IAF/UCD Celebrity: Mike Ross (Suits)

Suits week continues! Of course we have to profile Mike Ross–the pot-smoking kid, with a photographic memory, that fakes his way into becoming a lawyer. What’s not to love about Mike and the story setup? But why does Mike do what he does? Let’s look at his MDNA.

Mike Ross – IAF/UCD

Mike is an IAF primary. But he didn’t start as a UCD secondary at the beginning of his character arc (he was probably an SSA secondary in the beginning). Mike became a secondary UCD by hanging out with Harvey Specter (we did his profile yesterday). This is a great example of how social networks and experience impact our secondary MDNA gifts.

IAF (Intuitive Alignment & Fulfillment)

Mike is an emotional character. He follows his feelings a lot. His photographic memory is an extension of his IAF gift. The IAF sees every detail. He is sensitive and displays great empathy as a lawyer. The IAF is also very loyal to a small group of people and carries their burdens.

One of the biggest traps for an IAF is that they often feel the need to sacrifice themselves for the favor of others. This is what got Mike in trouble in the first place. He was always sacrificing to make his closest friend happy. That’s why he cheated for his buddy in school and ended up taking the fall. Even further, he ended up doing a drug deal that went bad which ended with stumbling upon Harvey Specter.

Just like an IAF, Mike has a hard time articulating his feelings. When he gets insecure, he either stuffs it in, or ends up blurting out all the wrong things. He is very afraid of losing the closest people he loves, which is represented by his relationship with fiancee Rachael.

Make no mistake, despite his emotional complexities (dysfunctions), he is a really good lawyer and decent human being. He makes people want to be on his side and connects with everybody. His passion for excellence sets him up for success. That is, when his feelings don’t betray him. But he’s getting better because he is balancing his secondary MDNA gift.

UCD (Unyielding Conviction & Design)

Because he is Harvey’s associate, Mike has picked up Harvey’s black and white ideologies. As the seasons of the show progressed, Mike became more blunt and unyielding in his convictions. This is a fantastic balance for an IAF. The problem here is that the UCD and IAF gift are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. This can cause quite the internal conflict as we see with the weight of Mike’s “fraud”. He knows it is wrong to fake being a lawyer, yet he passionately wants to be one and help people with the law. He is constantly looking for self fulfillment which is what all IAFs strive for.

If Mike’s character stays true to the IAF/UCD, look for his situation to become even more complex as the seasons progress.

So who is next? Ahh yes! Louis!

Fictional characters also can have MDNA profiles. Typically every great character is based upon somebody in real life, except the persona and core traits are amplified. This makes learning the principles of their MDNA profile much easier and a valuable exercise. Not to mention it can be fun and entertaining.

IAF Celebrity: Steve Jobs

I finally had a chance to watch Steve Jobs (2015) the movie starring Michael Fassbender and Kate Winslet. Amazing movie with amazing performances regardless of whether or not it was accurate to the real late Steve Jobs. I really don’t have a comment on the historical accuracy of the script, other than of course, I know a lot of it was fictional to be entertaining. I have read commentary from some of the actual individuals portrayed in the movie and overall it seems nobody has a major issue with how Jobs was presented.

That being said, Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the screenplay for Steve Jobs also wrote The Social Network about Mark Zuckerberg. And in many ways the movie about Facebook was way off. Yet it was entertaining nonetheless. So for the purpose of this article, I am just going to focus on Steve Jobs the movie on its own and what the IAF (Intuitive Alignment & Fulfillment), and everybody else, can learn from the characters.

Just a warning in advance. This is not your basic MDNA profile. We are going a lot deeper here and you will need to be familiar with MDNA in general.

Steve Jobs IAF/UCD Verified

First, the movie does confirm my initial profile of Steve Jobs being IAF/UCD. (I was a little shy of committing to UCD secondary back then but no issues with it now.) It also verifies my belief that Apple as a company’s MDNA Brand Culture is IAF/KWR. For those who are certified or learning MDNA Brand Culture, the reason Apple is IAF/KWR is the merging of Steve Jobs’ and Steve Wozniak’s MDNA as Apple’s two co-founders. (Apple is an intimate ecosystem with the brand tagline “Think Different” which is total IAF/KWR.)

