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Mistaken Beliefs / Trap
You mistakenly believe that worth and value come from doing rather than being. This leads to feeling, “I am what I do and I am only as good as my last home run,” “I must do it all myself,” and “Others can’t be trusted to do it as well as me”.
You can also fall into the trap of running after praise and recognition, thinking that they will bring satisfaction, but the bar just keeps getting raised and it proves to be an endless, unsatisfying pursuit. Even more painful, is adopting an idealized image or believing yourself to be the wrapper (rather than the substance) draws the attention away from your needs and truly valuable essence.
Blind Spots
With a strong focus on image management, you may become blind to many aspects of yourself and the ways you try and get others to praise you . The polished parts you show may seem more true than your authentic feelings, thoughts, and sensations.
You may become disconnected from your true desires by trying to fulfill the roles of the ideal person, perhaps thinking your true self is unimportant – really believing “I am what I do.” Being and feeling are second to doing and can be cut off from and unavailable to one’s awareness. Needing to project a positive image, you may also downplay and be in denial about your liabilities and shortcomings.
Hot Buttons & Triggers
- Not being recognized or acknowledged for achievements
- The prospect of not being able to work or function well
- Feeling like “nobody-others being applauded, promoted, or recommended
- Failing at anything-losing the deal, big game, race or election
- Inefficiency, incompetence, or ineptness that slows you down
- Image/value being questioned (knowledge, wealth, status)
- “Dead time” with nothing to do-waiting or feeling like you are losing valuable time
- Others not supporting you in your quest for excellence
- Any sense of feeling held back, delayed, or detoured
- Any situation where feelings or mask may be exposed
- Any threat or opposition to status, power or position
- Being “dragged down” into details or “process”
Defense Strategy
Identifying with an image that you believe will be admired is your main defense against feeling unworthy. In other words, you package and market yourself for worldly success and approval, and come to believe you are the brand rather than the substance.
In the process of adopting an idealized self-image, you may also cope by suppressing unwanted or “unsightly” emotions, desires, and blemishes keeping them out of awareness (yours and everyone else’s). There can be a sense of being absent, untouchable and impenetrable – again, not only to others but to yourself.
Coping Strategy
To cope with fears of being incapable or inefficient, you become a charming “energizer bunny” and project polished, positive pizazz-- wooing others so they see you as praiseworthy and commendable. You may cope with your fear of failure by switching the game or goal prior to any shortcoming being exposed or before being seen as less than the best.
For example, you may change departments or your career when you’re not achieving the prestige that you secretly crave. Feeling that you are valued for what you do rather than who you are, you may engage in incessant doing and be resistant to stopping, resting, and being.
What Holds You Back
Identifying with what you do rather than who you are at your core. Valuing personal achievement above group/team success. Needing to be the best; being overly competitive with others.
Focusing on work but can neglect relationships. Relying on praise/recognition from others to feel good about yourself. Having difficulty resting, relaxing, stopping or just “being.”
Deceiving yourself and others by adjusting your image in order to be admired. Relating from an idealized image rather than from your authentic experience. Constantly “doing,” which can leave you exhausted and burned out.
Multi-tasking, taking short cuts and doing things too quickly. Being impatient with emotions and insensitive to others . Valuing success over quality (money, clients, projects, accolades).
Under Stress
When your focus is so resolutely set on constantly needing to perform, achieve, and keep the wheels turning, you can burn yourself out like a hamster on a wheel often to the detriment of relationships, your health, and any lasting fulfillment. Your desire for prestige and constant activity can give rise to a cycle of “doing and overdoing” because you are afraid that if you stop, the world will crash down around you and you may have to face failure or emptiness.
You don’t like to waste time, energy, or resources on anything that won’t produce favorable results. Believing that “I'm only as good as my last win” can cause relentless stress, anxiety and competition. You may be prone to shutting off feelings because you believe that emotions are like speed bumps that only slow you down and get in the way of focusing, succeeding and accomplishing.
At Your Best
You are determined, pragmatic, goal-oriented and hardworking person who focuses on achievement and success in any given situation. You tend not to rest for long, perpetually enthused about the next prospect for achieving admiration and recognition from others. You are a master at goal setting and keeping your eye on the prize.
Accordingly, you often achieve outstanding results and surpass all expectations for productivity when you set your mind on something. You generally appear poised and competent to others, maintaining a “good image” no matter what is happening.
