I recently fell in love with listening audiobooks (using a local library app) while walking to the grocery store. The last one, The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin, made me realize that… I’m a Rebel! 🙂
That explains my tendency to refuse when someone offers me something, even when I want to say “Yes.” It also works the other way: when someone says “It can’t be done” it fuels my Rebel nature. “Yes, it can!” I reply (in my mind), and I start working on it.
In her book, Gretchen identified four types of tendencies based on how people answer the question: How do I respond to expectations? A Rebel tends to go against both self-imposed and others’ expectations. The other three types accept one or both types of constraints. Depending on what type we are, Gretchen’s “tendency” concept helps us understand what motivates us to take action. While some types are better at setting goals and following through rigorously, others aren’t or find different ways to stay accountable and advance toward their goals.
Here comes my inner battle, which I’m willing to conquer!
I recently started the Introverts Academy, and these days I noticed my Rebel nature kicking in. I don’t like repetitive tasks, coming up with something new is more exciting! While each webinar is different and I enjoy designing and delivering it, promoting these webinars becomes a routine. I’m happy that I listened to that audiobook since it also gave me solutions. As a Rebel, I can choose to rebel against… considering the routine boring! 🙂 And, like any Rebel, I’m motivated by focusing on a meaningful cause (Introverts Academy in this case). So… bye bye routine! Welcome… finding different ways to promote what I’m doing! BTW, you’ll find below a list of what I’m “cooking” these days, if you’d like to take a look.
Now back to you:
Are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel?
Each of them gets motivated in a different way. The Upholders can set and achieve their own goals, also comply with tasks assigned by others. Questioners tend to question everything, and act only if the answers are satisfactory to them. The Obligers tend to prioritize others’ expectations, and don’t do well on their own (unless they find a way to get eternal accountability). Rebels like to have the freedom of choice (bossy requests don’t work on them).
Hmm, I bet many introverts are rebels! Famous introverts like Mahatma Gandhi, Elon Musk, Richard Branson wouldn’t have achieved so much without having a rebellious nature.
What I’m “cooking” while rebelling against my own Rebel nature so I can stay on track with the project I love (Introverts Academy)
• Know Yourself: A Self-Confidence Tool – is the second free webinar in the series Introvert Tools for Navigating Challenging Situations. It’s open to introverts, extroverts, and those who don’t know yet where they fit on the Extraversion-Introversion spectrum. In this webinar, we’ll talk more about the complementary innate characteristics of both sides of this spectrum, since self-confidence comes from the knowing that you can rely on your own strengths in any situation.
Date: March 11, 5:30 – 6:30 PM EST Registration
• 3 Key Strategies to Get the Most of These Times (Youtube video) – recording of the presentation I did for Introverts Academy, during the first webinar in the same series.
• The Rise Of The Empowered Introvert – an online panel discussion I will be part of, along with other six leading thought leaders in the introvert space (five from UK and one from US).
Date: March 18, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT Registration
• The Own Your Quiet Podcast published recently their interview with me (Episode #3). We talked about introversion and… much more.
Now my inner Rebel is happy. It wasn’t boring to write this article! 🙂
~ Gabriela
Gabriela Casineanu, MSc, MBA, ORSC
IntrovertsAcademy.org • GabrielaCasineanu.com • Amazon/author/gabrielacasineanu
