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Welcome back to another episode here on the Enneagram MBA podcast. You are listening to a this or that episode. And I'm your host, Sarah Wallace, certified Enneagram coach, workshop facilitator, and speaker. And this is an episode where we take two common type comparisons, or either that or a specific request from a listener or somebody over on social media who wanted to match these two types up. And we do, we match them up, we put them up, we look at the some of the similarities and then dive more into what is different, though, some key differences about each of those, so that the listener, you, whoever you might be sending this to that is struggling, um, ideally leaves the episode with some additional insight and really with some clarity about what their dominant type is, or at a minimum, gives them some new questions and things to reflect on to ask themselves about. So without further ado, enjoy this this or that episode. 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. In today's this or that matchup, we are looking at the type three, known as the achiever, sometimes even known as the entrepreneur, and the role model or the performer. And then we are also looking at the type seven, known as the multitasker, the eternal optimist, the enthusiast. And these two types, this actually came from a specific request over on Instagram, but these two are some of the most common look-alikes of all the nine types. So it's not unusual for many people to think they a three to think they might be a seven, or a seven to think they might be a three, at least in the beginning. They do have a lot in common on the surface. Um, one of those being they're both in that assertive stance with the eights, where they are focused on the future. They are focused on going far and they are focused on getting there fast, really taking a lot of action with energy, although sevens might have a little bit more energy. Um, they both tend to have a pretty positive outlook. Again, sevens are really gonna have on those rose-colored glasses, and then they can both get bored easily and they don't like that feeling. Again, sevens really hate it, even more so. Um, both the threes and the sevens also really like to plan, but they do so very differently. Also, to add to these similarities, both the threes and the sevens enjoy a good multitask, although threes want to multitask within limits because the number of tasks that they're willing to take on is is going to be very different than the the amount of tasks that the sevens are willing to take on to an extreme, because um the three really wants to get to the goal and having too many options, too many projects going is going to limit that. Whereas a seven is really just they're gonna have a hard time turning down anything that excites them. So, to help those of you who might also be struggling that with this, we're gonna take um a look below the surface at some of the key differences between these two to hopefully give you some additional clarity um and clues into which one is your dominant type so that you can really have a clear picture and understanding of where you're starting from, where you want to go. And the best path for you to get there is uh we'll start with the fact that the type three is driven by this need to feel accomplished, successful, productive, um, valuable. They are really striving to be outstanding. Now, this energy in an unhealthy place can distort to being kind of attention seeking. So, under stress, they may want to make sure that others are aware of all their accomplishments and all their personal attributes and will place a really high value on image over substance. Now, seven has their own, has seven has their own thing. So they are striving to feel excited and happy and enthusiastic and be entertaining and be active. They're really focused on all the possibilities and having fun and keeping others entertained. Where this energy can get distorted to is irresponsibility. So under stress, sevens can become easily distracted, leaving a big long trail of unfinished projects. And they tend to make some really rash decisions without completely thinking about the consequences or just not at all thinking about the consequences, hoping to maybe charm their way out of any messes they create. So one of another key differentiator, if if that's still kind of because that is, right? That there's still a lot of similarity right there. So we're gonna take another um look at something else kind of below the surface that has to do with focus. So think about how long can you focus without just a lot of effort? And for a three, focus tends to come a little, a little easier. I don't want to say a little at probably a lot easier because they have set their attention on a specific goal, on a target, and they want to stay on that path until the job is done, until the goal is reached. And they almost have a laser focus on projects that they need to complete. And so they can say, you know, hello, mission accomplished. Whereas a seven, it is a challenge, it is a struggle for them because they get easily distracted by all the new possibilities, thoughts streaming through their minds, they have all the stimulus happening, um, and so many other factors. So sevens will say they're focused. Some of them may say they're focused, others just might be real with you and just say, you know, that is a struggle. Um, but it's important to ask yourself, okay, yes, you can focus, but for how long? And whether or not staying focused requires a lot of effort, is going to be something that seven will want to reflect on. It's gonna be much easier for the three. Another differentiator we kind of alluded to earlier has to do with planning. Both like a good plan, um, but are you more practical planning and you know, kind of making it easy for something that you want to accomplish? Or is your way of planning more about ideas in your mind without necessarily a really specific call to action that will take you from intention to completion? Okay, so the type threes are known for having goals and immediate actionable plans. They love a good task list, they love to check things off the list, they love to accomplish goals. Like I said, mission accomplished, right? They may not write down their goals and plans, um, especially if it's not, you know, a complex task. Um, it's just there's no need to, but they are really focused on those, those plans because without goals, without plans, threes tend to feel really disoriented. Like, who am I if I'm not working towards something? Sevens, on the other hand, love to plan as well, but it's primarily around ideas, and they have a lot of them. Okay. Um, as a type seven myself, I very much resonate with this one. Executing on these plans is a different story. It is so fun, so entertaining, so stimulating to have all these ideas, but then to actually have to put them in place. Um, isn't something that's all sevens