You adapt to changing circumstances, sizing up what is needed and appropriate in any setting. Your emphasis on effectiveness make you an asset to any team in the areas of clear and meaningful goals, strategic thinking and decision making.
Operating System
Keys to Growth
- Pay attention to your inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences – what you actually feel, think, and sense rather than what will give you the competitive edge.
- Experiment with letting events and experiences flow and being less driven to try to make things happen.
- Take the emphasis off tasks, “to-dos” and goals, and start to prioritize play, fun, rest, and relaxation.
- Notice the difference between doing and being; take a few minutes each day just to stop completely and rest.
- Become the observer of your persona and see where and how your presentation has become “real” to you.
- Notice self-deception (when you exaggerate your abilities or enhance your image) .
- Examine how strongly you cling to accomplishment as the measure of who you are.
- Reframe your beliefs about success to include what you wish to BE (not just DO).
- Think about what you really want to do vs what you think you should do to be successful .
- Notice when you feel the need for a “win” or victory even in small daily interactions and situations.
- Open yourself to the world of emotions, and use your tremendous focus and determination to master your inner world rather than your outer presentation.
- Consider “failure” as a doorway to even greater heights.
In The Zone
Seeing through the paradigm of relative value and the inherent trap of identifying with the packaging rather than the substance, you become unencumbered by persona and free to pursue life whole-heartedly. Your energy is now directed in projects that are inspiring and uplifting to others rather than self-promoting. You have confidence in others and exude an optimistic, enthusiastic, infectious attitude that makes everyone in your presence feel self-assured and competent.
Others around you believe in themselves and their own value. Your natural affinities for being adaptable, personable, dynamic, self-responsible, accountable, and directed serve you well in your quest for excellence at all levels. You are truly authentic in word, thought, feeling, and action. Your heart and life are full with life-affirming and life-enhancing relationships and work that truly benefits and serves the whole.
An Average Day
As you become more connected with who you really are, rather than what you do, an exciting new world of possibilities opens up for you. The need to compete with others and portray an impeccable image starts to ease, and along with it, the unrelenting anxiety of constant doing and performing. Concern with doing your job well and achieving goals becomes less about establishing your self-worth and value, and emanates from a genuine passion for excellence.
You now strive to BE your best, and an entirely new arena of self-mastery captivates your attention and channels your insatiable energy. You start to conquer the most challenging peaks of the inner world and both your work life and relationships become richer and more fulfilling. Others are inspired by your example to be the best they can be through growth and self-discovery.
Under Stress
When you fear failure or ending up a “nobody”, you can become preoccupied with gaining recognition, praise and approval. You may start to believe that your value comes from what you achieve rather than from what you are. You work product can suffer if you cut corners to produce results or if you burn yourself out to impress others.
Team members may resent it if they feel you are self-promoting, trying to get them to admire you, or putting them down to look superior. Even if you secretly feel insecure or jealous of others’ successes, you will likely maintain a polished presentation and a cheerful, supportive demeanor.
You workaholism or tendency to put work tasks at the top of your “to do” list might cause your relationships to deteriorate. When you focus too much on presenting an outer façade, it can leave you detached from your own authentic feelings and from true connection with others.
Transformation Journey
Being able to fully rest in the present feel valuable for who you are without needing to 'turn it on' or achieving anything more.
Trusting the flowing river of life to take you places, and recognizing that you do not always need to be aggressively paddling for things to happen. You can take breaks, enjoy the scenery and still be moving forward in life.
Allowing yourself to do what really makes your heart sing, not just what gets you titles, credentials, certificates, prizes or recognition.
Growth Journey
Career Choices
What's my goal here?
The goal-orientated "Achiever" wants to be the "best." However, what "best" means to each Three depends on their interests. For example, they may want to succeed in their chosen career, win at sport, or be the best-looking and healthiest person. Often, it's a desire to achieve in all these and other areas.
Being so work-focused can mean that Threes don't have time to prepare healthy meals. Grabbing some junk food on the run is common, provided they're not trying to excel in the health or fitness arena. Those that are health-focused are the most likely of all the Enneagram types to succeed with a diet. They focus on the end goal and are happy to sacrifice indulgences. Winning is what they love! You'll find them at trendy restaurants and gyms, posting whatever they do on social media.
Instinctual Subtype
The Self-Preservation | SP
Theme: Security
You regularly think about what you need to do to ensure your success and have enough of the best resources. Most of all, you secretly worry that you are not enough and may be seen as lacking.
