I have been studying the Enneagram on and off for the past several years.

The combination of being turned onto DISC by Jim Cecil and my other personality and behavioural studies -mainly Paul Ekman (Micro-Facial Expressions)- has spurred me to find a faster way to learn.  1-on-1 coaching, while more costly than reading books and study programs, is a great way to expedite understanding of the topic at hand. 

Today, I had my initial consultation w/ Clarence from Enneagram Central.  I was astounded by the deep insight into who I am that he was able to gain only by asking a handful of questions. 

Here is what I learned:

1. I am an 8 - the Challenger, and my Stress and Security points are 5 and 2 - the Observer and the Helper, respectively.  (see here)
2. I need to ask more questions to better stimulate the collaborative process in discussions, even if I know the answer, and learn to guide others to their own answers.
3. I do business very differently from the way I cook.  In business, I tend to think fast, therefore I move exceptionally fast; my focus is fixated on finding the most efficient and effective way to do EVERYTHING.  When cooking, I tend to adopt a slightly slower and more methodical pace.
4. I have very high expectations, I have always known this.  But, until today, I never realized that very high standards are easier to meet than high expectations; standards are clearer by nature and therefore provide a clear path to success. 

I am looking forward to my future consultations w/ Clarence so I can more fully understand myself, others, and better tailor my communication to my audience.