I do highly recommend watching the movie even before you read the rest of this profile.

IAF/UCD is a Potent Yet Very Conflicted Combination

I have met many IAF/UCDs before. And all of them, without exception, have been very, very smart. In their own ways, like Jobs, they were geniuses. This is not to say that you need to be IAF/UCD to be intelligent or everybody with the same Motivational Value System will be smart. It’s actually how the two MDNA gifts work together that make it so intellectually potent. In fact, I recommend that every IAF learn how to operate UCD in some form.

Just remember that the IAF and UCD are on complete opposite ends of the MDNA spectrum. This means individuals with this Motivational Value System will actually experience quite a bit of internal conflict. For example, the IAF is highly relational. The UCD is not and requires no social engagement to be effective. Where the IAF will want to sacrifice for relationships, the UCD would rather cut people out of their lives than deal with ideological tension. You can see the potential problems here.

Some might assume that Steve Jobs is primary UCD because he was considered innovative. I touch on this in my original profile but will reiterate this. The UCD tends to be a research and development machine that has no problem creating something out of nothing–especially being strategic from of chaos. Yet many discount that the IAF is highly innovative as well. This is because they have the ability to envision a state of fulfillment and excellence in anything they are passionate about. On top of which they can make things beautiful in a way the UCD never can. This was Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs did not innovate because of an ideology or conviction. Yes, he did have an ideology and was driven by personal convictions. But Jobs’ ideological convictions were based upon a vision of fulfillment and excellence. He could see into the future of the interactions between humans and technology. He was completely intuitive on how all details could align to create a perfect ecosystem to make people more efficient and put a dent in the universe. He was driven by every detail of design and intimate experience (example: why use a stylus like one finger when you have ten that can interface with the screen?). From the angles on a computer, to the the exit lights being on or off during a product demonstration, he just had a visionary gut feeling about everything.

In many ways, although the IAF and UCD may seem vastly different, the MDNA spectrum can be circular. Meaning that the IAF’s ability to create intimate ecosystems can open the door for innovative paradigms. Nothing expresses this more than the opening of the above trailer where Steve Jobs envisions a beautiful computer empowering people’s lives to which John Sculley responds would be a historical “tectonic shift.”

Yet being IAF is not what made Steve Jobs successful. It is because he was willing to deliver his IAF promise through a UCD personality.

There are many reasons why people develop a UCD secondary. But one of them is emotional trauma. Without getting into it too much here, I have noticed that many IAFs, that have had emotional trauma, use the UCD black and whiteness as a personal protection of sorts. Through the UCD, they can anchor themselves to what is wrong and right and the principles that keep them from being emotionally overwhelmed. I had no idea that Steve Jobs was adopted which could be a potential source of emotional trauma. This is something the movie delves into and gives us an interesting perspective on why Jobs had the personality he did.

Most of the time, the IAF is very personable, warm and friendly. That is, if they are not secondary UCD. Steve Jobs, by all accounts, was not friendly at all. The movie really goes after this. It seemed nobody really liked Jobs at all. Yet you see these flashes where Jobs becomes very sensitive and wants to deeply connect with the people around him. In many instances, after an initial fight, he is willing to sacrifice for people to show the love in his heart. He also had moments where he realized he hurt others which unnerved him greatly–an IAF core trait.

What happens to most IAFs however, because they are emotionally complex and sensitive to people, is they get railroaded and dominated by others. Dare I say they can be easy targets for bullies and victimization. But not Steve. He needed to have control. He “played the orchestra.” That’s where the UCD served him well.

The UCD has an ability to clearly articulate what the IAF is feeling and sensing. This is one way the IAF and UCD, as two different people, can really work together. Job was highly articulate and could make things black and white like no other. This is where the power is. The ability to take an emotionally complex intuitive vision and spell it out for others in strategically blunt terms to follow. Jobs was a leader. He might not have been the most functional leader when it came to employee engagement, but he had no problems leading. This is why his legacy is of innovation and being able to realize visions of design excellence that shaped culture and our behavior as people.

