SPEAKER_00 0:00

Are you someone who always has a new idea and gets really excited and energized by those new ideas? Maybe brainstorming is your love language. Having a whiteboard wall where you could just brainstorm away would be the best thing in the world. Maybe you're somebody where it just comes natural for you to think on the bright side of things. You're able to, without even thinking about it, put a positive spin on a negative situation. Or maybe you're somebody who's always looking for the next exciting adventure, the next new experience. If you can relate to any of these, you may be an Enneagram type seven. My guest today is Natalia Hernandez, and she is sharing her specific type seven experience as just a human being in general, and then specifically as an entrepreneur, both how those gifts of a seven have played into the work that she does, and where sometimes it might trip her up. Natalia is a relationship coach as well as an Enneagram type seven coach. And I guess, like a type seven, um, in the middle of this interview, we were about halfway in, and I realized, oh my gosh, we have talked so much about this type 7 energy. I really brought her on with the intention of tapping into her relationship expertise, but it turned into a really fun type seven conversation as well. So, in this episode, you're actually hearing part one of my conversation for those of you who identify as a type seven or want to learn more about the type sevens in your life or just that type seven energy in general. Maybe you're a six with a wing seven or an eight with a wing seven or arrows to sevens. This will give you some real life insight into that type seven energy. And then in part two of my interview with Natalia, that you'll hear next week, we dive more into her relationship expertise and take a zoomed out view and go through some common challenges, tendencies that you may run into in a relationship with each of the nine types. So that's another really good one that you'll have to absolutely come back for. The type sevens are known as the visionaries, the imaginers, the optimists. They tend to be really innovative, optimistic, enthusiastic, can have a really funny, witty personality, tend to be pretty inspirational. Big picture thinkers tend to be pretty impulsive too. On the shadow side of that, you know, that can also be that same energy, can also drive irresponsibility, shallowness, maybe um a short attention span, uh, lack of follow-through, maybe constant needing to be stimulated. And so Natalia will kind of share her experience with both of those. And it's not good or bad, it's just more harnessing that energy with intention. So, without further ado, let's hear about how Natalia experiences that type seven energy and the work that she does and what you might resonate with as well. Welcome to the Enneagram MBA Podcast, a show for aspiring and growing entrepreneurs and unfulfilled employees who know they are capable of playing bigger. If you are wanting to identify your gifts, find your purpose, do work that matters, and create a ripple effect that goes beyond yourself, you're in the right place. Each week you'll get resources, strategies, and support to help you get to know yourself, to get to know and understand others, like your future clients, and help you get known so that you can reach more people with your gifts and purpose. So grab your notebook or open up your notes app, and I will see you in class.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

I think the biggest factor for me was the optimism, just the constant reframing of something better. I have always, and everyone around me has always mentioned you you always can see the bright side of things. Not that necessarily that's a good thing, but it has always been mentioned in one way or the other of you can always see the positive side to things. And that when I first read that and heard about that, I thought that's exactly it. That is exactly like no matter what, I will either make a situation that I feel uncomfortable be funny, inappropriately, just so I can get through it. Or, you know, like I'm that person at the funeral that has a giggle. Right. Um, or somehow we'll find a terrible car accident and find how there's a purpose for it.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Okay. So, you know, as we all know, I'm also a type seven. And so my boyfriend gives me a hard time and he'll say, like, you could run over someone's dog, and then you could say, Well, at least I didn't run over both their dogs or something. Like, there's always that. Yes. So it's like, you know, it's this, it's the there's positives to it, and then there are kind of the like the toxic positivity in this case. Um, what so for you was it pretty straightforward, like this is it, there can't be any other type, or were you stuck between a few in the beginning?

SPEAKER_02 5:21

No, this was pretty much absolutely me. Just from the different ranges of all the, let's say, the uh good things, right? 100% that was me. And then when I looked at the negative things, what's considered negative, I also agreed with that.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

Okay, I'm coming back to that in just a second. So placeholder there. Um, I know that you most identify with an Enneagram seven with a wing six. What about the six versus the eight, or just what about the six makes you feel like, oh my gosh, this is yeah, got got a lot of this energy in here as well.

