The Outer-directed “Achiever”-Governor vs. the Inner-directed “Adventurer”-Physicist

The Enneagram of personality is about accepting our differences. Sometimes the differences between two of the nine Enneagram types are huge, as with most Helpers and Observers. Achievers and Adventurers, however, are commonly difficult to tell apart. Both tend to be optimistic, extraverted, charming, busy, and energetic. Achievers are known for setting goals for themselves, being competitive, and liking to work. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the most successful bodybuilder ever, who turned into a huge movie star and then won election as Governor of California, is probably this type. In a recent interview on the financial crisis in California, he said he doesn't consider a "plan B" for solving it. This sounds like an athlete whose only option is winning first prize. Adventurers are known for being fun loving and keeping their options open. Nobel laureate in physics, Richard Feynman, was an example of an Adventurer. He learned to juggle, played bongo drums, and studied biology and Mayan hieroglyphs. He also solved puzzles, picked locks, played pranks, wrote books, and his large circle of friends came from all walks of life. There are governors who are Adventurers and physicists who are Achievers, too, carrying out their roles according to their type. An Adventure governor might consider many alternatives for solving a budget crisis, for example.

The motivation for one's behavior is important in determining type. Achievers are motivated to attain a successful image while Adventurers are motivated to explore possibilities. According to Clarence Thomson, well-known Enneagram teacher and writer, Achievers outsource their approval while Adventurers provide their own approval. Clarence, who likes to tease and joke, competes with the Achiever type as to who is the "True Narcissist." "How can they really love themselves, he asks, "if they will do anything for the approval of others?" Achievers take the pulse of the culture for their cues and measure success by how others respond to them. Personal experience is the reward for Adventurers. "If there's enough pleasure in it," Clarence says, "I will give myself permission to do almost anything. Fault, guilt, and blame don't work on me because my narcissism saves me. My inner freedom allows me to make mistakes, commit sins, and otherwise deviate."

One Achiever artist was always thinking of his paintings hanging in someone's living room as he painted. He kept track of which styles sold the most and which were ignored so he could adapt his style accordingly. Presumably an Adventurer would be keeping part of his mind on planning the new and exciting things he might be doing next. Sales goals might be sharing room with many other options.

The retired Adventurer in this cartoon is keeping his options open. He'll go from activity to activity according to his pleasure.
For more on this subject, there's a chapter devoted to "Lookalikes" in "Are You My Type, Am I Yours?" http://www.wagele.com