Issue 04
different kinds of leaders
The Assessing Leader Warren Buffett Guardian Inspector ISTj
SUBSCRIBE AT OUR WEBSITE http://keirseymagazine.com
1
Keirsey
Letter from Keirsey Dear Friend, I am very excited about the April issue of the Keirsey Magazine! This month, we are featuring Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the U.S. and the third wealthiest man on the planet, according to the Forbes 2015 Billionaires List. He is a classic Guardian Inspector (ISTJ), who generated his wealth steadily over time. He was gifted at assessing the value of businesses, and knew when to buy them, and how to grow them. What we love about him is his straightforward, no nonsense approach to money. He has remained true to form, and did it his way. This month, you can find out your “Money Type” by taking the quiz in this issue. You can also learn about what happens when finance meets romance; to figure out whether you are financially compatible with your partner or prospective significant other. We hope that you are just as excited as we are about how the magazine has grown. We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for upcoming issues. You can contact us at magazine@keirsey.com. We hope you enjoy!
All the Best,
Lisa J. Choi Creative Director The Keirsey Group
Keirsey
2
Table of Contentss
5
Dating & Relationships
Money and Relationships
Financial stress can ruin a relationship. Be informed so that you can make better financial decisions. This can make or break your bank account and your relationship.
Portrait of a Leader & Leadership Lessons
Warren Buffett
11
The Assessing Leader Guardian Inspector ISTJ
He started with very little, but with what little he had, he developed a habit of continually investing; and with each return on his investment, he would reinvest it.
3
Keirsey
Collection of Leaders
The Assessing Leader
17
Assessing Leaders have the ability to calculate value with precision.
Finance
What Money Type Are You?
31
Take the Money Type Quiz
Life Journey
Warren Buffett
19
“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.� - Warren Buffett
Your reaction to financial stress depends on the way you view the world, and we believe that based on your personality, the reaction is predictable.
Artist Credits
Ricardo Drumond Anatomy of an Assessing Leader
Can You Be a Billionaire?
23
37
Portraits of Warren Buffett
These wealth makers are ruthlessly disciplined when it comes to getting it done. They are detailed, highly methodical, and create repeatable processes which lead to success.
Keirsey
4
TE A R E MOD 8
Money & Relationships
7 How money plays a factor in the various temperament combinations.
“There’s no need to worry, you’re all set.”
Guardian
Guardian
+ Guardian
5
Keirsey
30
40 60
50
MENT RATIO A R E P M TE
1
2
20
10
3
You are both great at keeping track of what you make, what you spend, and what you save. Just don’t forget to enjoy today.
+ Idealist
The Guardian is sensible, the Idealist is compassionate. This creates a good recipe for using money on your everyday needs while making a difference in the world.
5
LOW
4
LOW RISK
5
Financial stress can ruin a relationship. Be informed so that you can make better 6 financial decisions. This can make or break your bank account and your relationship.
9
Money & Relationships
10
moderate RISK 12 11
“You better be careful, it can be great, or it can get ugly.”
13
Rational
+
Guardian
Idealist
+ Artisan
The Guardians are savers, the 14Artisans are spenders. Between the two of you, it evens out. Guardians will save secretly, and Artisans will spend without telling.
15
The Rational is principled and sees money as a tool. The Idealist spends money to create the ideal life and an ideal world. If your principles and ideals match, you’re likely to create a wonderful life and make a difference. If not, you better make a lot of money to accommodate for both of your desires.
16
Solution: It’s best that the Guardian handles the budget, while the Artisans keep it fun.
H HIG
17
18
Solution: Get on the same page with what matters most to you as a couple.
19
9
20 21
DANGER INDE X
8
NCIAL RISK FINA
10
7
22
6
Keirsey
6
Money & Relationships
TE A R E MOD 8
moderate RISK cont.
7
6
+ Idealist
Guardian
5
Artisan
Guardians keep track of the small stuff. Rationals are looking at the big picture. This can either be a great way to make sure everything gets covered, or it can lead to a great deal of conflict.
Solution: Make a lot of money so that it never runs out, or find a financial planner who can help you.
Solution: Recognize how different you are, celebrate those differences, and clearly define your roles on who covers what.
10
3
5
LOW
4
Artisans and Idealists are both spenders—Artisans like to spend it on pleasure, Idealists spend on doing good. Both of you are unaware of how much money you have until you run out of it.