really love to do? Um, practical or pragmatic, detailed planning, something that most sevens are not going to enjoy, um, or not how not something how they're gonna want to spend their time doing. And so that will absolutely be a very important differentiator between these two. And you gotta be, you gotta take an honest look, right? You gotta be honest with yourself here. The only person you have to be honest with is yourself. And then another key differentiator here is around options and multitasking. Um, although both like to have options, both enjoy multitasking and are very good at it. Um, you know, asking yourself, okay, if I'm being real, how many options do I really want or need? Most threes are going to like options, but within limits because too many options, it's going to be hard for them to get the results that they want. It's going to be hard for them to reach that goal that they want. So doing everything can lead to getting very little done. Threes understand that and they love to get things done. So they're going to prioritize prioritize the accomplishment and execution so that they can reach their goal over having unlimited options and having their fingers in all different kinds of projects. Whereas a seven, they want unlimited options. They will feel boxed in. Otherwise, because of this, you know, having all their options or in this way, having their options limited feels like an immense loss of freedom. And freedom is so vitally important to the type seven. It is incredible, it's something that they want and something that they need. So really understanding how much do I value options and multitasking and what does that mean to me? What does that look like? Is another thing you'll want to reflect on and take an honest look at. The other thing to think about, and this is always something that um I talk about in typing sessions when somebody is kind of struggling between this or that, is looking at your stress arrows, really looking at your arrows in general. And for a three, they have a line to both the type six, known as the loyalist, the skeptic, the troubleshooter, as well as the type nine, known as the mediator, the harmonizer, the peacemaker. And they're it's really interesting because this is such the blend. This is such a great blend for what that type three energy really needs to enhance their natural strengths and tendencies and strategies. So the type six is after safety, security, striving to feel supported. And sometimes threes will kind of neglect that six energy, even though that's the exact energy they need to really grow and and enhance their natural strengths, because they can sometimes see security as settling or see it as mediocre, it's just average. All right. Um, and that's something they want to avoid. Um, if they they're afraid if they become too comfortable with the status quo, that they'll be lazy and lose their drive. And that is how they define themselves. But on the flip side, success does help to maintain security, like your job, like your money, right? And so bringing in that six energy, also being really collaborative, being willing to share the spotlight is the work for the three to focus on. Now, in stress, though, they they will move to the type nine energy, that peacemaker energy, where um they rarely become flustered, right? Threes typically um just are are on that kind of that steady eddy. Um, maybe you're uh have all kinds of things going on below the surface, but on on the surface, you're kind of you're gliding, you're polished, you're professional in action. But in times of stress, you may take on the nine tendencies in stress, which is to disconnect, to zone out, to veg out. And it's okay. Absolutely, it is okay, um, especially the workaholics that the the type threes tend to be to take some time to rest to veg out. But you want to question kind of why you're doing it. Is it to recharge, or is it because you are just so burnt out, you don't know what else to do? Um, so that will be something though, that the type three will move to that type nine and stress and zone out, disconnect, um, hide with Netflix, um, with you know meaningless task to avoid what really is the thing that they need to address so that they maybe don't have to work all the time. So they maybe don't have to feel stressed out all the time. The seven, on the other hand, they will go to a one in stress, being really critical, being really judgmental of themselves and others. Um, at the same time, though, that routine and structure is absolutely what the seven needs to bring their ideas to life, to help them not jump from project to project, to help kind of put some limits on all those multitasking, that multitasking energy. Um, and so that's what stress will look like for them. Where they're also really grow is when they move to that type five energy, which is really focused and um okay with stillness, doesn't always have to be exciting and moving. They can be alone, right? And so those are some things to look at your arrows. Where do you, what is resonating with you? What do you feel like? What is the energy that you most need? And maybe we talked about one of those numbers today. And then also what does stress look like for you beyond just your your type stress? So those are some key differences right there. Um, there are a lot of similarities though, but hopefully that gave you some additional clues specifically around how you focus, your planning, options, and multitasking, and then what does stress look like for you? And and at the end of the day, it really is about that core driver and the core fear. So, you know, threes really want to feel outstanding, sevens really want to feel excited and free. The thing that the sevens is running uh running away from is emotional pain and discomfort and lack of options. A three is running away from failure, um not having value because they they're they're not because of their success, um, or only being valuable because of their successes. Who am I without this? So I know that we can all feel both of those ways sometimes, but there's going to be one that really, really speaks to you that might even um that might even trigger you a little bit. And so at the end of the day, it's all about the core motive, not necessarily about the behavior. So definitely take some time to reflect on that. But hopefully, if you've done that already and still confuse these other additional clues, give you some clarity into what your type is. Again, as always, it's not meant to put you in a box, to give you a label. It's really to give you a clear understanding of where you're starting from and then a clear path forward to get to where you want to go, who you want to be, have the life that you want to live. So thanks so much for being here. If you think that somebody else will get value, be helped to bring some additional clarity into their own Enneagram journey, please share with them. I appreciate it so much. And I will see you back here very soon.