedule with repetitive admin tasks, endless follow-up, or work that drains me first thing every day...
I’m basically designing my own resistance.
That feels… unwise.
Quick reality check for you
This isn’t just about entrepreneurs.
This applies whether you:
- work in an office
- lead a team
- stay home
- run a business
- volunteer
- are in a life transition
- are trying to plan your summer
Before building your week, ask:
What kind of work gives me energy?
What work consistently drains me?
Where do I naturally procrastinate because the work feels heavy?
That question alone can save you a lot of frustration.
So what exactly is Working Genius?
Quick version:
There are six types of work:
Wonder → asking big questions
Invention → generating ideas
Discernment → evaluating what will work
Galvanizing → rallying people into action
Enablement → supporting others
Tenacity → pushing work to completion
We all use all six.
But two usually energize us most.
Two tend to frustrate us.
And once you understand yours?
So much starts making sense.
Like why some people love brainstorming but hate execution.
Or why others can finish everything but dread starting.
Or why certain tasks make you weirdly tired for no obvious reason.
If you want to figure out your own…
Jason and I are hosting a Working Genius Workshop on June 16 from 7:00–9:00 PM Central, because this tool is ridiculously practical.
If you’ve ever thought:
"Why do I avoid certain tasks even when I know they matter?"
or
"Why does some work energize me while other work completely drains me?"
This is for you.
When you register, you’ll receive:
✔ the Working Genius assessment
✔ a 30-minute personal walkthrough of your results with me
✔ the live workshop where we help you apply it to your actual life and work
That assessment + walkthrough is a $40 value, included free with registration.
Because knowing your results is helpful.
Knowing what to DO with them is where the magic is.
Talk soon,
Terrie
P.S. My new schedule is definitely still a work in progress… but at least now I’m building it around reality instead of productivity fantasy 😄