20
+ Rational MENT RATIO A R E P M TE
Rational
30
40
2
Both of you are great at rationalizing anything. The two of you combined can adapt to any situation and strategize yourself in and out of financial mess and success.
Keirsey
60
50
1
Solution: While you go up and down, keep a behind the scenes automatic deposit mechanism going as a safety net.
7
+ Rational
9
high risk 10 11
Idealist
“When the times are good, it’s real good. When it gets ugly, it gets real ugly.”
12
+ Idealist
13
16
H HIG
17
Solution: Make sure that you have some safety reserves to pull you out of trouble if it comes your way. You can’t win all of your bets, so make sure to factor that in.
18
Artisan
+ Artisan 19
NCIAL RISK FINA
10
Solution: Work with a financial planner to set up automatic savings, retirement, and bill pay mechanisms in your bank account. Use cash or debit cards rather than credit cards for your spending. When there’s no more in the romance fund, just hug and whisper sweet nothings as you fall asleep together—this doesn’t cost any money, but still feels romantic.
Both of you are terrible at keeping track of your money, but you both like to take risks. You’re both too 14 making money that you don’t busy have time to count it. As long as your busyness is leading to results, the need to count what you’re making is not as important. But, be careful that you’re not spending, investing, or betting more than what your bankroll can handle.
15
Two Idealists can feel like a whirlwind of romance. It’s much like building sandcastles in the sky together. When you have a financial surplus it feels like a fairy tale. You create blissful memories, and even get to be philanthropic. However, when the money runs dry, the honeymoon quickly becomes a distant memory.
+ Rational
Artisan
9
20
Both of you are about fun, fun, fun! Both of you can spend, spend, spend! But, when the money tree stops bearing fruit, it can be painful, painful, painful! If it gets here, your relationship will have gone from total euphoria to utter misery.
21
DANGER INDE X
8
7
Solution: Chop up the credit cards, figure out creative ways to have fun that don’t involve money. Put away as much into savings as you can and forget about it. Play to the max with your leftover play fund each month.
22
6
Keirsey
8
9
Keirsey
SUCCESSFUL INVESTING TAKES TIME, DISCIPLINE AND PATIENCE. NO MATTER HOW GRE AT THE TALENT OR EFFORT, SOME THINGS JUST TAKE TIME: YOU CAN’T PRODUCE A BABY IN ONE MONTH BY GETTING NINE WOMEN PREGNANT.
Portrait of a Leader
Portrait of a Leader
The Assessing Leader By Edward Kim and David Keirsey
Normally, the big investor is portrayed as the hungry salivating wolf, with opportunistic appetites—taking enormous risks, looking for huge payouts, often willing to “bet the entire farm” on the “next biggest thing.” Warren Buffett never knew such a path. He chose to invest his winnings, rather than invest borrowed money. Buffett owns a diverse range of businesses which include: insurance, reinsurance, candy production, retail, home furnishings, encyclopedias, vacuum cleaners, jewelry sales, newspaper publishing, manufacturing, distribution of uniforms, importing and distribution of footwear, regional electric and gas utilities, and much more. What do these businesses all have in common? They were all carefully inspected by a leader who knows how to measure intrinsic value, and they were deemed to have
11
Keirsey
durable competitive advantage, earning their place in this Assessing Leader’s portfolio. He started with very little, but with what little he had, he developed a habit of continually investing; and with each return on his investment, he would reinvest it. This sounds so simple, but his disciplined approach ultimately led him to become the wealthiest investor of all time. The remarkable ability Buffett possesses is the extraordinary skill to be able to assess value—he can measure the worth of whatever he inspects. Buffett is known as one of the greatest investors and businessmen of all time, and in his latter stage of life, he has also become a notable philanthropist by pledging to reinvest 85% of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Portrait of a Leader
Guardian Inspector ISTJ Keirsey
4 12
Portrait of a Leader
1. Assessing Leaders have the ability to calculate value with precision. Warren Buffett can assess the value on anything like no one else. This ability to calculate value with utter precision has made him the richest investor of all time. At the age of six, he started with selling soda pop, chewing gum, and magazines. He meticulously kept track of his earnings in his savings account, along with the money that his father gave him. As he got older, he became more ambitious and entrepreneurial. He gathered some boys to form a partnership to resell golf balls retrieved from the water. Warren had a natural knack for knowing the value of money. Starting from when he was fifteen, he filed his own taxes, claiming deductions for his bicycle and watch as business expenses for his newspaper route. In high school, he rented pinball machines to earn money. He learned how to start and grow a business, and he understood how to reinvest his earnings, and how to compound his money.
