Today I'm going to reveal one of my favorite tools: a personality test called the Enneagram. I use it in business as well as for my personal relationships.
I'm also going to show you a crazy way to use your birthdate to figure out your enneagram type (using numerology)... pretty wild stuff.
More...
Then I'll show you famous people / entrepreneurs + some of the friends in my life and how the enneagram fits them perfectly and how I use it for when I hire employees for my company and how it has allowed me to hire the perfect person for the job.
How Did I Come Across the Enneagram?
I learned about the Enneagram from Shantam Nityama who's this older, wise tantric master / educator that I randomly found one day on a podcast, he's one of those dudes that just resonates wisdom.
Ya know, some people you can just listen to them talk and you know he knows his shit.
This was back in 2015, so its been a while but I was so intrigued by this guy that I decided to do a private 1-on-1 consultation with him, regarding one of my personal relationship troubles I was going through at the time.
And one of the very first thing he told me was: "Ippei you have to get to know the Enneagram"
Enneagram is a personality system that categories everyone into 9 different personality types.
He said: "Not knowing a person's Enneagram is like going hunting but you have no idea what animal you're supposed to hunt down, you have no idea what it even looks like."
He told me to get the book called: Personality Types - Using The Enneagram For Self-Discovery by Don Riso which you can find on Amazon here.
I come to find out that the Enneagram is a personality identification system that has been well researched and studied. It's used by many psychologists today.
The 9 Enneagram Types
How to Test Your Enneagram Type Using Your Birthdate & Numerology
sometimes in life, you don't really even need to know why something works.
If it works for you, use it.
According to Nityama, different days have its unique energetic signatures, and depending on your birthdate your going to fall under certain personality types.
And you can find this out by using numerology of your birthdate so let me give you an example using my own birthdate.
Approximately 4 months old here with my Grandpa... lol
I was born on...
3/22/1989
first you add all the digits of my birthdate.
3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 9 = 34
Then you minus the maximum multiple of 9 (because there's 9 enneagram types total) before exceeding the number 34
So the max multiple of 9 without exceeding (or equal to) 34 is: 3 x 9 = 27
Then you minus 27 from 34 which is: 34 - 27 = 7
This means I am enneagram 7.
And this could not be more spot on. 7 is the adventure & variety seeking type.
I love to travel, but who doesn't? I've always just innately loved variety in all areas.
Variety of places to live, variety of food, friends, experiences.
When my friends throw me an invite to go do something, I'm always down.
This type also seeks knowledge in multiple fields, which is also true, I have a very curious mind and I'm passionate about wide variety of topics including:
- Entrepreneurship
- Health & Nutrition
- Conspiracy Theories
- Multiple Online Businesses (Digital Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Amazon FBA, Dropshipping)
- UFC / MMA , basketball, soccer
- So many different personal development teachers & books I've consumed over the years & I'm constantly looking up new shit (thirst for more knowledge)
I heard one guy explain a 7 as this: someone that goes into a ice cream shop and wants to try out as many different flavors as he can, or when vacationing to a city, wants to try wide variety of different restaurant instead of going back to the same one that was good.
"7's constantly seek new and exciting experiences"
Yup.. def me, just check out my Instagram here traveled to so many places in 2019
Another thing about a 7 is that they can be multi-talented.
In business, I'm definitely the most multi-faceted in my skilsets. I've become proficient in the very technical side of things such as SEO as well as becoming very adept in interpersonal skills of sales & closing.
Often times, for most people its one or the other.
Either you're great with people and you wanna do sales.
Or
You want to stay away from people, get on the computer and geek out on the technical stuff.
I can do both and I thoroughly enjoy doing both, which to me is what sold me most about my enneagram being a 7.
Lets take a look at some other people in my life
Doing the Enneagram Test on People in My Life
Dan (My mentor that has taught me the lead generation business, also I live 5 min away from him now in El Dorado Hills, CA)
Birthdate: 5/14/1983
Add the digits: 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 3 = 31
Multiple of 9 that doesn't exceed 31: 9 * 3 = 27
31 - 27 = 4
Dan is enneagram 4 which is the individualist: their desire is to have personal significance
Spot on: Dan has been talking for a while now that he's at a point in his life where he's got enough money, what he wants now is to continue to create more successful students because seeing other's succeed is what really gets him off now. That's how he feels his significance.
4's also want to express their individuality & they're expressive, which can be seen by some of Dan's crazy dyed dreadlocks he's been rocking lately haha. If you see videos of him live, he is you will see just how expressive he is. He's not afraid to stand out and be himself.
4's "feel disdainful and exempt from ordinary ways of living" - which explains why Dan dropped out of college, went into car sales then ultimately kept searching to find the most off the beaten path career, to become a coach on the internet, teaching other people how to make money with the most unique business model of lead generation.
Shiv (My roomate & has been working for Dan since 2015)
Birthdate: 12/6/1994
Add the digits: 1 + 2 + 6 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 4 = 32
Multiple of 9 that doesn't exceed 32: 9 * 3 = 27
32 - 27 = 5
Shiv is enneagram 5 which is the investigator: cerebral type, innovative
Spot on: He is constantly talking to me about how he can only get excited when he is creating something innovative.
He has created numerous systems for Dan's company and continues to show his prowess of intellect within the group. He can take complex problems and come up with solutions, another sign of a 5.
One of his passions is technology, specifically Apple and their products, his role model has been Steve Jobs since he was 7 years old, again perfectly aligns with enneagram 5 which values innovation.
Joe (One of my best friend from Michigan, currently touring the US, lead singer of a folk band called Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, check out their music at joehertler.com Joe's Instagram is here)
Birthdate: 3/24/1989
Add the digits: 3 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 9 = 36
Maximum multiple of 9 that doesn't exceed (or equal) 36: 9 * 3 = 27
36 - 27 = 9
"They want to create harmony in their environment."
Spot on again: Joe is always bringing people together whether that'd be through his music or organizing parties or events where his goal is to always create a good time for good times sake.
"9's want things to always go a long peacefully, without conflict so they tend to avoid conflict at all costs."
"Nines are accepting, trusting, and stable. They are usually creative, optimistic, and supportive, but can also be too willing to go along with others to keep the peace."
again this is Joe at times, he's had managers that weren't doing their job for his band but instead of confronting the problem, he would often choose to just view it optimistically and have someone else handle the problem.
I remember various moments where even I would tell him "Joe fuck that, you gotta call that guy out and give him a mouthful"
Now that I know about the enneagram, it makes total sense, that we all have different strengths and weaknesses and this has allowed me to accept people more for who they're instead of projecting what I'm good at on to them (in the moment) which has improved the quality of my friendships & relationships.
Here's where it gets a lil' crazy, I had a roommate in college named Andrew that had the SAME exact birthdate as Joe.
At Andrew's wedding in Key West, Fl
This is someone I lived with for 3 years, which means I've come to know him really well.
When I read the description for enneagram 9, it fits him perfectly once again. In hindsight he is very similar to Joe.
He was the type to always try to keep the house positive, and I've sensed numerous times that he was the type that always wanted to avoid conflict.
A great roommate though because he always brought that positivity to our crew like no other.