James Rhodes on Navigating Life as an Enneagram Nine [S08-033]
Feb 13, 2025
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In this conversation, James Rhodes, co-founder of the artist-owned record label FiXT, delves into his journey as an Enneagram Type 9. He discusses the challenges of passivity, navigating emotions, and the art of assertiveness. James shares insights on using music for emotional expression and the transformational impact of the Enneagram on his work and family life. He emphasizes the importance of self-care and emotional connection in personal growth, offering a unique perspective for those exploring self-awareness and relationships.
James Rhodes illustrates how the Enneagram enhances self-awareness in personal and professional settings, especially within the music industry.
The podcast highlights the ongoing struggle of Type 9 individuals like Rhodes to balance nurturing with assertiveness, particularly in relationships.
Deep dives
Launch of New Enneagram Assessment
The Typology Institute has launched a new Enneagram Assessment designed to help individuals understand their personality types, subtypes, wings, and orientations. Developed over three years with significant input from research psychologists, the assessment aims to facilitate deeper conversations about self-awareness and personal growth. This tool is intended to enhance not only personal insights but also improve relationships in various contexts, including family and workplace environments. The creators express excitement about the assessment’s potential to positively impact people’s lives through greater self-understanding.
James Rhodes: A Unique Guest
James Rhodes, an Enneagram 9 and president of the artist-owned record label Fixed, shares insights about his experiences with the Enneagram and its significance in his personal and professional life. By implementing Enneagram teachings with his artists and staff, Rhodes emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional discovery within the music industry. His journey with the Enneagram commenced during a parenting class aimed at understanding his children, which led to personal revelations about his own identity. Rhodes highlights the diversity of reactions from artists when introduced to the Enneagram, showcasing its varying levels of acceptance and curiosity.
Personal Growth Journey
Rhodes discusses his ongoing attempts to balance his nurturing tendencies as a 9 with the need to care for himself, particularly against the backdrop of his marriage to a 4. His self-improvement journey incorporates reading and learning about the Enneagram to better express his emotions and assertiveness. A key aspect of his personal growth involves recognizing and addressing internalized anger, which he is working to understand before it manifests explosively. This journey also includes confronting his historical hesitance to engage with therapy, reflecting on childhood experiences that shaped his nurturing but passive demeanor.
Navigating Relationships and Self-Discovery
The discussion turns to the dynamics of Rhodes' relationship with his wife, highlighting the contrasts between her emotional expressiveness as a 4 and his typically muted responses as a 9. Their relationship benefitted significantly from the insights afforded by the Enneagram, enabling them to better understand each other’s emotional landscapes. Rhodes acknowledges a desire to explore deeper facets of himself, recognizing that his wife sometimes seeks more from him than he readily offers. This realization pushes him towards new challenges and experiences, such as intensive workshops, which could facilitate more profound personal growth and introspection.
In this episode of Typology, we welcome special guest James Rhodes, co-founder and president of the artist-owned record label FiXT. As an Enneagram Type 9, James shares his journey of self-discovery through the Enneagram, the impact it has had on his family and work environment, and how he integrates it into his label's culture. We discuss the challenges of being a Type 9, including navigating anger and assertiveness, and the importance of self-care.
Tune in as James opens up about his personal growth, the dynamics of his 9-4 marriage, and the unique ways he channels his emotions through music. This episode is packed with insights for anyone interested in the Enneagram, personal development, and the music industry.
Key Highlights:
Launch of the new Typology Institute Enneagram Assessment
James Rhodes' journey as a Type 9 in the music industry
The impact of the Enneagram on relationships and self-awareness