2. Assessing Leaders make it their business to understand their business. When Buffett first started his investment career, he invested in newspapers and textiles. As a kid, he delivered newspapers, and so he was well acquainted with how this business ran. Both of these industries were in major regression or consolidation. American textile manufacturing was moving to lower cost labor countries, and newspapers were facing competition from television and radio, and so smaller newspapers were fusing into larger monopolies in most major towns. These businesses were undervalued, and offered at bargain prices. While Wall Street showed no interest, Buffett found these opportunities to be attractive because assets were significantly discounted, and cash flow could be used to invest in other businesses. His formula was simple: Buy good businesses that you understand; Buy them at bargain prices; Leverage earnings to reinvest in other good businesses. His simple formula led him to buy shares of Berkshire Hathaway at $8.00 per share (stock price in 1962) and grow its value to $215,000.00 per share (stock price in 2015). 13
Keirsey
Portrait of a Leader
3. Assessing Leaders give high regard for true experts and their expertise. Warren has relied on experts from the very start. At age eleven, he devoured a book at the library by F.C. Minaker entitled, One Thousand Ways to Make $1000, through which, he adopted an appreciation for compound interest. Later he learned a related concept called, “coattail-riding” from Gordon Wattles. And he has had mentors such as Phil Graham, who wrote the Intelligent Investor. He went to Columbia where Graham taught, and adopted the approach to buying unloved, unappreciated, boring, and therefore, undervalued stocks that have a “margin of safety” built in to the stock price. He later met Charlie Munger, who was instrumental in refining Buffett’s approach. Through Munger, “durable competitive advantage” became a trademark way of assessing the value of a company. Buffett’s high regard for expertise helped him immensely to become the world’s greatest investor.
Keirsey
14
Portrait of a Leader
4. Assessing Leaders assign responsibilities to those with proven track records. Buffet has always been a great judge of character, and has carefully assessed anyone he has brought on board. He is known to be unusually patient in grooming a person that has potential, but will do everything he can to remove anyone that is a barrier to success. He assigns responsibilities to those who have proven track records. When Buffett invested in Associated Retail Stores, he identified Ben Rosner, one of the original founders to run the company. Rosner was known to always have the business on his mind, even reading store records in his bathroom, and leaving social engagements early to address business problems that arose. Buffett saw in Rosner the same dedication that he had. And when he purchased the company, he made sure that Rosner would still continue to work for him, and gave him the responsibility to run the enterprise as he saw fit.
15
Keirsey
Portrait of a Leader
5. Assessing Leaders see facts as their friends. Warren Buffett loves facts. In making his decisions, he reviews and remembers the facts. While most CEOs focus on the forest rather than the trees, Buffett’s way of understanding the forest is to inspect all the trees. He read company reports as a daily discipline, and enjoyed doing it. During the holiday season, he tracked the daily numbers of every single See’s Candies store, Shaw Carpets, and Borsheim. He reviewed the internet sales growth of GEICO. He made sure to read and memorize any facts that would serve him well in making choices about his investments. You cannot make a sales pitch to Buffett. He is not swayed by heartfelt appeals or innovative ideas. For Warren Buffett, the facts, and the facts alone speak for themselves and can be trusted.
Keirsey
16
Collection of Leaders
The Assessing Leader
COLLECTION OF LEADERS Guardian Inspector (ISTJ)
Andrea Mitchell
Oct 30, 1946 - Present
Barbra Jordan
Feb 21, 1936 - Jan 17, 1996
Aug 30, 1930 - Present
Roy E. Disney
Jan 10, 1930 - Dec 16, 2009
Katherine Graham
Harry S. Truman
Queen Eliabeth II
Thurgood Marshall
Jun 16, 1917 - Jul 17, 2001
Apr 21, 1926 - Present
Queen Victoria
May 24, 1819 - Jan 22, 1901
17
Warren Buffett
Keirsey
May 8, 1884 - Dec 26, 1972
Jul 2, 1908 - Jan 24, 1993
John D. Rockefeller Jul 8, 1839 - May 23,1937
IT’S FAR BETTER TO BUY A WONDERFUL COMPANY AT A FAIR PRICE THAN A FAIR COMPANY AT A WONDERFUL PRICE.
