Alert, Dear Readers, I have found religion! No, it is not the International Church of Cannabis that is walking distance from my house. The Good Book to which I near constantly refer is Gretchin Rubin’s The Four Tendencies.
This is the thirteen-question personality test I’ve been looking for all my life! Simple, easy to understand, and immediately applicable. Thank you Gretchin Rubin! Check out her website for her many great resources: https://gretchenrubin.com/the-four-tendencies
WHY didn’t I know about this early in my marriage? Or when my children’s personalities started emerging from that tiny, dreadful, spot on their faces we call mouths? Understanding the Four Tendencies would have been helpful in all stages of my career and friendships.
Now that I have discovered this tool, I hope to use the knowledge to better serve my clients. This blog is first in a series exploring how each of the Four Tendencies can affect your relationship with money/investments/financial advice.
First a quick primer. The Tendencies are how each person responds to expectations. The two kinds of expectations are:
- Outer Expectations – Those put on us by people and circumstances outside ourselves.
- Inner Expectations – Those expectations that we create and put on ourselves.
There are Four Tendencies as researched and described by Gretchen (yeah, we are in a first name basis in my mind). Take the short quiz to find out which one you are: https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/ Better yet, ask your whole family to take it! This will shave years off your therapy needs.
Upholders: Those who meet inner and outer expectations easily. Motto, “Discipline is my freedom.”
Obligers: Those who meet outer expectations easily, but struggle to meet inner expectations. Motto, “You can count on me, and I’m counting on you to count on me.”
Questioners: Those who meet inner expectations easily but meet outer expectations only when they have been satisfied they are justified. Motto, “I’ll comply – if you convince me why.”
Rebels: Those who resist inner OR outer expectations. Motto, “You can’t make me do it, and neither can I.”
Why is this so important to me as a financial adviser? Gretchin Rubin’s book talks brilliantly about the pros and cons of each Tendency and specifies how to deal with each type of person in various situations; work, marriage, children, health care, and career choice.
I am daring to add to her brilliant work by applying some Tendency thoughts to people’s relationship with money. This is important because most people fear losses of money due to the stock market, but really, financial loss is 99% about our own behavior.
