Which Of The Four Types Of People Are You?

Success leaves clues… It can be tempting to pretend that success comes down in part to luck. That if you’re not hitting your target and achieving your goals, that it’s out of your hands – it’s not really your fault. But when you work with successful people as closely as I do, you see that’s not the case.

The successful are successful in whatever they do.

This is great news. Because it means that success isn’t luck – it’s learned. Throughout my career as a business coach, I’ve worked with some incredible people. From super successful entrepreneurs and celebrities to small business owners and newbies just starting out. And I’ve noticed a pattern…

There are four types of people.

The Lost, The Frustrated, The Procrastinators & The Successful. Understanding these types, and how you fit in, can help you break through your current barriers and move on to success in whatever you’re trying to achieve. So let’s dig a little deeper and see which one is you…

The Lost

Are you confused about your goals? Feel like you’re lacking purpose? Do you yo-yo from one goal to another without ever really making any traction or achieving success? Then you’re “The Lost”. The Lost have no clarity on their future, their goals or on what actions they should be taking. They’re unsure what they want and often spend time working on projects that their heart isn’t in, just because they think they “should” be doing it. They are like a bit of driftwood on the river, floating down and eventually end up washed up somewhere they don’t want to be. Signs that you could be The Lost include:
    • Having a string of business ideas behind you that you never really got off the ground.
    • Chopping and changing your mind on what you want to achieve.
    • Choosing goals because you think you “should” or because your parents/partner/society told you to. 
    • Not knowing what your goals are or why you want to achieve them.
The solution for The Lost is to get Absolute Clarity on where they’re going and what you truly want in life. I use a process called creating The North Star Trajectory for this, you can read about it in my new book The North Star Thinking

The Frustrated

Do you know what you want but don’t seem able to achieve it? Are you frustrated with how long it’s taking to achieve your goals? Are you taking lots of action but not getting any traction? You could be The Frustrated… The Frustrated differ from The Lost, in that they know exactly what they want to achieve. They know their goals, their mission and their purpose they are taking action but they’re still having trouble getting there. Signs that you could be The Frustrated include:
    • Working hard but not getting any closer to your goals.
    • Being super busy, but unhappy with your progress.
    • Feeling like time goes by too fast.
    • Feeling frustrated with your achievements and like you “deserve” more.
The Frustrated are like a hamster on a wheel, running really fast, putting lots of effort in but not going anywhere. The solution for The Frustrated is to learn how to take Intelligent Action. Taking action is great – but it’s got to be the Intelligent Action, which is actions that are congruent with your goals and your values if you want to see results. So, if you’re feeling like a hamster running on a wheel, then taking Intelligent Action could be the answer.

The Procrastinator

Do you have clarity on your goals and plan to achieve them – but you’re still not taking action? Do you spend hours “working” but not doing the things you know will move the needle forward? The Procrastinators have clarity on their goals. They know what they want and how to get there – but they’re just not doing it. It could be because you’re tired or stressed or overwhelmed. Or it might be because deep down inside you’re afraid of failure – or even success! Signs that you could be The Procrastinator include:
    • Knowing what to do but just not doing it.
    • Finding reasons to move your deadlines or change your plans.
    • Being busy but not doing the real progress tasks.
    • Finding other things to do instead of working on the big stuff.
The solution for The Procrastinator is either getting Absolute Clarity, normally in the form of seeing how taking the required action is aligned to your goals or having the actions broken down into bite-size tasks making them easier to execute. I could also be by having Active Accountability. When you know what you want and how to get there, sometimes you need someone holding your feet to the fire. Someone who will keep you accountable and make sure you do what you say you will when you say you’ll do it.

And Finally, The Successful

The Successful have it all figured out. They have Absolute Clarity on their goals, they know what Intelligent Action is and how to take it. They have a step by step plan to take them from where they are now to where they want to be – with micro-steps in between to make progressing simple. They have Active Accountability – someone working with them to keep them focused and make sure they do the things they said they would. And they make steady progress. These people are the game changers, the rule-breakers and the people you know are serious about success. When they set their mind to a goal, the question isn’t whether they’ll achieve it – the question is WHEN will they achieve it.

Which Type Of Person Do You Want To Be?

If you’re The Lost, The Frustrated or The Procrastinator, you’re probably feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, unable to get out. Stress, overwhelm, frustration, anxiety and even depression are common in these people types, but the good news is it is something that you have the power to change. You can start by making the changes detailed in each section above, but if you want a personally tailored P.S. If you haven’t already I would encourage you to take my quiz to discover what type of business owner you are, knowing this can help take you from where you are now to becoming more successful personally, professionally and financially – quickly, efficiently and effectively.
north star thinking book