Life Journey
The Assessing Leader “Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.” - Warren Buffett
I. EDUCATION: BUSINESS AND INVESTING
II. THE INVESTOR
1930
1957
A. Making money at 5 years old
A. Buffett Associates Ltd.
B. Paper boy
B. Berkshire Hathaway
C. Pin-Ball business
C. Cigar butt investing
D. Carnegie:
D. Charlie Munger
WARREN BUFFETT 1930 - PRESENT
How to Win Friends E. Benjamin Graham F. GEICO G. Stockbroker H. Graham-Newman
19
Keirsey
E. Buffett Limited Partners F. “Supermoney” by Adam Smith
W Life Journey
Warren Buffett
III. THE #1 U.S. INVESTOR
IV. GLOBAL INVESTOR AND PHILANTHROPIST
1975
2003
A. “Sage of Omaha”
A. Asia
Washington Post
B. Israel
American Express
C. Bill & Melinda Gates
ABC
Coca-Cola B. Reinsurance
C. Leveraging Name
Salomon Brothers AIG
Keirsey
20
IT TAKES 20 YEARS TO BUILD A REPUTATION AND FIVE MINUTES TO RUIN IT. IF YOU THINK ABO UT THAT, YOU’LL DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
21
Keirsey
Keirsey
22
CAN YOU BE A BILLIONAIRE? The Anatomy of an Assessing Leader Guardian Inspector ISTJ We all take different paths to create wealth. Some are born into it. Some get lucky along the way. But, then there are those who create it slowly, but steadily over time. These wealth makers are ruthlessly disciplined when it comes to getting it done. They are detailed, highly methodical, and create repeatable processes which lead to success. What are Assessing Leaders really like? Can you be one?
23
Keirsey
ASSESSING LEADERS MAKE THE UNPREDICTABLE PREDICTABLE Some thrive in chaos, and feel the rush and adrenaline of taking big risks. When individuals create wealth based on this kind of high-flying, odds-defying kind of approach, it can go either way. They can make it big, or go broke. The ones who do make it are seen as lucky. Assessing Leaders take the opposite approach. They thrive when they plan, prepare, and prioritize. In any enterprise their formulas for success are carefully determined, and they simply enjoy utilizing the same steps over and over again. While many would get bored,
and feel a need to change it up, these individuals seek to establish routines that lead to predictable outcomes. These wealth makers believe in taking a steady approach where making money is simply an inevitability because the steps have already been proven. They prefer to keep things as clear as possible, and therefore, avoid ambiguity as much as they can. These leaders make sure that there is no guesswork in how something should be done. In their view, clarity from the outset reduces frustration, and saves time.
ASSESSING LEADERS FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PRECISION The trademark path of the Assessing Leader is to honor the process by taking the correct procedural steps. They are quiet, straightforward, and impeccable when it comes to establishing details for their methods. These leaders live in a world of rules. Rules are adhered to, and never violated. It is their ruthless discipline to stick to the rules that causes them to follow through with precision. When they have a clear understanding of the goal, and have determined the steps it will take to reach the objective, they readily align their hard working nature to the process.
The stability, safety, and security of a well structured process sets them up to simply focus on executing. When they know what leads to success, they see their job as doing more of the same over and over again. They don’t question it, they just keep doing more of it as long as it leads to success. In working with others, Assessing Leaders communicate the goal with crystal clarity, providing the “howto” steps as well. When steps are outlined for the team, execution is simply a process where tasks can be completed one after the other with precision.
Anatomy of an Assessing Leader
ASSESSING LEADERS ARE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING THEIR METHODS Assessing Leaders are weary of get-rick-quick schemes. They believe that slow and steady builds a solid foundation. These leaders are patient, and will take their time to perfect their methods. They don’t believe in leaving anything to chance. Therefore, they will make sure that they are always at the top of their game. They can appreciate the fact that there is a bottom and a top. And there approach is to earn their way up. They are very diligent and hardworking. Once they learn the expectations for the advancement ladder, they will work meticulously to meet expectations and will easily make progress
25
Keirsey
within their industry. Assessing Leaders do not expect special treatment or favors and privileges. They believe in being a part of an environment that is marked by fairness and regulation. They value time honored service and due diligence. They don’t believe in luck, for they know that luck is not durable or sustainable. They prefer steady growth rather than skipping steps. Advancement should occur in a solid manner without leaps. They believe that rock solid leaders can only be reliable when there is experience or credibility under their belt.