You are frugal and focused on saving money while simultaneously accumulating what you need to have an image of success. You are hardworking and focused and work tirelessly to achieve your goals and reach your full potential.
The Intimate | SX
Theme: Masculinity/Feminity
What matters to you is your partner and how to be a perfect exemplar to your partner's ideals. Most of all, you secretly worry about failing to measure up to what your significant others want.
You see your intimates as essential to your survival and can become overly focused on maintaining the ideal masculine or feminine image. You have a passion to be what is viewed as the ideal man or woman. You are soft and emotional but can still be 'icy' and removed to keep from exposing anything that might be considered less than ideal.
The Social | SO
Theme: Prestige
You think about what you need to do to have clout and prestige. Most of all, you secretly worry that you are not distinguished enough to stand out and receive praise from others.
You are a true performer with an exceptional ability to persistently go after your goals. You believe that others only pay attention to a winner and are constantly looking for an audience that will applaud your hard work.
In addition to your three Enneagram Types — in the Enneagram System of Personality you also have 3 core instincts — that you use in a preferential order called your Instinctual Stack. The Three Core Instincts in the Enneagram are called: Self-Preservation, Social, and Intimate (or Sexual). The Primary Instinct is often known as your Instinctual Subtype.
Knowing our instinctual patterns can help us live healthier, more balanced lives. Our subtype pattern is one of the primary ways that we fall asleep to our True Nature. It is like a shadow element outside of awareness where we don’t often notice its impact as clearly as others in our lives do, especially when they are a different subtype.
You have an aspect of yourself in all 3 descriptions as all humans have all 3 instincts inside us to varying degrees. We will launch a free test to determine that soon, stay tuned.
Core Beliefs
Life is essentially competitive. You're only as good as your last win.
To be admired, I must continually succeed. The world only values winners. Getting things done and being productive is key to my well-being.
Core Desires
To be capable and productive, to be seen as outstanding, successful, and as having extraordinary merit.
Core Needs
You need to be the best at whatever you do. You love the sound of applause and accolades for a job well done. You need others' praise and acknowledgement of your achievements. Looking successful in someone else's eyes motivates you to push yourself harder and accomplish more. Always one to seek attention through your personal achievements, you find relaxing difficult; stop being the peacock and become part of the herd.
Core Fears
Your core fears are of failing, missing the mark, lacking ambition or being without merit. Fear of not getting results.
You may also fear being incompetent, useless or a “nobody” that “hasn’t amounted to anything.” There may be a deep fear about being “found out” if you imagine that the image you’ve been projected is actually fake or false, and what underlies it is more meaningless or worthless.
Your Inner World
Core Wiring
You want to be accomplished, dynamic, and a high-achiever; but most importantly, you want to be good at what you do and to look good while doing it. You are highly ambitious, driven, focused, and self-motivated. You are goal-oriented, and know where to direct your energy.
You need goals and projects to achieve and feel the reward of completion and success. Under stress, you may become self-promoting, self-deceptive, or overly competitive. At your best, you are self-confident, positive, energetic and extremely productive.
What Drives You
You are results driven with a strong need to succeed and excel. You are motivated by a desire to feel valued and admired for your hard work.
By focusing on constant achieving, you secretly hope for the applause, accolades and rewards that will validate that you are a winner. You long to be an impressive, successful all star.
What You are Great At
- Being positive, pragmatic, efficient, and productive.
- Managing your public image and presentation.
- Being industrious and getting results quickly and successfully.
- Setting practical, concrete goals to motivate yourself and others.
- Doing a good job and looking good doing it.
- Maintaining a calm, composed demeanor even under difficulty/stress.
- Adapting well to changing circumstances, settings, and relationships.
- Winning at whatever game you play.
- Mentoring, coaching or leading a team to the win.
- Packaging and marketing things well to highlight value/worth.
- Knowing how to adapt and present in different situations.
- Leading the team with enthusiasm, energy, and clear direction.
Overview
You are a driven, confident, and efficient person who strives for excellence and can achieve extraordinary things. You delight in accomplishing goals, completing tasks, and celebrating “a job well done.” Others see you as polished.
Focused intently on your image and public presentation, you can mold yourself into whatever seems to be called for in any given situation. On occasion, adaptability can lead to inauthenticity. Your keys to growth include recognizing and expressing who you really are at your core and seeing what actually needs to be done in the present moment.
