Liz Zurek Beaudry 8/8/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 8/8/17

IAF/UCD Celebrity: Mike Ross (Suits)

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.

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.

Liz Zurek Beaudry 8/8/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 8/8/17

IAF/UCD Celebrity: Olivia Pope (Scandal)

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.

Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17

UCD/KWR Celebrity: Dr. House and Sherlock Holmes

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.

Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17

UCD/EIA Celebrity: Muhammad Ali

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

Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/22/17

UCD/CVS Celebrity: Harvey Spencer (Suits)

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.”

Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/21/17 Liz Zurek Beaudry 6/21/17

UCD Celebrity: Tim Ferriss

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.”