Get to know 9️⃣ ⭐ Type 6: Tim Ferriss

The loyal, dutiful, hardworking, problem-solvers.

For some reason last week, my mind was on Tim Ferriss. I was thinking about his accomplishments, his struggles, the many things he’s set out to learn. And I began to wonder what Enneagram type he is.

All I could find was one minute, in one podcast, where he describes himself as a "loyal skeptic six."

And the more I think about it, the more that makes sense!

Fear and Anxiety

Type 6s deal with fear and anxiety. Because they have a great skill in thinking about all possible outcomes, they can get overwhelmed with everything that could go wrong in the world and in their lives.

I see this characteristic manifest in Tim through his Fear Setting exercise. He taught himself how to manage fear itself so that when it pops up, it won’t keep him from success. He created a systematic way to define, understand, and move through his fear. A very healthy Type 6 way to approach fear.

Security

Type 6s like to find authority figures or mentors to teach them the best thing to do. This is because they feel secure in knowing what to do. Because if they know what to do, they can (generally) avoid disastrous outcomes. In some 6s this manifests as intense research, book buying, planning, etc.

I see this manifest in Tim through his podcast guests. Instead of buying books to read, he interviews people. He collects knowledge and mentors in that way.

Enneagram Internal Profile

5 wing - The Intellectual Observer. 5s are very intellectual. I see Tim’s 5 wing in how he goes deep into topics like nutrition, fitness, general wellness, psychology, and recently, psychedelic medicine. He researches, interviews, and sometimes “guinea-pigs” it, all to then share what he’s learned.

7 wing - The Enthusiastic Optimist. 7s are fun and always looking for the next stimulating thing to try. I see this in so many ways in Tim, but especially how he:

• Learned to tango (and then became the first American to take a Guinness World Record in it)

• Challenged himself to learn Tagalog in 3 days

• Completed the world’s highest tandem skydive (a very 7 thing to want to do!)

9 path - The Peaceful Accommodator. 9s can see all sides of an issue. I love how Tim uses his 9 path in his interviews. He covers so many topics, is open to so many different opinions, and makes sure to give time to opinions that may differ from his own.

3 path - The Successful Achiever. 3s strive for success. I can see how his whole “Enneagram Internal Profile” combined its best parts to create the 4 Hour Work Week. He leaned into his 7 wing to realize what kind of a life he wanted to lead. He intellectually and thoroughly mapped out what it would take to get there. (Type 6, with his 5 wing). Then he used the motivation and determination of his 3 path to go for the gold.