Your Worldview
Attention goes to...
Your attention goes to performance, prestige and seeking status for approval. You are hyper focused on your audience and adapt to their expectations. You want to be the very image of success wherever you are and with whatever you do.
What's Great About You
You are positive, motivated, practical, industrious, goal-oriented, and successful. You easily set goals and generally accomplish whatever you set your mind to.
Impact of Strategies
You accomplish praiseworthy and admirable goals. People see you as successful and extraordinary.
Strategies
You set your emotions aside to continuously achieve and stay in-motion. You take massive action, put forth a good image, and believe in faking it till you make it.
Dislikes
- Negative emotions that slow you down
- Losing or failing
- Being ignored or seen as unimportant
- Being passed over for a position
- Receiving criticism
- Not getting the highest marks (being second best)
- Wasting time, being unproductive, not getting results
- Not getting desired results or anticipated outcomes
- Feeling incompetent or inept
- Being disliked, unpopular, being unadmired
- Having work disrupted or delayed
- Watching someone else “on stage” or being recognized
Likes
- DOING! and then seeing a job well done
- Winning; succeeding
- Being admired and getting applause
- Crossing things off the “to-do” list
- Accomplishing and achieving
- Looking good
- Receiving praise and recognition
- Being “the best”
- Creating and having clear goals
- Feeling challenged by new opportunities
- Appearing confident and competent
- People being jealous of you
Outer World
Primary Enneagram Type | 3
The Achieving Mediator
Starring Roles: Superstar, Producer, Performer, Motivator, Role Model, Ideal Exemplar, Best in Show
Health & Diet
Career Advice for type Three
In feeling disconnected from the Source or the Divine, each Enneagram type experiences disconnection (neurosis) differently. For Type 3's, the belief is that if they don't feel at one with the Divine, they should emulate the Divine—by being the very best. Therefore, they create an idealized personality which they then try to become. As a result, accomplishments and the validation of others become a fixation. They need to live up to the ideal and have others see them as successful. Type 3's need (even crave) validation despite their confidence and charisma. Any career that can't provide this will fail to inspire.
The Achiever is naturally dynamic, motivating, and goal-orientated. Companies are great places for them to demonstrate their skills and exercise some of their competitive nature. Type 3's don't just climb the corporate ladder; they head to the top in leaps and bounds. They enjoy winning out against the odds. "The deadline was unreal, so we had to pull an all-nighter, but we made it."
Type 3's work hard to get where they want to in life (often too hard), so any career that allows them to experience the thrill of success (and the benefits that come with it) will attract. A result-orientated career where they can compete and beat the opposition will be satisfying. They know just how to leverage their skills, associates, and networks to help get them where they want to be. Very organized Type 3's are focused and know-how to get the job done. At times others' lack of drive may confuse them: "She just has no drive whatsoever."
Maybe you've woken up one morning and realized just how miserable you are in your current position. You want to make a change but aren't sure what direction to take.
Have you ever wondered if you've chosen the right career path?
Perhaps you're looking at several possible job options and are trying to imagine which will be the best fit for you?
Understanding the Enneagram can be hugely helpful in finding a fulfilling career best suited to you. For example, Milo loves detail and structure. He needs things to be done the right way. Put him in a job where there is no structure or hierarchy, and he's required to be visionary and changemaker, and he's not going to be happy. It's a case of a round peg in a square hole.
In depicting nine personality types, the Enneagram provides a deeper understanding of our strengths and weaknesses and, consequently, careers most suited to our personalities.
Bear in mind that there are nine basic Enneagram types but many variations of those types, which can skew the strengths and weaknesses of each type. As a result, you may see some aspects of yourself, but not all. Taking a middle-of-the-road approach, here are some career choices based on type.
What careers match your type?
Advertising Executive. This is an excellent high-profile job for a Type 3. There is a clear advancement ladder within the company and many more prominent companies to move to should your company prove too limiting.
Professional sportsperson. Type 3's have the dedication and desire to achieve that is required of being a top athlete. However, there is the danger of burn-out and (when disintegrated) being less than ethical should they feel they are not getting the wins they desire.
Agents for authors, actors, and sportspeople. Representing others takes energy and drive. Here it's all about performance. Landing that new contract is just the thing to enhance their street credibility and achieve their goals.
Charity Fund-raiser. Type 3's, when more integrated, often have a strong altruistic desire. Helping to boost the funds for causes they believe in plays to their strengths.
