Skip to content

ENNEAGRAM

Type 3: 
The Achiever

Type 3:
The Achiever

World View

“I must avoid failure.”

Thought Pattern

Vanity. You want to project an image of success.

Emotional Pattern

Deceit. When cultivating a perfect image, you are able to convince yourself that things are working out great, even when it isn’t so in reality.

Defense Mechanism

Identification. Adopting attributes of people you admire to the extent that you no longer have a clearly defined self.

You strive to be the best. Recognition for your achievements is a main driving force, and you’re willing to work hard and smart to get it. You are an adaptive, productive and efficient worker, so you tend to excel in competitive work environments. Slowing down isn’t an option. But you can sometimes focus too much on external praise and rewards, and might be willing step over others to get it.

Image is everything to Type 3s. They believe to be successful is to show others how it’s done, and as a result, they’re superb self-promoters and inspiring leaders. Impressive on paper and in person, a Type 3 knows how to be everything you want them to be.

They like the limelight and project self-confidence. Because their achievements are their primary measure of worth, they sometimes end up pushing themselves way too hard, or cutting corners in order to get what they want. And the desire to win makes them hypercompetitive.

Extremely restless when they aren’t doing anything, 3s continually set new and higher goals for themselves. With that always-on attitude, they hardly ever take a break. 3s will switch from one task to the next in seconds, and will pursue multiple projects at once.

But 3s clamour for social attention. In other words, they are anxious about what others think, so they may buy flashy cars, dress to impress, and go on extravagant holidays, just so others know that they’ve made it.

Key Strengths

Key Weaknesses

Ways to Grow

You need to work on untangling your identity from your achievements and image and learn to open up to others in your life (towards Type 9). Learn also to develop a sense of security and loyalty within your existing relationships (towards Type 6). Be more authentic and real with yourself (towards Type 4), and discover how you could help and nurture others too, beyond your own personal ambition (towards Type 2).