SPEAKER_02 5:58

So what's interesting about that is that I initially thought I was a seven with a wing of an eight because I can be very assertive. Um, and I don't like not really holding back, right? Which eights are known to be. However, I was Christy, who we both know, quickly informed me that I was probably most likely a type six. I just have a lot of energy of indecision, and I can sit and mull over ideas and things I should do probably way longer than I probably should, because I'm just not sure. And if someone could just tell me that this is the right thing to do, then my life would be great. And sixes really depend on that guidance and support from other people. And so um it quickly turned from realizing instead of a 718 that I'm a seven one six, and the assertive is just part of the aggressive nature of a seven that I am.

SPEAKER_00 6:56

So interesting. And again, like I resonate a lot with that, as also mostly identifying with the the type six wing. Um, and that is so true. I think you had actually asked a question on your Instagram profile, then your new type seven coach profile, which we'll talk about later. Um, so many things to talk about later, um, around like doubting yourself or trusting yourself. And I was like, it's so strange. Like sometimes I'm like, yes, I'm a this is amazing, I'm amazing. And then there's like the next minute, I'm like, this is crap. Who am I to do this? I don't know what I'm doing. Somebody tell me what to do. Exactly what you were saying. So I feel that. Exactly it. Um, and then something else that we have in common, and we don't get into this most podcast interviews. Um, this is kind of, you know, I you're a fellow Enneagram coach, so I I know that we can go there. Um, you for those that are listening, there's like flavors of sevens. So there can be three different flavors. There's that that sexual or kind of transmitting energy, there is the preserving, and then there's the social energy. And I know you most identify with the social. So I would just love to hear a little bit about maybe even your stacking, maybe what resonates with you most about the social, and then where do you see like your one being neglected the most?

SPEAKER_02 8:18

So I would say 100% social, and then the one-on-one sexual, and then the self-preservation. Now that I'm aware, it's I it's starting to switch a little bit, starting to be more social, self-pres, and then sexual, but mainly social. And 100%. I mean, I took a little quiz on it, but I didn't need to because I already knew I'm very much concerned about my community, the group of people that I'm in. I always want to make sure everyone is happy, that everyone's okay. If anyone needs anything, everyone's having a good time. I'm always sort of scanning the room just to make sure that everyone is having a great time. And that's very much a social type. And I can really um meddle well and and mingle that metal, mingle well with various different groups of people. I'm comfortable in that. And um, so that would definitely be at the top of my list. And then I, I guess because I'm a relationship coach, it matches perfectly, but I am very much into one-on-one connections, just sort of right underneath the social um aspect. And I love the understanding of people and what makes people relate. And so that deep connection, I love that. And then lastly, the self-pres, you know, I'm I'm doing my best, I'm doing a lot more workouts and I'm quieting my mind and I'm focusing more on my finances and things like that, being a little more, you know, what you call adult responsible, which self-pres is for me, like these people are on it, they've got their life together. I need to be more like that. So I'm trying to level those three out a little bit, um, and wrap it up nicely in a boat.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Yes. Yeah. Again, yeah, it's like the idea is like bringing all three of those in and using them with intention. So I'm right there doing doing that self-preservation work too. Um, it's interesting for those that aren't as familiar. I have found that those understanding more about each of those has been really eye-opening in relationships because you kind of understand, even if you don't know all nine types, it's like you can kind of see one of those three energies in yourself or in your in your partner and understand like, oh my gosh, this is why they do this, this is why I do this, this is why we might be clashing. And one example, if you have another example to add to this, feel free or add to this. But I was, I don't know what I was reading, Natalia, but somebody was saying, like, maybe somebody in it who has that social energy, they're gonna celebrate their anniversary by like throwing a party or like getting a big group of people and going out to eat. And then maybe somebody with like more of that like wants to be one-on-one connection and like have a deep conversation, like they're gonna plan this like really intimate, just you know, you and your partner kind of night. And you could see right away like kind of the disappointment on either end if that isn't like recognized and talked about. So just even kind of understanding that, I think has been just really eye-opening in my own relationships and then just in understanding others. 100%.

