Kristen Wheeler's Blog

A client who first started working with me said, “I was on a hike the other day, and it was a great moment. I was in flow. But I know hiking isn’t my Native Genius. How do I know that?”

When we distinguish our Native Genius from other pleasurable experiences, we’re better able to direct ourselves towards that magic combination: the inner smile at our successes, being excited to go to work, and of course, making good money.

The difference between flow and Native Genius...

One time I was in a fight with my boyfriend. Etched into my memory is him standing a few stairs above me yelling, “You overanalyze everything! All those graduate degrees made you into someone who thinks too much!”

It can be searing to be criticized for your Native Genius. But less so when you have some ways to weather the storm and come out on your own side.

What hurt about his comment is that he knew how much I cherished what I had studied. I mustered a deep truth and yelled...

Several years ago, I took a class for fun. Afterwards one of my fellow classmates, who was also taking the class for fun, said this to me,

“That one part was the hardest for me. That’s what I should practice.”

Do you do this too? Do you have some kind of experience — personal or professional — and then it’s like an automatic radar system immediately activates in your mind, honing in on the things you didn’t do well? Then you add these things to the...

Several years ago, I replaced four cracked tiles in my kitchen floor. I couldn’t find matching ones but I got close—kind of. Disappointed after the tile guy left, I showed a friend who comforted me, “Don’t worry. You can’t even tell it’s a patch.” Can’t even tell?! I thought, trying not to roll my eyes. So I decided to conduct a little experiment to find out if she was right.

My research tested how conspicuous the new tile was, but what really...

When people hear about my work, Native Genius, some smile knowingly—they “get it” without explanation. Others ask, “What is that?” I tell them, “It’s what it sounds like. It’s what comes naturally that has exponential potential. It’s kernels of intelligence and desire that insistently come out—like acorns growing into oak trees. We all have Native Genius—and it isn’t one thing, it’s many things.”

The two key...