Marketing, Spin Doctors, and Promoting. Type 3's are natural marketers. They can sell themselves as well as others.
Motivational Speaker. Type 3's are inspirational speakers, motivating others to achieve their very best.
Entertainment Industry. Particularly Social Instinct dominant Type 3's are drawn to the glamorous world of fashion, film, and music. They want to perform at their best, bask in the limelight, and achieve recognition. As a result, they often become famous musicians, actors, or film stars. A chameleon-like ability to switch roles and charisma are a huge help in the acting world and a standing ovation motivates them to try even harder.
Executive. Whether expanding global operations or at the forefront of new technology, steering a company to success is hugely aspirational and offers massive opportunities for achieving goals.
Event Organizers and Wedding Planner. With their sense of style, ability to achieve the seemingly impossible, and strong organizational skills, Type 3's can thrive in this field. Plus, when the event is a huge success, they can bask in the glow of their accomplishment.
Attorney. Another field you'll find Type 3's in is the legal world. It's a natural choice with their desire to win, the ability to override their feelings to get the job done, confidence, charisma, and slick showmanship. Moving to Type 6 allows them to understand both sides of the case and play Devil's Advocate. Arguing their case and then winning provides fast and measurable proof of their success, plus validation and respect from their peers.
Podcast Host. With their ability to talk easily to everyone from all levels of society, Type 3's make good interviewers. Their wide variety of skills and interests also helps.
Politician. Politics is a good fit for less integrated Type 3's, remembering that authenticity is an issue at this level. Here they can promise the earth and charismatically convince others to vote for them.
Movie Producer. Overseeing the production of a movie requires good organizational skills—the validation comes from the audience and sales figures.
Real Estate Agent. Arguably a more popular Type 7 career, nevertheless, Type 3's can still enjoy the thrill of a sale and the validation of being the top agent in the area.
What careers could spell disaster?
Careers where hard work isn't acknowledged and there isn't a clear career progression won't inspire Type 3's. Repetitive and mundane jobs with little chance of advancement and any self-employment situations that lack structure and clear growth paths are unlikely to last.
Customer Service Representative. Listening to the publics' complaints while having little opportunity to bring about real change will be very frustrating for Type 3's.
File Clerk. Organizing documents and records would not appeal to the ambitions of Type 3.
Lab Technician. Researching rather than creating and working most typically in an insular environment will be tedious and unrewarding.
Proofreader. With little chance of advancement or being creative, this could feel like a dead and dull end to a Type 3's career hopes.
Receptionist. While being at the forefront of a company's interface with clients may appeal, the reality of handling calls, taking messages, and organizing meetings for others could feel like a slow death to their career path.
Usher. With little chance of promotion, this would not work for a Type 3.
Justin Bieber
Tom Cruise
Tony Robbins
Ali MacGraw, Christie Brinkley, Cindy Crawford, Cersei Lannister (GOT), Courtney Cox, Cybill Shepherd, Mrs.‘Debbi’ Fields, Demi Moore, Diane Sawyer, Duchess of Windsor-Wallis Simpson, Elizabeth Holmes, Elle MacPherson, Erin Andrews, Heidi Klum, Ivanka Trump, Kamala Harris, Kathleen Turner, Katie Couric, Kayleigh McEnany, Kim Kardashian, Kristi Yamaguchi, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Marianne Williamson, Meghan Markle, Megyn Kelly, Nancy Pelosi, Nicki Minaj, Nicole Kidman, Nora Ephron, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Reba McEntire, Reese Witherspoon, Shakira, Sharon Stone, Sheryl Sandberg, Stacy Keibler, Tia Carrere, Taylor Swift, Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Noor, Vanessa Williams
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruno Mars, Bryant Gumbel, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Copperfield, Dick Clark, Drake, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Elvis Presley, Emmanuel Macron, Gary Vaynerchuk, Gavin Newsom, George Washington, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jesse Jackson, John Cena, Johnnie Cochran, Jordan Belfort, Justin Bieber, Justin Trudeau, Kevin Hart, LeBron James, Mark Cuban, Matthew McConaughey, Niccolò Machiavelli, O.J. Simpson, Paul McCartney, PT Barnum, Ron DeSantis, Steve Harvey, Sylvester Stallone, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Tom Cruise, Tony Robbins, Vince Lombardi, Werner Erhard, Wesley Snipes, William Shatner, Will Smith.
