Eric Gee

Coaching the Personality

Episode 162

Eric Gee has administered personality-based life coaching for more than twenty years. He built a successful education company that used his personality typing method to better the lives of more than twenty thousand students, parents, and teachers. As the creator of the Youtopia Project website and the Youtopia 16 assessment, he has disseminated his method to over half a million users since the website’s creation in 2016. His coaching program has been used in companies such as Hulu, Disney, universities, and over forty school districts.

Eric graduated from UCLA, where he studied English literature and screenwriting. Coincidentally, he’s also a classically trained pianist, backyard-trained barbecue dilettante, three-time fantasy football champion, professional mentor, and amateur magician. He owns Youtopia Creative, a shared creative workspace in Los Angeles, where he acts as both life coach and infinite Pez dispenser of saccharine bits of 80s and 90s pop culture.

Eric Gee Takeaways

Eric’s Multifaceted Career:

Eric G’s journey through various professional roles notably includes writing coach, life coach, and author. Each role fed into the next, creating a multifaceted career path that showcases his diverse talents and passions. His time spent founding and running an educational company provided him with deep insights into student behavior and learning processes. This eventually led him to write “The Power of Personality,” aiming to help others understand themselves better and navigate their personal and professional lives more effectively. Eric’s journey underscores the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and the practical application of one’s skills to solve real-world problems.

The Philosophy on Writing:

Eric advocates for a writing philosophy that emphasizes the values of honesty and interest. He argues against the overemphasis on technical writing mechanics, like thesis statements and proper grammar, claiming they can stifle creativity and authenticity. Eric often tells his students that when they focus on being honest and interesting in their writing, readers will connect with their stories more deeply, often forgetting they’re reading a structured essay. This philosophy aims to liberate students from rigid academic structures, fostering a more genuine and engaging style of writing.

The Power of Personality:

Eric’s book, “The Power of Personality,” serves as a guide for understanding the core values and motivations that drive different personality types. Unlike traditional personality tests that can be lengthy and overly technical, his book aims to be more intuitive and practical. By categorizing personalities into easily relatable types and incorporating a sense of context, Eric helps people understand their strengths and weaknesses, both in themselves and in others. This understanding is designed to improve personal interactions, foster better working relationships, and help individuals find greater satisfaction and success in their lives.

Coaching Approach:

In his dual role as a life and writing coach, Eric blends these disciplines to offer more comprehensive guidance. He focuses on helping students find their unique voice and passions rather than simply teaching them to conform to standard writing formats. By addressing the whole person, he assists them in navigating both academic challenges and life’s broader questions. His coaching revolves around the principle that understanding one’s personality and values can lead to more meaningful and satisfying life choices.

Learning from Personal Experiences:

Eric shared how his time working at a golf course was transformative. Interacting with older adults who had rich life experiences provided him a unique perspective. Through their stories—from wartime memories to personal life lessons—he gained insights that shaped his understanding of personality and storytelling. These experiences enriched his subsequent roles in coaching and writing, teaching him the value of listening, empathy, and the broader context of individual life journeys.

On Writing:

“Be honest and be interesting. If you’re those two things, then no one’s gonna care what you write.”

On Personality and Relationships:

“People do not change. I think people grow and I think there’s a big difference.”

On Coaching:

“I’m going to tell your kids that school’s not that important. Finding yourself is more important.”

On Work Philosophy:

“You only got one life and you’re not getting it back once it’s taken away. So would you rather waste that?”

On Learning from Different Generations:

“As a young kid, it’s almost like you get to see the end of the story before you’ve experienced the story.”

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Music Credits

Intro
Like it Loud, Dyalla, YouTube Audio Library

Stinger
Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library

Outro
Indecision, Dyalla, YouTube Audio Library

Picture of Eric Gee

Eric Gee

Casuda Canyon

This area is significant to Eric as he spent formative years there attending Monterey Highlands. He has fond memories of childhood freedom and his early social experiences, highlighting a time when kids were more independent.

Sam Woo BBQ

Located on Valley and 6th, this restaurant is one of Eric’s favorite spots despite a less-than-ideal experience. It is his go-to for delicious chow mein and roast pig, showcasing his tolerance for imperfections when the quality of the food outweighs minor inconveniences.

Puente Hills Mall

Eric cherishes the Puente Hills Mall, where he watched numerous movies during his youth. The mall featured stadium seating, which was innovative at the time, enhancing his movie-watching experience.