The take away for IAFs here, especially in a leadership environment, is learn to give your IAF gift in a UCD delivery. Stop caring how people feel. Believe in the principles that stay true no matter what the relationships look like. It’s not that you have to throw relationships and emotions away. You just can’t let them control you. And just like Jobs, no matter how much of a jerk you might think you are being, people will still believe in you because they are drawn to the vision in your heart. Trust it. If those around you can’t handle that, they shouldn’t be part of your team anyway.

Emotional Stubbornness

The biggest problem I saw with Jobs in the movie was how emotionally stubborn he was. He wasn’t just stubborn like a UCD. Being a UCD myself I can tell you that, once I have convictions, I am the unstoppable force meets the immovable object level of stubborn. Jobs was emotionally stubborn. This is what the IAF needs to watch out for. And when both the IAF and UCD gifts collide in one person for stubbornness, look out. It gets bad.

This is where every IAF needs others to help them look into a full length mirror and examine the blind spots of character. We all need this. In the movie, John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple was called the “Steve Whisperer.” Joanna Hoffman, acted by Kate Winslet, played that role as well. As an IAF, you need those people that know you to the core and have the permission to present what they see–without emotional bloodshed (the entire movie was washed with emotional blood). But unlike Steve Jobs, you don’t have to make it hard for them. It may sting the pride, but you need it. In the movie, Hoffman in particular went to great lengths to be a loving friend to Jobs, including threatening to quit, so he would listen. Don’t let your emotional stubbornness make people in your life do the same.

There are dozens of other lessons we can learn on how to lead as an IAF from the life of Steve Jobs. But the most important is, we can see what the IAF gift is truly capable of. It doesn’t have to be in technology either. The IAF gift can transform cultures, industries and history. I truly believe, more than any other gift, the IAF really is designed to put a “dent in the universe.”

UCD Celebrity: Tim Ferriss

Please note that these are unofficial profiles only and have not been verified. Description is only based upon public information and may represent either primary or secondary MDNA profiles. This profile is intended for educational purposes only to demonstrate the possibilities of MDNA for those that have been personally assessed.

Tim Ferriss

UCD (Unyielding Conviction & Design)

According to his blog, Timothy Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People”, Forbes Magazine’s “Names You Need to Know,” and is the 7th “most powerful” personality on Newsweek’s Digital 100 Power Index for 2012. He is an angel investor/advisor (Facebook, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Evernote, Uber, and 20+ more) and author of the following books:

• The 4-Hour Workweek – Sold into 35+ languages, #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BusinessWeek bestseller.
• The 4-Hour Body – #1 New York Times bestseller.
• The 4-Hour Chef – #1 Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller; winner of a Gourmand “Best in the World” Award at the 18th Annual Paris Cookbook Awards.

We have profiled Ferriss as a UCD based upon his impressive body of accomplishments. The UCD is known for researching and developing innovative paradigms. This is because the UCD absolutely must explore and develop unyielding convictions of how the world works based upon universal principles. The UCD is also known to be black and white when it comes to traditional and institutional approaches to just about anything. Tim Ferriss takes all of this to a whole new level for massive success.

The UCD is also fearless when it comes to frontloading any investment even if it means paying a personal cost through self-experimentation. Ferriss is well known for experimentation of his theories on himself. As a UCD, he is a “hacker” and has the natural ability to move from chaos to simplified clarity. This is evident in the frameworks he presents through his work and his abilities as a highly-sought advisor to some of the world’s most prominent companies.

Just like any UCD presenting an innovative paradigm with unyielding conviction, Ferriss attracts the full gamut of public reaction. According to interviews, this UCD inspires everything from adulation to horror. Some sources claim he is a genius and “digital Kerouac.” While others accuse him to be a huckster and “the white horse of the apocalypse.”

Here is a quote from Ferriss about success and fulfillment. If you are a UCD, you’ll immediately get it. If you’re not a UCD, this perfectly captures the blunt and cranky essence of this MDNA Profile.

“For all of the most important things, the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The stars will never align, and the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. The universe doesn’t conspire against you, but it doesn’t go out of its way to line up the pins either. Conditions are never perfect. 'Someday' is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.”