SPEAKER_02 11:24

I think for for me, anniversaries is more is where my uh one-on-one kicks in, where I really want to do something just either romantic or just me and him, not really involving anybody else. But when it comes to birthdays, I always really did. I don't like surprises, surprisingly, maybe not, but I don't like surprises. I don't like being caught off guard like that, but I do love parties and birthdays.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

Okay, so let me ask you about this. And I would just love like your Enneagram experience take on this. So I don't like surprises either. And I think that would be surprising to most people about a seven, because I think that people probably are like, what is it? But for me, it's like I love the anticipation of an event. And so, like when that's taken away, then it's like not as enjoyable as it could have been if I was like planning and thinking and dreaming about it. I don't know. Do you resonate with that? I think that's exactly it.

SPEAKER_02 12:26

Yeah, because you you you it's almost like you rob me with my excitement for looking forward to my own party.

SPEAKER_00 12:35

Yes, and you know, that's a seven thing, I believe. And then also I think there is some science around that. And I don't have the research, I don't have the book, unfortunately, but I I have read before where like part of um part of like happiness or like being satisfied with something is the anticipation leading up to it. And that's why a lot of times it's like when you actually get to the thing, then it's like, oh, okay, on to the next thing. Because you've you've gotten you've the joy or the satisfaction came from anticipating it.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yes. And that I think that is true for a lot of types, if not all of them, but definitely for the seven. We're all about the anticipation. And when the thing actually happens, we're like, eh.

SPEAKER_00 13:23

Like, oh, okay, like this very unvery underwhelming right now. Very underwhelming. So let me ask you this because we are on the Enneagram MBA podcast for business owners and leaders and entrepreneurs. Um, how do you see your seven energy serving you? Like what about what's one thing, or just in general, have you seen it really help you move forward in the work that you're doing? And then I'm gonna ask you where you see it maybe sometimes tripping you up.

SPEAKER_02 13:58

I have a list of ideas. I can come up, I bought for my shower a water notepad because I get most of my ideas in the shower and you're laughing. Yeah, in the shower. And I'm like, and by the time I get out, it's gone. So I have it there and I just jot everything down. So I have a list of ideas, all these different kinds of things that I want to do, that I want to start, that I want to get into, things I want to share and talk about. So it's always just a flow of ideas, and I'm pretty good at implementing them right away. I like with my uh sixth wing, I do like the support. So I might ask around, hey, is this a good idea? What does everyone think? But at the end of the day, I'm still going to do it, whether I get a response back or not. Um, that's just the assertiveness in us. We will just go do it. And so that I think has been my biggest strength and the ability to push through in starting a business from scratch, which is very difficult on its own. But if you're able to have constant creativity or inspiration and then implement right away, even if you don't know how it's going to turn out, you're still moving the needle that much further and you're growing that much more than if you just, you know, sit around and wait.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

Absolutely. Yes, to that assertive just fast moving fast and far into the future. What about where do you see it sometimes maybe tripping you up or getting stuck or making the same mistake?

SPEAKER_02 15:31

So for a seven, a big thing is the emptiness that we feel, um, you know, never really being satisfied. And I think, yes, it's very good to have ideas and it's very good to implement them right away. But one of the things that trips me up is if I don't see results in the way that I, in my own mind, think they should happen or as quickly as they should happen, there goes my patience. And then I turn that into thinking the idea I originally had isn't actually a good idea. And so I want to move on to the next thing on my list as opposed to, wait a minute, let me slow down here, stick to this one idea for, you know, six months or three months or whatever it is, and ride that out and see what happens at the end of it. And then you can make a logical decision, rational decision after that, instead of immediately thinking, nope, that didn't work and jumping to the next thing.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Oh my gosh, I'm so guilty of that too.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

Um yeah, oh my goodness. So many things, yes. So one of the one of the other things that um you had said, and I just lost it, but that's okay because I have another question and maybe it'll come back. And this is like the the mind of the seven. Um, oh, here's what it was. So I know that on your Instagram and some of your blogs, you have talked a lot about mindfulness and stillness and quiet, which for a seven, and I think for any of us, especially, I think anybody, honestly, and especially those of us in that head center five, six sevens, like the thought of like not reading, not listening to a podcast while we're walking. Like I we joke that um like I'll listen to podcasts in the shower because I constantly need to be like taking in and like quiet is like the death of me. But I also know like it's very research-backed, right? That like stillness, quiet, meditation, mindfulness like has so many benefits. How have you been able to practice that more in your own life? And what benefits have you seen?