Anatomy of an Assessing Leader
ASSESSING LEADERS KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING Step-by-step, Assessing Leaders apply their natural talent for being methodical and detailoriented. They move forward without missing anything, perfecting their processes at all times. The trademark skill for these leaders is to set standards and hold people accountable. They cannot help but notice everything. Even if they tried not to notice, they cannot help themselves. They see every misstep and cannot sit idly by. These leaders feel that it is their duty to correct those missteps. Assessing Leaders want everyone and everything to be perfectly aligned. They have an unusual
ability to scrutinize, finding every misbehavior and will not hesitate to call it out. As soon as they notice noncompliance, they put people back into their places. As an enterprise grows larger, they continue to keep track of everything. They simply have more money to count, and more people to keep in line. Whether they are leading a few direct reports, or several departments, or even regions, they serve an enterprise best when they can keep everything on track. Their strength is found in checking in with everyone on a regular basis, to make sure that all is being completed on target and on time.
Keirsey
26
Anatomy of an Assessing Leader
ASSESSING LEADERS CREATE LOYALTY BY LEADING WITH FAIRNESS AND INTEGRITY For Assessing Leaders, loyalty is not about a sentimental connection, bond, or soulmate like synergy. Loyalty is all about each person in their given role carrying out their duty exactly as it should be done. Followers feel good about themselves when each member is contributing in an equitable way, and being compensated equitably. Fairness creates a sense of belonging for everyone on the team. From this belonging each person becomes loyal to carry out all of the tasks that need to get done. The loyalty is less about friendship, it is about getting check boxes checked off together. When each person on
27
Keirsey
the team carries their own weight and contributes equally with their peers, a “good ol’ boys” or “good ol’ girls” network is established. Assessing Leaders, are leaders of leaders. They understand that it is only by teamwork that they can operate at a larger scale. These leaders closely examine every team member’s contribution. Everything is counted, measured, and assessed. These leaders create a culture where all are encouraged to keep up with the standard. When they can measure behavior against clearly laid out metrics rather than their own judgments, fairness becomes a natural consequence.
Anatomy of an Assessing Leader
Keirsey
28
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TO GET EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.
What’s your money type?
31
Keirsey
W
hat do you do when you are in financial trouble? If you’re like Donald Trump (Artisan), you’ll just double down, over and over again, until the next lucky break hits. If you’re like Warren Buffett (Guardian), you will put in the time to work harder, and to figure out the steps that will take you out of your difficulties. If you’re like Oprah Winfrey (Idealist), whether you are struggling or prospering, you will still find ways to touch people’s lives. If you’re like Steve Jobs (Rational), you will keep persisting with your sheer will to come up with an innovative idea that will bail you out.
Your reaction to financial stress depends on the way you view the world, and we believe that based on your personality, the reaction is predictable. Stress manifests itself differently depending on your temperament. Each temperament has natural pitfalls that a person will tend to gravitate toward but should try to avoid. Likewise, each personality type has inherent financial strengths too. What’s your money type? Like your saving and spending habits, how you react during a financial crisis depends on your personality type. Determine yours by taking this quiz.
Directions: For each question, rank the four possible answers in numerical order, with 1 being most like you and 4 being least like you. Use the quiz below to figure out your temperament type. Then, on the following pages, learn how to turn your personality into profit.
Keirsey
32
What’s Your Money Type?
1. I feel best about my investing when I . . .
7. When I retire, I intend to seek out more . . .
A. beat the odds by acting quickly on opportunities
A. adventures B. self-development
B. help others as well as myself with my gains
C. time with family
C. have a solid financial plan for the long haul
D. knowledge
D. successfully implement a complex strategy
2. When the market and my stocks go up, I often feel . . . A. excited and stimulated B. enthusiastic and inspired C. cautious and prudent
8. I’m most self-confident when I can be . . .
Directions: For each
question, rank the four possible answers in numerical order, with 1 being most like you and 4 being least like you.