UCD/EIA Celebrity: Muhammad Ali

Please note that these are unofficial profiles only and have not been verified. Description is only based upon public information and may represent either primary or secondary MDNA profiles. This profile is intended for educational purposes only to demonstrate the possibilities of MDNA for those that have been personally assessed.

Muhammad Ali

UCD/EIA (Unyielding Conviction & Design / Empowering Inspiration & Attraction)

Muhammad Ali is arguably one of the most recognized global sports icons along with other superstars like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Known for his trademark, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” Ali won gold for boxing in the 1960 Summer Olympics and then would become the only three-time heavy weight champion. He is nicknamed the “Greatest.” Today, beyond boxing, he is known for his philanthropy and battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is the recipient of many awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

At first glance, it can be easy to mistake Muhammad Ali’s primary MDNA Profile as EIA (Empowering Inspiration & Attraction). Ali revolutionized the sport of boxing by the sheer power and magnetism of his personality. Ali thrived in the spotlight, where he was highly entertaining. You could say that Ali likely was the first celebrity-athlete in the modern sense of the term. In the words of writer Joyce Carol Oates, he was one of the few athletes in any sport to completely “define the terms of his public reputation.”

Upon closer examination however, one will see that Muhammad Ali was very intentional about his provocative showmanship. It was when Ali saw a professional wrestling show and determined that he needed to master the art of self-promotion. His EIA traits were very intentionally integrated into his career. Most certainly EIA is Ali’s secondary MDNA Profile.

Muhammad Ali’s primary MDNA Profile is UCD. Based upon our work with the Muhammad Ali Center, we have researched Ali extensively and even had the pleasure of interviewing the boxing legend’s wife Lonnie Ali.

The UCD is known for being ideologically driven and principle based. Ali’s historical battle with the United States government around refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War aligns with this. He also lived by six core principles, which now are an integral foundation of all his social responsibility ventures.

“I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a ‘nigger’.”

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs?”

Ali was a man of conviction. Issues were very black and white for him. And although he was very popular, he did not need social popularity to achieve his personal vision. He was willing to die for his beliefs which polarized his reputation to the masses. He was very competitive, especially after a loss. His training involved frontloading a heavy investment for victory against what always seemed unbeatable odds. These are all core UCD traits.

In the end, the UCD is all about challenging old and pioneering innovative paradigms. Nobody will argue that Ali did not change the world of boxing. And his legacy continues to change the world today.

“You lose nothing when fighting for a cause … In my mind the losers are those who don’t have a cause they care about.” – Muhammad Ali

UCD/KWR Celebrity: Dr. House and Sherlock Holmes

Fictional characters also can have MDNA Profiles. Typically every great character is based upon somebody in real life, except the persona and core traits are amplified. This makes learning the principles of their MDNA Profile much easier and a valuable exercise. Not to mention it can be fun and entertaining.

Dr. Gregory House / Sherlock Holmes

UCD (Unyielding Conviction & Design) / KWR (Knowledgeable Wisdom & Responsibility)

Gregory House, M.D. — typically referred to simply as House — is the title character of the American medical drama House. Portrayed by British actor Hugh Laurie, in the television series, House leads a team of diagnosticians as the Head of Diagnostic Medicine at a teaching hospital. House’s character has been described as a misanthrope, cynic, narcissist, and curmudgeon.

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A London-based “consulting detective” whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases. In 2009, Sherlock Holmes was portrayed by Robert Downy Jr. in the movie Sherlock Holmes directed by Guy Ritchie.

We have combined both House and Holmes for this MDNA celebrity profile because in essence, they are the same character. In fact, House creator David Shore was a fan of Sherlock Holmes and the name House is a play on the name “Holmes” via its phonetic similarity to the word “homes.”

Being fans of both the television show House and the movie Sherlock, we have profiled both House and Holmes as UCD/KWR. Each character represents a fascinating study on both the potential strengths and weaknesses of their MDNA Profiles.

