Lots of people ask me about solo travel – why I preferred it for so many years. For one thing, I simply didn’t have a companion with the kind of freelance lifestyle and freedom who wanted to go with me. Or if they did, they didn’t like to motorcycle, bicycle or camp. There was always something! But also, I’m also just a loner type. If you’re familiar with the Enneagram you have probably already figured out that of the 9 types I’m a type 5, which is the loner, observer type. Lots of writers are fives.
Courtesy Enneagram Institute
Here’s the interesting thing. When I identified my type five barriers – and they were real! – I was able to self-correct to manifest many of my dreams, boost my business and make more money as a writer. One of those weaknesses is my shyness and the tendency to stand in a corner and observe things. I still struggle with that, but those of you who’ve met me in the last decade might be mystified because you’ve seen me on stage at events addressing hundreds of people, or heard me on the radio or podcasts, or seen me teaching a class. I don’t seem like the shy type, do I?
I met Enneagram professional Ben Saltzman a couple of months ago through a friend and he asked me to participate in his annual Rise Up Break Through program. Ben is a powerhouse with an impressive resume and record of helping people in business, and not in a smarmy way, but consciously. The program will help other fives through their process – and help all you other types to understand and better connect with the fives in your lives!
Ben is offering you a free “Self Discovery Tool Kit” that includes an ebook, videos about the types, and an on-line assessment to help you figure out your type. He will also tell you about the Rise Up Break Through program, an intensive online series that will help you overcome the limitations of your type. I’ll describe what I did to overcome my “fiveness” obstacles and to leverage its strengths, and you’ll see that it wasn’t easy. There are four panelists for each of the 9 Enneagram types, so you’ll be able to identify yourself and your friends, as well as co-workers, business partners, customers and loved ones, and relate to them better.
Okay, I know some of you are thinking this is kind of new age woo woo but take a look, if just for fun. Maybe it’s not for you now, but have fun with it and consider it for self-analysis with a new perspective.
What I like about this system and the program is, well, two things. It’s the kind of work that helps in relating in both your personal and business life, and it can help you make more money, which means more freedom. That’s important for us wanderlusting adventurers and writers who are trying to get the book done and make a living at it, too!
Though the program does focus on business success it’s not going to be dry. Ben, who is a “7” on the Enneagram, is not shy! He is high-energy and pretty fun – hilarious at times, especially when he’s role-playing the different types – you’ll see when you click through below and sign up for the toolkit. There will be a link to the video and I guarantee you’ll laugh. But this isn’t frivolous. Ben has worked with lots of people to break their type barriers to do business better and boost their incomes into the six and seven figures.
Even if you don’t end up in the program you’ll have fun finding out what your type is (and your partners and co-workers) and you’ll get a series of videos and Ben’s free “Self-Discovery Toolkit,” which is a good start.
I don’t partner, affiliate with just anybody, as you know, and so this is a pretty big deal for me. Do you already know your type? Grab your ebook and videos here. Don’t know your type yet? This link is for you. You will start getting videos as soon as you sign up. I’ll be on a panel later in the program and I hope to see you there.