D. skeptical and calm
3. I am most likely to spend my spare time . . . A. mastering a skill B. helping people in need C. completing errands that I have been too busy for D. figuring out how things work
4. When it comes to financial affairs, I tend to be . . . A. practical and opportunistic B. compassionate and empathetic C. dutiful and diligent D. efficient and pragmatic
5. I most respect very successful investors when they . . .
A. adaptable and flexible B. genuine and authentic C. honorable and respected D. consistent and precise
9. I am most likely to spend a tax refund on . . . A. my favorite hobby B. helping my friends
A. are bold and adventurous
C. strengthening my financial security
B. use wealth to better society
D. buying a tech gadget
C. are frugal and responsible D. are strategic and exercise discernment
6. When evaluating a certain investment, I most trust . . . A. my gut instincts B. my friends C. bottom-line facts D. logic and reasoning
10. I appreciate it when others . . . A. surprise me with generosity B. recognize my true self C. express their gratitude D. ask me what I think
11. I feel best about myself when . . . A. I’m graceful in action B. I’m engaged deeply with others C. I’m rock-solid dependable D. I exercise my ingenuity
33
Keirsey
What’s Your Money Type?
18. When thinking about misfortune, I . . .
12. I’m more inclined to trust . . .
15. The person I’d like to become . . .
A. my impulses and whims
A. is famous and celebrated
A. usually laugh it off
B. my intuitions and intimations
B. can engage others deeply
B. often wonder why
C. customs and traditions
C. is highly respected
C. try to make the best of it
D. pure reason and formal logic
D. has deep insight and knowledge
D. view it from a wide perspective
13. I’m sometimes eager to . . . A. make an impression and have an impact B. lose myself in romantic dreams C. be a valued and legitimate team member D. discover a breakthrough idea
14. My view of the future can be summed up as . . . A. “I bet something lucky will turn up.” B. “I believe in people’s innate goodness.” C. “You just can’t be too careful.” D. “It’s best to keep your eyes wide open.”
16. I perform best at work when I . . . A. get to be hands-on and constantly on the move B. have the opportunity to bring out the best in people C. make it through my entire to-do list each day D. am called upon to solve a complex problem
17. To guide my actions, I look primarily at . . .
19. On a date with someone I am attracted to, I find myself . . . A. trying to impress and woo the person I’m with B. seeking to connect and engage at deeper levels C. making sure that I am honorable and respectful D. gauging how intelligent the person is
20. My motto in life is . . .
A. immediate advantages
A. “Go big, go hard, go all the way.”
B. future possibilities
B. “Seek to be your best self.”
C. past experience
C. “Never find yourself unprepared.”
D. necessary and sufficient conditions
D. “Always look at the big picture.”
Score yourself: Add your totals for each letter. The lowest score is the type that’s most like you, and the highest score is the type that’s least like you.
Keirsey
34
What’s Your Money Type?
THE ARTISAN
THE IDEALIST
30 percent of the population
15% of the population
For you, money means a new flat screen TV, the hottest show tickets, a Range Rover—whatever you want right now. As an Artisan, you see life as one big game, and a fat bank account proves that you won this round. Saving seems pointless, and traditional investing strategies are a total snooze. The price: Of all the types, you’re the most prone to serious debt. And when things go really bad, you risk hitting auto-destruct, drinking, eating, gambling, or smoking yourself into oblivion.
For you, money is a stepping-stone to your higher calling. Idealists are the healers, teachers, activists, and gurus of the world. You’re on a ceaseless mission to improve yourself and the people who matter to you, and if someone decides to pay you along the way, so much the better. But in caring for the world, you may forget to take care of yourself. Your lack of concern for money can leave you broke at retirement, and your generosity can push you into debt. You tend to be so optimistic that when things go bad financially, you might stay in denial. Or you may feel guilty that you’ve let others down.
Your way to beat money stress: Artisans are action heroes brought to life. They know how to improvise using personal connections and pure charm. (While Guardians are ashamed to ask lenders for new terms, Artisans pride themselves on their negotiation skills.) Tough times also call for discipline, though, and you may find that difficult. So discipline yourself in ways that fit your personality. Auto-deposit money into savings and retirement accounts so you’re not tempted to spend. And while you’re working off debt, give yourself a few bucks to play with each month. If you’re so austere that you’re making yourself miserable, you won’t stick with the plan.
