type E

The Three Life Stages of a TypeE Personality 

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(Insert chart – Classic TypeE Edge DownloadGraphics for Classic Guide Bookedge day two graph1 – stage one.JPG )

TypeE individuals thrive in an environment that is diverse, challenging and ever evolving. They love living on the edge of life and would have it no other way. If TypeEs and the people around them are to experience a fulfilling life, it’s critical for them to understand the three common Life Stages that nearly all TypeEs go through.

Most highly successful leaders, entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes and other innovators who court the edge of what seems impossible have TypeE personalities. This way of being on the edge is powerful if you know how to use it. Use it improperly, however and your life will resemble a roller coaster ride. Years of working with these unique, passionate individuals revealed a very specific pattern to a healthy TypeEs life.

Stage One: Living on the Edge

The first stage, Living on the Edge, has three phases.

  • Phase I: Opportunity Management is the most exciting phase of all. It’s the beginning of a new project or relationship and filled with opportunities as far as the eye can see.
  • Phase II: Up and Running is when the project, job or romantic relationship is up and running. This is the TypeE Critical Zone. If TypeEs don’t heed the four clear warning signs that approach quickly, and which we’ll cover later in this section, they’ll be sliding downhill fast.
  • Phase III: Over the Edge or Crisis Management is an unpleasant fall over the Edge. TypeEs have stayed in the “up-and-running” phase too long, and their whole world is turned upside down. The fall into Phase III can result in a state of clinical depression.

Stage One: Three Phases Chart  

Stage Two: Leading on the Edge Chart

A new project is begun after the previous is up and running. This keeps the TypeE from entering the TypeE Critical Zone

Stage Two: Leading on the Edge

In the Second Stage of a healthy TypeE’s life, they have advanced from living on the edge to Leading on the edge. They have acquired the necessary skills to avoid the TypeE Critical Zone and have learned to create the best environment to thrive. A dynamic team has been assembled to include a TypeE Translator and Manager.

Projects are now handed off once they are up and running and a new project is begun. The old mistake of staying too long in the Critical Zone is rarely made. They now parlay their excitement into new adventures, thankful that they have

learned that they are designed to create things, not to run them.

They become leadesr who employs REAL power, not the implied

power most leaders use. We’ll cover how to accomplish all of this in Module Four of the program. Life is good. Most TypeEs stay in this stage for years, but eventually . . . it happens. New questions start working their way in between the cash-flow statement and the next movie deal.

Questions such as:

  • . What is life REALLY about?
  • . How do I learn to enjoy the wonderful life I’ve created?

Another fascinating transformation is about to take place <the journey into the third TypeE stage> 

Stage Three: Living Beyond the Edge

It’s only a matter of time before this third and final stage in healthy TypeEs’ lives ushers them into an entirely new way of looking at themselves, their family, their community and the world.

In this third stage, they begin to look into and through life, not just at it. A whole new reality based on a spiritual perspective presents itself.

They find themselves going on vision quests as they seek states of enlightenment instead of being focused exclusively on the next big deal.

What once appeared flat or one dimensional in life will be transformed into a new multi-dimensional awareness.

As TypeE personalities move to this next level, they begin to see beyond surface appearances and experience life in a more expansive manner as fear-based judgment falls away. This opens them to untold possibilities for self-exploration and service to others.

Here the TypeE personality begins to recognize an increase in the number of coincidences and synchronistic events that occur as the growth of the third stage sweeps through their life.

The TypeE finally moves from “doing” to “being.” Instead of “doing” x, y and z to “be” happy, they start from a state of simply “being” happy. Out of that happiness, comes the “doing.” They are no longer trapped in the game of chasing happiness.

The line between work and play begins to blur. A new cadence can be felt along with consciousness of the moment of choice that exists with each breath. Life expands along with the capacity for peace, joy, excitement and fulfillment, regardless of what they are choosing to do!

“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

~ Anaïs Nin

Anais Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death at the age of 73.

Living on the Edge

Phase II: Up and Running / The TypeE Critical Zone

There is a dramatic shift in the skill set needed from the start of a project to the point where it’s running smoothly. If you continue too long in the up-and running phase, you’ll run right into the TypeE Critical Zone.

Here’s what begins to happen:
(Check any which apply to you)

  • Heart TO Head
  • Following your intuition gives way to second guessing yourself.
  • Get to TO Have to
  • Nearly every aspect of the project used to be a joy, now it’s drudgery.
  • Passionate TO Bored
  • Excitement for each new day has been transformed into the same old grind.
  • Opportunity TO Crisis
  • Opportunities, once commonplace, have become an endangered species as the number of crises has escalated.

The TypeE Critical Zone

You are given four clear warning signs that you are in the TypeE Critical Zone.

If positive changes are not implemented once you are in the zone you are likely to take a plunge over the edge. At any point in the cycle you can return to a state of balance.

  1. Boredom – is the first indication that you’ve entered the TypeE Critical Zone and it is one of the most difficult warning signs to detect!
  2. Worry – You will experience a dramatic increase in the amount of time you spend worrying 2 a.m.
  3. Wake-up Call – At this point you are solidly entrenched in running your project, even though you know you shouldn’t.
  4. Crisis Management – Wherever you look, all you see is crisis!
Flat EDR Level Graph.jpg (find and insert)

Aliveness comes in two flavors: Let’s have fun or let’s be stressed. As TypeEs near the fall over the edge, artificial stabilizers, such as alcohol or drugs, can be used to temporarily treat the ever-increasing stress they experience.

However, if the unrelenting stress of negative creativity continues unabated, they will stay trapped in the Critical Zone until their aliveness system eventually shuts down. Once a TypeE’s passionate aliveness turns into prolonged suffering, depression results. When this occurs, even the self-medication of alcohol, food, drugs or sex no longer have the anesthetizing effect they once had for TypeEs and they disengage from work, friends and family. It’s not a pretty sight.

The Walking Dead

Below is a chart of one TypeE who came into the office complaining of feeling emotionally numb. He had stayed in the Critical Zone too long and was now an official member of the Walking Dead club, as indicated by his flat line EDR level. Aliveness is that spark we all have that is heightened in the TypeE personality; it’s a zest for living and a love of the next challenge.

When TypeEs who become stuck in the Critical Zone too long, their bodies are overcome with the physiological effects of prolonged negative stress. A TypeE’s aliveness, as measured by the EDR, flat lines to survive the long term crisis. The body’s physiology has said, “I’ll see you later. Give me a call when life gets a little more reasonable” and proceeds to shut down. The process is similar to that of a turtle pulling itself into its shell for protection until danger has passed.

The spike in this EDR graph was the result of a test to see if the equipment was working properly. The equipment was fine. The client’s life, however, needed some major repairs.