It’s easy to mistake both with KWR as primary MDNA Profiles based upon their personalities portrayed by the talents of Hugh Laurie and Robert Downey Jr. Both are highly analytical, precise and have an absolute obsession for being right. They both use information to manipulate and gain power. They also each possess the trait of selective responsibility that is common to the KWR profile. The trap of selective responsibility comes from believing that being accomplished in one area, such as career or academic achievement, gives one the right to be irresponsible in other areas, such as family relationships or personal habits. For the sake of entertainment, both House and Holmes take this to whole new, and very dysfunctional levels. One example of this is their habitual drug use.

However, upon closer examination, one can clearly see that each character’s strengths align with the UCD making it their primary profiles. KWR is therefore the secondary profile “personality,” representing how they deliver the UCD “promise.”

The first clear sign of the UCD is both characters have the ability to solve problems and find hidden solutions amidst chaos. For House, it’s solving medical cases when traditional medical approaches fail. For Holmes, it’s solving mysteries when every lead seems like a dead end. The UCD is known for the ability to go from nothing to something—from darkness to light. This is what House and Holmes are famous for.

The next sign of the UCD is how both House and Holmes will break relationships over ideologies and personal convictions. Both characters have no problems resorting to unorthodox methods to solve a case—even at the emotional expense of the people around them. House was always at odds with his team and superiors. Holmes drove Dr. Watson to the brink of abandoning him. Both are blunt, cranky and opinionated about everything—especially in pointing out the ulterior motivations and character liabilities of anyone. These are all very common traits of how the UCD profile can drive everybody nuts, and then away.

Even though the UCD/KWR characterization is highly exaggerated in both characters, studying them can help us understand how to understand those in the real world with the same MDNA. When locked in on solving a problem, the UCD’s capacity to simply ignore relationships, and the KWR’s selective responsibility, can be quite challenging. But sometimes it’s simply the price we must pay for the solution everybody needs. Be patient. The results are always worth it.

IAF/UCD Celebrity: Olivia Pope (Scandal)

How the main character of this hit series fixes scandals and is motivated by her instincts.

Fictional characters also can have MDNA Profiles. Typically every great character is based upon somebody in real life, except the persona and core traits are amplified. This makes learning the principles of their MDNA Profile much easier and a valuable exercise. Not to mention it can be fun and entertaining.

Olivia Pope

IAF / UCD (Intuitive Alignment & Fulfillment / Unyielding Conviction & Design)

In the television series Scandal, starring Kerry Washington, Olivia Pope is a former White House communications director that has started a freelance “legal” agency of sorts. As a crisis management firm, Pope’s specialty is “fixing” problems—scandalous problems. She is portrayed at first being fearless, sharp and unflinching with the uncanny ability to find solutions to complex situations (starting with Russian gangsters and kidnapped babies).

At first, this would indicate a UCD profile. The UCD is known for the ability to solve problems, especially amidst chaos. The UCD is also black and white when it comes to ideologies. Olivia Pope’s entire team is very aware of her expectations and beliefs (for example crying is something you just do not do because Olivia does not believe in crying).

During the first episode however, an interesting twist is revealed. (SPOILER ALERT: We apologize in advance if you plan on seeing the show as we can’t successfully provide you with a profile without spoiling the plot.) Olivia Pope has a secret past. She had an affair with the President of the United States.

This is the point where our fascinating character, adeptly portrayed by Kerry Washington, shows her true primary MDNA Profile. Olivia Pope is an IAF.

The first indicator is the IAF is designed for intimacy. Deep down, despite her seemingly stout exterior, Pope exhibits a desire to be close to the man she cares for. The IAF is also known for high levels of self-sacrifice, which she also demonstrated by leaving her job, and relationship so he could “become a better man”, with the presidential administration. Finally, the IAF can be fiercely loyal while at the same time becoming deeply wounded and offended by the people they care for. This, again, is clearly evident in how Pope handles another one of the President’s extra-marital affairs.

Most importantly however, Olivia Pope exhibits absolute trust in her “gut” and a passionate desire to see others achieve personal fulfillment. This can be seen in how she makes decisions and also coaches one of her staff in getting engaged. She repeatedly must look people in the eye to rely upon her intuition to sense the motives of her clients. Also there is the satisfaction she receives when her client in the first episode reveals to the public that he is gay after she coaches him to accept who he is. These are all core IAF motivational drivers.

