Episode Description
Enneagram Type 3s, called The Achiever, are smooth and success-driven, endeavoring to show with their life that the sky’s the limit for what can be accomplished. They are also often concerned that others can see through their image. Famous examples include Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga.
In this episode, we explore the essence of the Type 3 and the insecurities and motivations that drive their every action and relationship. We walk you through the story of the Type 3’s life by looking at their journey through the Levels of Consciousness from their healthiest to their average to their most destructive ways of operating. We close the episode by offering a critical type-tailored practice to help 3s rise up in consciousness and be the best version of themselves.
This episode is designed to help Type 3s thrive in their personal and professional lives by fostering a deeper understanding of their insecurities and motivations. It’s also an invaluable resource for friends, partners, and colleagues of Type 3s who wish to better support and relate to them.
Podcast Hosts: Rasanath Das and Hari Prasada Das
Highlights
[1:00] The Essence Qualities of glory, value, and hope.
[1:30] The importance of manifesting my full potential
[2:30] The Basic Fear of worthlessness which shows up as the fear of failure.
[4:30] The story that I need my fear of failure in order to succeed
[5:45] The sense of confidence and the anthem that “nothing is impossible”
[6:30] The interview with Tiger Woods when he says that winning is “a belief that you just have to have.”
[7:30] The Basic Desire to be superlatively successful
[8:00] Research that shows that winning a bronze medal at the Olympics makes athletes happier than winning a silver medal
[9:30] Why Type 3s are the type that are the most likely to want coaching
[10:00] How 3s love to gamify everything
[10:30] The stigma of the words “ambition” and “competition”
[12:30] The obsession with replaying situations in my mind
[14:00] Creative Consciousness. Being authentic and adaptable.
[15:00] The need to be mirrored
[16:00] The acceptance of my failures and appreciation for those who have contributed to me. The expression made popular by Isaac Newton, “[I] stand on the shoulders of giants.”
[18:00] Controlling Consciousness. The feeling of being overshadowed.
[19:00] Name-dropping and the need to feel important
[20:00] The pursuit of efficiency, productivity, and effectivity, which causes 3s to disconnect from their hearts
[20:30] The bottomless bag of medals. Without the heart, there is no fulfillment.
[22:30] The need to convince other people of stories so that I can convince myself of that story
[23:00] Destructive Consciousness. Psychopathic tendencies, fraud, sabotage, lying.
[23:30] Lance Armstrong’s interview with Oprah about taking performance-enhancing drugs
[24:00] The practice to rise up the Levels of Consciousness. Becoming aware of how I try to impress others.
[25:15] Radical honesty as the path to authenticity
Interested in learning more about the Enneagram personality framework?
Get in touch about Enneagram Deep Dives (one-time coaching sessions) or ongoing coaching
Browse the Intro to the Enneagram section of our website
For first timers, welcome to Upbuilding the Self
About the podcast: Two former monks, a former startup founder and CEO, and a former equity derivatives trader dive into how to be our best selves, free from the ego. Our egos are the identities we create for ourselves and wish the world to validate, but when we are not seen as we want to be, we feel insecure. This podcast lives at the intersection of leadership and spirituality. It will help you understand your ego and shed light on your inner world so that you can act with greater clarity, compassion, and the freedom to be your best self.