Listen On:
Your Hidden Genius
- Get The Book / Take The Assessment: yourhiddengenius.com
- Besty Wills LinkedIn: Betsy Wills
- Betsy Wills Instagram: @betsywills
- Alex Ellison LinkedIn: Alex Ellison
- Alex Ellison Substack: The Throughline
What if you’re not broken—just in the wrong job?
In this episode of The In-Between, I sat down with Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison—co-authors of Your Hidden Genius, a book and science-backed framework that helps you uncover the aptitudes you were born with. What struck me most wasn’t just their research—it was how practical and hopeful it is.
They make a compelling case: Most of us aren’t actually bad at our jobs… we’re just mismatched. Because when you don’t know what you’re wired for, you end up drifting—defaulting into roles that pay the bills but leave you feeling flat. This conversation is a lifeline for anyone who’s felt stuck, burned out, or unsure of how to pivot.
Your Dominant Hand—at Work
We talked about the idea that many of us are “writing with our non-dominant hand” at work. It’s functional, but it’s slow, clunky, and exhausting.
Betsy and Alex explained how discovering your natural aptitudes can reveal not only what you do best—but what energizes you.
🧠 Aptitudes = innate, hardwired ways of thinking and working
✨ They don’t change with time—just like your dominant hand doesn’t
🔍 Knowing them gives you clarity and direction when everything else feels murky
The Exposure Gap
One of the most powerful ideas in this conversation is what they call the exposure gap—the simple truth that most of us don’t know what jobs or possibilities are even out there. And if we’ve never seen it, we can’t dream it.
So many people don’t know what they’re capable of—not because it’s not in them, but because no one ever showed them it was possible.
The assessment they offer (included with the book) maps directly to thousands of careers, giving you practical next steps—not just vague encouragement.
Aptitudes vs. Interests vs. Enneagram
As someone who loves the Enneagram, I asked them how this tool compares.
Here’s what they said:
- Enneagram = how you interact with the world
- Aptitudes = how your brain is wired to work
- Interests = what you’re drawn to (but they change over time)
You need all three—but only aptitudes offer an objective, stable foundation to build your career on.
What If It’s Not the Job?
One surprising insight? Sometimes the job isn’t the problem. It might just be the context.
They shared the story of someone who hated being a respiratory therapist—until her environment changed. Same role. Totally different experience.
Don’t put your job on the witness stand too early. —Alex Ellison
Before you quit everything, consider: Are you misaligned… or just misplaced?
On Flourishing
I asked them what flourishing means today, and here’s what they said:
🌿 Alex: It’s remembering that your gifts are still relevant—even in uncertainty. “They’re like a healing balm. Once you know what they are, go use them.”
🌍 Betsy: It’s about trying something new every day. Staying curious. Staying open. Exposing yourself to the full smorgasbord of life.
If You Feel Stuck… This Episode Is for You
This conversation is an invitation—to reset, rediscover, and reclaim the things that have always been true about you. You’re not behind. You’re not lost. You might just need a new lens.
Find More Resources To Discover Your Hidden Genius
Everything just changed, now what?
In a season of transition, it’s hard knowing what to do next. Finding Your Way to Flourishing is your free guide to crafting your Next Step Statement so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.