Put this together and Olivia Pope is an IAF primary (her “promise”) with a UCD secondary (her “personality” which is how she delivers her “promise).

This sets the stage for dramatic television because the two profiles are the furthest apart on the MDNA spectrum. It is well documented that individuals with an IAF/UCD or UCD/IAF profile experience the most inner conflict. Olivia Pope is no exception which not only translates to great entertainment, but an amplified peek into the complexities of the IAF.

Only by watching the rest of the episodes (at this writing the show is on season 3) can we confirm whether Kerry Washington’s character will stay true her MDNA Profile. We’ll leave that up to the fans of the show. Feel free to send us your comments and feedback.

SIDE NOTE: In case you were wondering, Pope’s newest hire Quinn Perkins is also an IAF primary. However, she represents a less seasoned version of the IAF with a much softer skin compared to her new boss. Her character arc will most likely reflect how the IAF must reconcile the conviction and tolerance for pain her new career and mentor will represent on the way to finding her own personal fulfillment. Again, feel free to let us know if we’re right about this one too.

Celebrity MDNA: Batman v. Superman

When it comes to intrinsic motivation and social DNA, there is a lot we can learn from even fictional comic book characters like Batman and Superman.

Batman – CVS (Compelling Value & Stewardship)

Let’s start with the caped crusader. He was created as a CVS. We won’t go into major detail here as you can simply read the standard CVS archetype hero in our post on James Bond. But as an overview, the CVS is independent, private, relentlessly resourceful (he has no superpowers so he needs all his tools) and has no problem with the grays of morality. Batman won’t think twice in using guile or underhanded tactics to gain an advantage. He happens to be a billionaire which also adds to the CVS standard approach to maximizing resources to make things happen.

If we had to peg this Dark Knight’s secondary MDNA, we think he would be UCD (Unyielding Conviction & Design) based on recent incarnations. So final verdict for Batman is CVS/UCD.

Now Batman’s Man of Steel counterpart is more interesting.

Superman – From UCD to SSA (Back to UCD?)

Superman is traditionally known as a boy scout. He has been portrayed with a strong sense of purpose, morality, selflessness, incorruptibility, modesty, fairness, compassion, and hope. Superman was raised to believe that his abilities are gifts, and are not to be abused. This is classic SSA (Sacrificial Service & Authority). His alter ego Clark Kent plays to the SSA even more by being in the background and just wanting to help people in need.

But deep down inside Superman is a brooding anger which shows up in many stories over the years. When he was originally created, he was not the boy scout we all see as the perfect American hero–the best in us we all want. This SSA was imprinted upon him by his adopted human parents. The alien Superman is a UCD with a deep sense of conviction that can be very hard on himself and others. His convictions are so strong they can seem naively optimistic, while being respectful of the law and intolerant of any abuse of power. The UCD will make issues black and white while attempting to fix the problem. This seems to be the Superman we are seeing in the new iteration of movies from DC Comics directed by Zack Snyder.

If we had to commit, we’re going with Superman as UCD/SSA. He is a UCD deep down but has learned to serve the greater good as an SSA and maintain his mild mannered alter ego the same way.

When CVS and UCD Collide

What we know is that the CVS and UCD can be a potent combination. There are many famous CVS and UCD combos such as Bill Gates (CVS) / Paul Allen (UCD) and Warren Buffet (CVS) / Charlie Munger (UCD). As beneficial the synergies can be however, the two gifts, when at odds, can be quite destructive. Especially when the black-and-white-world of the UCD meets the world-where-everything-is-gray of a CVS. This seems to be the premise of the upcoming Batman v Superman movie that pits the two heroes against each other to eventually becoming allies.

Of course there is Wonder Woman. As an amazon princess, we’re betting DLF (Dominion Leadership & Freedom). But that’s for a future profile.

We’ll be sure to do a follow up when we finally watch the movie.

Fictional characters also can have MDNA profiles. Typically every great character is based upon somebody in real life, except the persona and core traits are amplified. This makes learning the principles of their MDNA profile much easier and a valuable exercise. Not to mention it can be fun and entertaining.