SPEAKER_02 17:43

Yeah, that is very hard for for anybody, but yeah, the sevens. What I've done, and it's very uncomfortable, is I've done a couple of things. But one of the big things that everyone can do, no matter what they might have access to, is if you're in the car driving somewhere, I not that I was going, I was gonna say something that I like to do, but it's not that I'd like to do. I just do it on purpose to help myself because I don't even turn the radio on. I drive in silence. Because even if the radio is on, you're still going to be in your head, right? Head centers, we're still going to be in our head, even if the radio is on. So I just turn the radio off. And guess what? I'm still in my head, except there isn't that much noise. There isn't so much going on in my mind where I'm trying to sing along to a song and also plan out the rest of my day or my weekend. So that's one of the ways that I've learned to just quiet things down a little bit from the outside and just focus more on to me. And also what I do is in the mornings, no matter if I exercise or if I don't, I will take 15 minutes before anybody else gets up. And I will either sit in silence or there's an app that I use called Insight Timer. And I go in there and I put in there are specific tracks guided or just music for each Enneagram type. And I will put in Quiet the Mind. And Quiet the Mind has a couple of types. So I choose the one that's Enneagram seven, and there's this lady who will guide an Enneagram seven through, I think it's 10 minutes, um, of a quiet meditation. And it's a presence meditation to just help you sit and focus on whatever it is that she's talking about. And that is really truly calming. You can feel it inside you that you relax and you're able to, even if it's for those 10, 15 minutes, sit without anything else running through your mind.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

Oh my gosh. Okay, I'm absolutely gonna have to get that link and drop that in here for the rest of us because I love that it's type specific.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

Um, okay, before we move into kind of tapping into your relationship expertise, I got two more questions for you. One has to do with handling stress. And so, you know, a lot of us who haven't been nerding out on the Enneagram have heard like we got the wings, we got the arrows. For the type seven, they have a tendency after they've tapped out their seven coping mechanisms and defense strategies to kind of make that lateral shift to the type one coping mechanisms and defense strategies. Does that resonate with you? And what does that look like for you in those times? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 20:24

It's when you're kind of like at the end of your rope for your own dominant type. And for sevens, we can become critical, highly critical and highly judgmental and irritable. And it's to an uncomfortable place where we don't even recognize ourselves. We can feel it, we know that I am just being, you know, mean, honestly. Sevens can be mean. Um, and in that in the critical aspect of it, it's not only mean to the other person, but then we're we're mean to ourselves for letting ourselves get to that place. So it's judgment for the other person, it's judgment for ourselves for letting ourselves get to that place, and then trying to rationalize all of it as to why that even happened to begin with. And it's so stressful.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

It's so stressful. Oh my gosh. I feel like sometimes we're the same for this. Is what I love about the Enneagram, is that like you just understand a type and then connect with somebody else, and you're like, oh my gosh, I'm not the only one. Um, so I even still to this day will do that, and I'm I'm doing it right now. What about the the so for a seven in those growth times or when you're feeling really secure in that in that place, maybe where you're meditating regularly? We tend to take on some of those really healthy habits and tendencies of the type five. So for you, I'll ask the same question does that resonate and what does that look like for for you? Okay, so and this I'm going to laugh because it's the absolute

SPEAKER_02 22:00

Absolute best and highly irritating depending on the day because my lovely husband is a type five. So my best, healthiest uh place is to move to his natural state, um, which is you know self-regulated and controlled and calm and thinks things through and is much more level-headed and conscious. So they do more research, they're not as impulsive, they take their time. And I think the biggest thing is being present and okay with what they currently have, which for a seven is very difficult. We want more. We're trying to, you know, which which is great, right? Everyone should have goals, but it's an internal um feeling of being settled or not being settled. And sevens have this internal feeling of not being settled because we don't have enough. And so when I know that I'm in a really good place, is when I can kind of see a little tiny mirroring with him in the feeling of security and internal peace and just a calm that I don't need anything more right now. Like everything I have right now is enough for right now. And if I want more, I can have more in its proper, you know, calmed pace time.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

So well said. So well said. Um, would is there anything else that you would offer to maybe somebody who is just kind of understanding that they're a type seven and then specifically maybe either um looking to grow in their career or looking to grow their own business, like you're doing? Any kind of words of advice for that type seven specific person?

