The Art of Responding: A Human Design Generator Example
If you are familiar with the personality typing system Human Design you might know that there are different profiles and strategies.
My type is called the Generator and the corresponding strategy is summarized as Waiting to Respond.
I’ve been trying to be more in tune with this new knowledge after I learned about in a course I was taking by Dani Gardner. Today it came to me that I have a perfect story to explain how I followed my strategy in the Art of Responding.
The Art of Responding
Generators are designed to respond when interacting with inputs from the outside world. You could also call it signs or signals from the universe.
I love this summary from Lauren Nosselton in her detailed article on the Generator type and strategy.
“Something I’ve learned in my study of Human Design and in speaking to many generators is that learning how to wait for the right thing to respond to is one of your most significant pieces of life work. It’s challenging for a generator to trust in that waiting but it is where their power is. When generators respond to what’s appropriate for them they are the most energetically powerful type.”
The background is that for this year I set a personal goal to increase my discoverability as an expert in eCommerce and Mindset for creative solopreneurs. One of my main channels to be discovered is to be a guest on podcasts.
Human Design Generator Posters: Available for purchase here on Etsy.
My Story of Responding
A few weeks ago, I opened my email to see this subject line from a beautiful art and paper goods shop I’ve been following called Solemniko, that I had discovered on Pinterest and been reading on Substack.
The email subject line:
“Unapologetic Whimsy & A Podcast”
The owner Alexandra was launching her podcast, specifically for HSP’s! I loved everything she wrote about in this email and quickly clicked to add her feed to my podcast player.
Here is how she described her vision for the podcast,
“The SOLEMNIKO Podcast is created for HSP’s. I want to make something calm and soft and unapologetically sensitive talking about the simple things - which are actually more decadent and enjoyable than the ludicrously expensive material things. I want to talk about how to curate a lifestyle centred around paying homage to the mundane aspects of daily life that you love, building a routine around soft and beautiful rituals that have a positive impact on your health and lifestyle. I want to talk about the power of intentionally designing your life to be successful in a way that society doesn’t want you to be: contented, creatively inspired, embracing your sensitivity as an asset. And I’m going to be talking to other business owners who centre their businesses around slow living, wellness or the seasons to get an insight into their practices as well.”
AMAZING!!!! This right up my alley and this spoke to me in such a beautiful way.
Then, I read down to the end of the email and there it is, a literal invitation for me to respond to - My Art of Responding moment.
She actually included a section titled CALLOUT inviting any business owners or specialists to pitch themselves if the feel like they have something to contribute to the podcast.
It was so cool and perfect! I of course wrote her back and was thrilled when she responded the next morning…time zones and all.
She suggested we have a Zoom chat to see if I was a fit with her audience before scheduling a podcast episode.
A screenshot of our zoom chat!
We scheduled a Zoom chat, with me in the States and Alexandra in the U.K. connecting like long-lost friends just minutes into our conversation. We found so much common ground and connection and it all started from a simple invitation in her email that I felt compelled to respond to. The title of the episode even came about through our zoom chat.
Isn’t this just the best podcast title: “The Door to Narnia”
Our podcast episode has now been recorded and is live.
I’m thrilled to share our lovely conversation with all of you on the topics of being and Business Owner and HSP’s, Seasonal Business Planning, Pinterest Marketing, and much more!
“Tina Bar: e-commerce business coach, owner of Welljourn and Tina Bar Coaching joins me in the next episode of The SOLEMNIKO Podcast. I learn all about seasonal planning, we obsess over our mutual love of Pinterest, chat about working in corporate vs self-employed, discuss ethical product sourcing as well as discovering the door to Narnia. There’s loads to learn and connect with so cosy up and come join us.”
RESPONDING IN CONTRAST TO INITIATING
What I find so fascinating about this entire experience is that if I contrast it to other podcasts I’ve been on this didn’t feel like work.
It was so natural, opening a literal invitation from a brand I admire with a way to collaborate that meets both of our goals.
She got an aligned guest for her podcast and I got a chance to chat about the topics that truly light me up.
The other podcasts I’ve been on have been excellent, but those involved pitching, booking calls, answering questionnaires, signing contracts… and so on. Those were transactional in comparison to something that felt much more relaxed and calming but achieved the same output.
I’m now going to look for more ways to find the right signs to respond to vs. trying to force things happen.
If you are a Generator, have you figured out how to lean into the Art of Responding?