UCD/CVS Celebrity: Harvey Specter (Suits)

In honor of the 5th mid-season premiere, it’s Suits week at MDNA Institute–one of my favorite shows on the USA Network. If you’re a fan, you will love this profile series. If you have never watched this amazing show, go do it! It’s on Netflix (at least for us in Canada).

Harvey Specter – UCD/CVS

Of course we have to start with Harvey! He is a UCD/CVS. While at first, he may seem like a CVS primary, if you watch carefully you will see a very complex UCD primary that acts the CVS as a secondary.

UCD (Unyielding Conviction & Design)

Harvey is driven by black and white ideologies. Growing up, his greatest trauma came from his mother having an affair. This has driven his unyielding convictions to present day. He is a problem solver–a very strategic one. When a deal is broken, he is called in. When all hope seems lost and chaos has erupted, he figures it out. He is blunt and has no problems standing completely alone for his beliefs.  But again, and most importantly, it’s his black and white ideologies that make him a UCD over any other MDNA gift.

Here are some choice quotes that scream UCD:

“The only time ‘success’ comes before the ‘work’ is in the dictionary.”

“Winners don’t make excuses when the other side plays the game.”

“What are your choices when someone holds a gun to your head? You do what they say or they shoot you, right? Wrong! You take the gun. You pull out a bigger gun or you call their bluff or you do one of another 146 other things.”

Another trait of the UCD is the ability to front-load the investment for professional success and personal fulfillment.

“Now when I got here, I dominated. They thought I worked 100 hours a day. Now, no matter what time I get in, nobody questions my ability to get the job done. Get it through your head. First impressions last. You start behind the eight ball, you’ll never get in front.”

In the most recent episodes, Harvey was willing to completely resign from his position as managing partner for his convictions. One of his major ideologies is loyalty. He also is willing to give people opportunities for redemption and to live out their designs. That’s why he hired Mike, who was a small-time drug dealer at the time, and gave him a chance to become a (fake) lawyer. This is something a CVS would not typically do.

CVS (Compelling Value & Stewardship)

Harvey takes on the lone wolf James Bond anti-hero persona as part of his dysfunctional coping mechanisms. In recent episodes, he is seen working with a therapist who sees this and cracks through the veneer.

The CVS is relentlessly resourceful and, private, independent and a master at solving problems involving financial resources. This is all Harvey. Watch how he plays poker and you will a cool and calm CVS.  However, to highlight this difference again, the CVS has no problems with shades of grey when it comes to issues and can easily work with ideological tension. Not Harvey. As a UCD, he would rather fracture a relationship than accept a different ideology.

All in all, Harvey is one cool dude. And he knows it.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.”

Fictional characters also can have MDNA profiles. Typically every great character is based upon somebody in real life, except the persona and core traits are amplified. This makes learning the principles of their MDNA profile much easier and a valuable exercise. Not to mention it can be fun and entertaining.

Offline or Overload? In Case of Emergency...

Now that we have reviewed the entire relational spectrum, it's time to see how, in this context, the brain works in conjunction with MDNA gifts.

As we know, the brain has two halves. Left brain and right brain. Without getting into too much neurological detail, and for the sake of MDNA, we have labelled each side of the brain with a label based upon its generalized function:

• Left Brain = Truth in Action
• Right Brain = Joyful Relationships

Truth in Action to Offline

The UCD, SSA, and KWR can have a tendency to operate only in truth in action mode, and therefore, risk going offline. Going offline means your left brain has taken over and you are only thinking about who is right or wrong. It becomes all about what you think should be done, regardless of how it affects people emotionally. In this state, people can be cranky, need to be right all the time, and care less about relationships. This doesn't have to be expressed externally either. For example. the SSA will simply move behind the scenes and just go into "servant" mode.

Joyful Relationships to Overload

On the other side, the CVS, DLF and IAF, being all about relational engagement, can go into overload. This is when you overload yourself with emotions, or you overload others with emotions using your gifts. For example, an IAF can be flooded with all the details and freeze to the point of shutdown. The DLF and CVS also tend to flood others by pushing relational boundaries too far.

