Community Highlights: Meet Jim Gum of Story Enneagram

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Gum

Hi Jim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had an interest in the Enneagram since I was first introduced to it in 1991. The Enneagram is an ancient system that describes nine distinct styles of thinking, feeling, and acting. Most personality assessments do a great job of describing the “what.” The Enneagram gets at the “why” and offers a unique pathway for personal growth.

About 10 years ago, I began to formalize my training with the tool and taught large classes. After a class ended, people would often ask if we could meet as an individual or a couple to go deeper with the tool. My coaching practice was a direct result of people wanting to make changes based on their Enneagram type.

I was also invited to work with teams and working groups to introduce the Enneagram to organizations. Most companies and non-profits use some type of assessment to help explain team members’ differences in style and motivation. The Enneagram offers an objective way to describe these patterns.

I have the opportunity to bring greater self-awareness to participants while also helping people understand their coworkers at a deeper and, I would say, more compassionate way. Emotional intelligence is the currency of a healthy workplace environment.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The great thing about being a coach is that you can start coaching without any formal training. I had enough life experience that people thought I could bring a fair amount of wisdom and understanding.

The terrible thing about coaching is that you can start coaching without any formal training.

I graduated from a training program and received my ICF coaching credentials this spring. In retrospect, I learned that pure coaching had very little to do with what I was doing early on as a coach.

The same can be said to be true about working with teams. I’ve learned that it’s a challenge to teach the concepts of the Enneagram without losing my audience.

The most important thing I’ve learned is that “less is more” when teaching the Enneagram. Creating a safe environment where participants can share openly about their experiences of their type is by far the most powerful teaching that can occur. I always let my participants know that I always learn something each time I teach because of the uniqueness of personal experience and expression.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I was lucky enough to learn about the Enneagram in 1991, which was prior to the creation of the world wide web. I heard about the Enneagram from a spiritual director in response to a personal challenge in my life. He had to spell the word for me, and I went to a physical bookstore to buy a book to understand the tool.

The Enneagram helps describe an unconscious pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. Growth with the Enneagram is about transcending one’s patterns.

I am committed to helping individuals (and companies) not just identify their type but begin to use the knowledge to challenge their limiting beliefs, feelings, and habits and become a person who is more in tune with their essence.

My slogan for Story Enneagram is, “where learning your type is just the beginning of a whole new story…”

People come to me when they’re at a crossroads in their life and want more. They want to break out of old habits and patterns. The Enneagram is the most powerful tool to identify that pathway.

Interest in the Enneagram has exploded in the last 10 years. Unfortunately, most people interact with it at a shallow level. I often quote the Franciscan priest Richard Rohr who wrote, “If you don’t see the whole thing as somehow humiliating, you haven’t yet found your type.”

I love to take people on a journey of transformation.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I was fortunate enough to live in the same house from kindergarten to high school in a brand new neighborhood. My favorite memories involved playing touch football with friends and imagining that I was the wide receiver Otis Taylor from the Super Bowl IV Kansas City Chiefs.

There were always friends to play games and ride bikes. I continue to be in touch with several of the kids who grew up on the block.

My favorite memory is spending every summer evening playing kick the can with the boundary being an entire block of 18 houses. My friends had a huge unfenced yard that was in the middle where we placed the can.

Summer days felt so long and carefree that it was really the very best of just being a kid.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.storyenneagram.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyenneagram
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyenneagram
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/storyenneagram