35
Keirsey
Your way to beat money stress: Ups and downs in the economy don’t upset you as much if you’re an Idealist. But a job loss can be especially hard, because your work gives you a sense of meaning. Some Idealists will head for the mountaintop—literally or figuratively—to seek the larger lesson behind the setback. That’s fine. Just don’t forget to come down. You’ve done a lot to help people, and as a result you have the biggest support network of all the temperaments. Lean on your friends for job leads and references. You’re an optimist, so get out there and start creating a better tomorrow for yourself.
What’s Your Money Type?
THE GUARDIAN
THE RATIONAL
45% of the population
10% of the population
For you, money is a path to security for you and your family. You read financial-planning books, save steadily, keep a budget, and are insured to the max. Your investments tend to be very conservative. Hard financial times can hit Guardians hardest. Of the four temperaments, they’ve done the most to avoid financial distress. So when trouble arises, it can be extremely frustrating and disappointing. Your immediate reaction will be to find someone to blame, or to blame yourself. If you’re a Guardian, a layoff makes you feel irresponsible; debt makes you feel ashamed. You may feel like you’re spiraling toward depression.
For you, money is proof of your superior brainpower. People may find you cold, distant, or absentminded, but people’s opinions of you don’t really matter to you because you are completely self-defined. You may be as smart as you think—Rationals value and seek knowledge. Rationals choose riskier investments because they look more at the upside. When things turn south, however, they can feel like failures. (A lot of those Wall Street geniuses whose elaborate risk models failed so spectacularly throughout history were probably Rationals.) If you’re a Rational, you’re also prone to paralysis by analysis. You obsess over what went wrong or what could go wrong. Either way, you’re standing when you should be running.
Your way to beat money stress: First, vent a little. You’ve done a lot for your family and friends, and they won’t mind indulging you. Next, let a financial expert chart a new course for you. Guardians like plans. They’re the most likely of all the types to follow through, since sacrifice comes naturally to them. If the plan is from an expert, you’ll find comfort in taking some sensible risks, than to play it totally safe out of fear.
Your way to beat money stress: You have a talent for staying cool. And tough times may be easier for you because you value ideas and results over bling. But avoid being the mad scientist who keeps persisting with an idea even when inevitable failure is lurking around the corner. Be willing to change course midflight, adapting your strategy to fit any emerging challenge. You’ll quickly learn that your intelligence will carry you through. You don’t need to spend a year analyzing a situation. Often, an hour will do.
Keirsey
36
Artist Credits
CHOI, LISA
Creative Director & Designer Artisan Promoter ESTP
LEE, STELLA
Graphic Designer Rational Mastermind INTJ
BONILLA, FRANCIS Graphic Design Associate Idealist Champion ENFP
DRUMOND, RICARDO Featured Cover Artist
37
Keirsey
Photo Credits Buffett & Obama. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., 14 July. 2010. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ File:Buffett_%26_Obama.jpg>. Fortune The Most Powerful Women 2013. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/10311434053>. Fortune The Most Powerful Women 2013. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/10311468193>. Fortune The Most Powerful Women 2013. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/10330853144>. Hefner in May 2009. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 16 May. 2009. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. <http://simple.wikipedia. org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner#/media/ File:Hugh_Hefner_05-16-2009.jpg>.
Historical photo of stock traders and stockbrokers in the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (1963). Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 26 Spet. 1963. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. < http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_trader#/ media/File:NY_stock_exchange_traders_floor_LC-U9-10548-6.jpg>. Klauer, Florian. Typewriter. Digital image. Unsplash.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. https://download. unsplash.com/reserve/LJIZlzHgQ7WPSh5KVTCB_Typewriter.jpg Mark Cuban. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdlasica/12825312005>. Sheldon, Jeff. Orange Chair, Artist Desk. Digital image. Unsplash.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. https:// download.unsplash.com/photo1416339684178-3a239570f315
Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and interviewer Carol Loomis of Fortune Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/6211725845>. Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and interviewer Carol Loomis of Fortune Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortunelivemedia/6211726793>. Warren Buffett. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/markgregory/6404723397>. Warren Buffett. Du, Lisa. Digital Image. Business Insider. N. P. 5 May 2012. Web. 9 Apr. 2015. < http:// static.businessinsider.com/image/ 4fa4029069bedde557000002/image. jpg >
Keirsey
38
Our mission is to change the world by helping people understand each other.
Š 2015 Keirsey