Nicole McDonough - Enneagram Expert - Helping Entrepreneurs Navigate the Labyrinths of Life.

Show Notes

• Let’s welcome Nicole McDonough for this week’s episode of the Doctor Entrepreneur Podcast. Nicole is a life coach, super mom, Enneagram expert, and an all-around fantastic person. 
• You may be unfamiliar with what an Enneagram test even is, let alone what it can do. In Nicole’s words, an Enneagram is a map that helps us plot our “unique starting point.” It tells us about our motivations, beliefs, values, etc. that form when we’re young.
• Most people get their Enneagram results and need a “translator” like Nicole who can help listen on a deeper level; people like Nicole bring out what they’re feeling and help validate these emotions as well as identify ways to honor them.

“Big Entrepreneur 3”

1. Take Everything Everybody Says with a Grain of Salt; Figure Out What Works Best for You.
2. Recently, Nicole read something about the “workhorses” vs. the “thoroughbreds” within the entrepreneur “breed.” 
3. For workhorses, their superpower is in their steadiness—they work a little bit each day and consistently make progress. 
4. Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, operate in between two modes: sprints and rests. 
5. It does neither type any good to look at the other and wish they had those qualities—they’re different breeds. 
6. As an Enneagram Four, Nicole deems herself a thoroughbred. Unfortunately, most of her earlier productivity was advised by workhorses. It was driving her to the ground; she was losing both her inspiration and connection to her natural rhythm. 
7. Take Yourself on “Artist Field Trips.”
8. Nicole believes many entrepreneurs discount themselves by believing they aren’t artists—everyone has creativity. You might not be Pablo Picasso, but every entrepreneur is creative in some aspects. 
9. Read “Helping People Change” by Richard Boyatzis and/or “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni.
10. Thanks to her academic background, Nicole found the first book—“Helping People Change” by Richard Boyatzis —through the Harvard Business Review. This book was what introduced Nicole to coaching, and one of the most powerful things she took away from it was the concept of “Self-Mastery.” 
11. The second book recommendation—“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni—is a book that’s on Glenn’s list. 

Learning From the Past

People often think life is like a line with an arc: you start here and you go there in between the stages of development with a beginning, middle, and end. One of the most powerful things Nicole has been taught is that life is not a point—it’s not linear, it’s not A to B—it’s a labyrinth. In a labyrinth, you’re going around and experiencing seasons, cycles, and deja vu. 

The goal is not to move through issues and be done with them for good. The goal is to prepare yourself so that when you come back to those issues again, you have more tools to navigate them than you did the last time around. This sort of mindset removes the pressure; there’s no arrival, point B, or end-game. It’s all about building your repertoire and becoming a stronger version of yourself.

Don’t Stop Here!

If you want to take the test and launch your journey, the best way to start is by doing just that: take the test. From there, you can give your results some legs and unpack by scheduling an Enneagram typing session with Nicole at :https://nicolemcdonoughcoaching.com/enneagramtyping.

Nicoles holds her paid Enneagram typing sessions every week with a small group of up to four people. If the idea of a group session makes you take a step back, don’t give in to skepticism: it's beneficial to hear the differing results of others, compare them to your own, and undergo a more holistic experience. This is especially the case if you invite people you’re close with to the session. 

In these sessions, you’ll take the test, get your results, and Nicole will ask you questions. After you discuss your results, you’ll get a free follow-up call with Nicole.