SPEAKER_02 23:53

Okay, so this is going to be completely against what they're going to want to do, but I've been in their shoes. So the first thing I would really say is slow down. I know, right? Ridiculous. How dare I? How dare I? But truly, because we have the tendency to think, and I do this now, and I'm sure you can relate that we have to get it all done now. We have to do it all done now because we have to seize the day, right? Like all these ideas and these opportunities, we need them now. When really, if you're looking at it from the outside in, it makes no difference whether you do this today or if you do this in a month, which I know a month is like, what? I can't wait that long. But truly, it's not going to, you know, it's not going to make such a negative impact or major impact at all in your business if you can slow down a little bit and get more organized. I'm not the most organized person. And I think it's really helpful from like something I wish I knew when I was starting off. Truly make yourself take the morning time to organize your day, plan things out, and then let yourself know it's okay. If you don't get to those things, it's fine. The world won't fall apart. You can do it even next week, it's okay. But I think the biggest thing is slowing down and also um actually, no, this is probably just as important is appreciating where you are in your journey right now. Because we, especially for sevens, we think when we hit an X income goal or client goal or products, you know, sold goal, if we hit that, then I'm gonna be really happy because then I made it. But what happened to all the in-between, right? We miss all the ways we've grown and we've changed and we've helped people and we've sold things, you know, and and we're reaching for our goal. So it's also in the appreciating where you are right now because you know, you're never gonna have this time again.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Okay. And let me just ask a follow-up question. Talking about being organized, I I absolutely need more of that in my life. Is there a specific tool? I know that you were talking about your morning routine, um, any other like business tools or productivity tools, like organization resources that you would offer um that have been helpful in helping you do that.

SPEAKER_02 26:17

So I love Flow Desk. It's where I have all my emails. It's a very simple, clean format, which for me I like very simple and direct steps. Uh, I don't care for anything too fancy, but if you want to get really fancy in it, you can, and they have that option available. So I really love Flowdesk for emails, um, building up your email list. And if anyone has a podcast, I like Garage Band. It's again simple, but I like it and it works for exactly what I need, and it's easy to edit myself and just I can wrap it up in a day and move on to the next thing. So those are probably my two very favorite tools.

SPEAKER_01 26:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 26:57

And then I'm gonna I'm gonna add one in here. And I was gonna say this for later, but just while we're talking about type seven specifically. Um, also, you just recently started a resource on Instagram and then potentially uh, well, it sounds like a newsletter, and then who knows what else for working type sevens or just type sevens in general. Would you just tell us a little bit about that and then where we can find you right now for us type sevens?

SPEAKER_02 27:26

Yes, I was finding so on um Instagram and I am a relationship coach, right? For anybody, no matter your type. But I found myself really wanting to talk uh along the lines of how a seven themselves can do better in their life in general. And if I would have known a type seven coach a couple of years ago before I knew any of the stuff that I know now, I would have hired them because I would have, it would have made my life easier. So I thought, you know, let me go on. And if there's any type sevens that needs specific work on just any part of their life, making decisions, you know, from careers to their family life to getting along better to resolving conflict to slowing down in their life, anything in general, I want to be able to have be that resource for them. So I created um an Instagram account specifically for type sevens to help them really balance out their having fun, their goals, all the things that they want to get done, but in a calm way so that they don't end up spinning out of control and getting all overwhelmed.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

All right. Such a fun conversation, right? I know as a seven myself, and hopefully as a listener, as a seven, um, you felt validated. You probably laughed along a few places. Maybe you felt like you're not the only one that does that. So it's like, okay, I'm not crazy after all. Um, and then if you are not a seven, hopefully you got some interesting insight about the seven in your life to communicate better, to ask better questions, just to better understand that energy and where they're coming from. Now, as I mentioned, this was part one of my interview with Natalia. Next week, we are taking a zoomed-out view of the entire Enneagram, looking at each of the nine types, a specific relationship or communication challenge that they might run into based on that type specific energy. So definitely don't want to miss that one, regardless of what your type is. Um, and if you happen to be a type seven, be sure and connect with uh Natalia over on Instagram at type sevencoach. With that, have an amazing week, and I will see you back here next week.