And as you probably already figured out, the EIA can go either way. This also means if your gifts cover the entire spectrum, you too can go either way, depending on the situation.

In Case of Emergency

If you find yourself offline, the best action is to spend time appreciating the joy of relationships. Spend time thinking about all that you appreciate and enjoy in others. Share how you feel versus just what you think. Don't take any action. Set what you believe as truth aside for a moment. Do not isolate. Communicate. Make maintaining relational connections a priority.

For those that get overloaded, take a moment to think of one small truth and put it into action. Don't worry about all the details. Don't worry about what others should or should not be doing. Set aside your relational expectations; especially unspoken social contracts. Identify the emotions you are feeling and consider the difference between appropriate and inappropriate response. Think. Plan it out. Don't try too much.

In both cases, these exercises will do wonders for your brain. The first step is to recognize when you are offline or overloaded. This is where others can help you. Practice makes perfect.

The Relational Spectrum: 1. UCD

The order of the MDNA gifts reveals a relational spectrum. The further you are on the left, the less relational engagement is required to synchronize with your intrinsic motivation. The further to the right, the opposite is true. To be clear, everybody needs relationships to be a holistic and healthy individual. In this series we will examine each gift on the spectrum.

UCD: Unyielding Conviction & Design

The UCD needs the least relational engagement to be intrinsically motivated. In other words, the UCD is completely fine being alone and can stay effective. They are very happy being completely autonomours. In fact, the UCD needs the most time alone to recharge.

Don't be surprised if the UCD would rather go home after work and isolate themselves for some "silence and darkness." Or if they seem to avoid meetings that are for the sole purpose of chemistry and bonding, it is totally normal. They are not rejecting people or being unloving at all. They will be just fine.

At the same time, don't let the UCD get too isolated. The UCD may think they need some alone time, but really connecting with another person is necessary. As you can see by the spectrum, the UCD has a strong potential to go relationally offline quickly. The UCD tends to take him or herself pretty seriously. Going out and getting some (relational) fresh air is healthy.

The MDNA Weekend

It's Friday! And if you are looking for ways to synchronize your MDNA over the next two days, look no further. Here is how each MDNA gift can maximize the weekend. You may already have some of these healthy habits, but a reminder never hurts.

UCD

The UCD, of all gifts, needs the most time alone to recharge. You have no problems being alone and that is healthy. But see if you can purposely try to relate to someone for no other reason than the relationships. Have a random phone conversation to catch up. Have a coffee with no purpose but to appreciate and listen. This will help you stay balanced with co-workers later.

SSA

You probably have a laundry (even literal laundry) list of things on your mind to get done. Not only that, there is another list of requests people would like to get help on. Don't be afraid to ask someone to help you. Or in other cases, practice saying "no" a few times.

KWR

You may want to learn about something or hang out with a group that shares a common subject interest and expertise. That is great. Before your weekend, take a moment to think about some responsibilities you might be avoiding. Or maybe you have been in "analysis paralysis" about a decision and just need to make it. Try to incorporate them in somewhere.

EIA

Of course, you would love to be socializing and having a new (larger than life) experience. Maybe it is a party or an event. Connecting with people recharges you. Just don't be afraid to spend some time alone and being comfortable with yourself. Try contemplating this question: "If people didn't want to be around you, for no particular reason, how would you feel about yourself?" This is a great question for self awareness if you are EIA.

CVS

You could pretty much do anything and would be just fine with it. But as always, you want to maximize time and resources. Here is a challenge: try wasting some time just for the sake of wasting time. Even better, go give your time and resources to a random person that is not expecting it. Watch what happens.

DLF

Most likely, you have structure to your weekend, even if that structure means no structure. Your weekend might be packed or have intentional down time. You have it organized and will be as busy as you want to be. To challenge yourself, try letting someone else take over your agenda for a change. Let them lead you.

IAF

You have already thought through every detail for the weekend. Or you are worried about every detail that did not get covered through the week. Most likely it is both. It's time to rest and just BE. Don't worry about people's feelings, expectations or your relationships. Just BE. This is hard and only an IAF really knows what it means for them. Just BE.