“The truth will set you free”
The Sage archetype seeks truth above all things and wisdom in all situations as it attempts to understand the world. It is more likely to collect and dissect knowledge, then pass it on to others who want to change the world, rather than do it itself. The Sage celebrates lifelong learning and a never-ending pursuit of wisdom as it tries to understand things as deeply as possible.
The Sage archetype believes thought is what defines the human experience and that truth is the ultimate goal. It constantly balances tradition and stability with growth and change as it discovers new pieces that fit or shift the whole. The Sage, motivated by independence and an intense desire to know, possesses deep knowledge gained from deep, personal experiences, though it values detachment and objectivity from its acquired wisdom.
The Sage shuns ambiguity, misinformation, misleading claims, and ignorance, whether in itself or in others, preferring rational decisions and diligent research. In its quest for truth, it may be challenged to avoid self-righteousness and arrogance, a rigid reliance on dogma, and a severe lack of action in favor of gathering yet more information. No one enjoys a “know-it-all” attitude, especially without action.
Core Principles
Pillar: Discover Self-Actualization
Drive: Wisdom, Intelligence, Expertise, Information, Influence
Fear: Ignorance, Insanity, Misinformation, Inaccuracy – Being misled or ignored
Strategy: Show Path to Wisdom, Celebrate Life-long Learning
At-A-Glance
Goal: To use intelligence and wisdom to understand the world
Voice: Knowledgeable, Assured, Guiding – Education is the path to Wisdom. Wisdom is where answers are.
What customers FEEL: Educated, Engrossed
Audience: Analytical, Accurate, Intelligent, Astute
Wisdom
Intelligence
Open-Minded
Analysis Paralysis, Non-action
Self-Righteousness
Arrogance
Fundamental: Sage: The Sage archetype values knowledge and learning as it seeks the truth. This archetype embodies wisdom and cultivates connections between seemingly separate ideas and things. The Sage archetype houses different aspects that emerge based on various strengths and expressions, all underpinned by the main characteristics of the fundamental.
01 Mentor
The Mentor aspect is devoted to sharing wisdom for the benefit and support of others, often acting as a secondary conscience. Active listening, objectivity, and the ability to discern between authentic and insincere characters allow it to empathetically pass wisdom to those seeking their highest potential. Although the Mentor usually holds itself accountable, it should be careful it doesn’t become controlling or prescriptive when passing knowledge or burnout by not supporting itself.
02 Detective
The Detective aspect diligently searches to uncover what is hidden. It is deeply intuitive and may rely on instinct, but knowing is not enough — what it knows must be substantiated by empirical evidence. The Detective is tenacious and driven to overcome fallibility, but its search for truth can be a selfish pursuit, rather than for the benefit of others and it may find itself snooping. At its worst, the Detective may find dishonorable uses for the information it uncovers.
03 Shaman
The Shaman aspect is able to access various states of consciousness and perspectives in service to its overarching desire to be of service to humanity. Its spiritual nature is not tied to religion or dogma, which is crucial as it bridges the material world and the world of limitless possibilities in order to facilitate the emergence of one’s higher self. As the Shaman makes what is unconscious conscious and the implicit explicit, it must be careful not to develop a false sense of power or fall into self-aggrandizing manipulation.
04 Translator
The Translator aspect is a messenger of meaning, crossing various societal boundaries to tap into communications and understandings universal to humanity. It is an intuitive communicator and, due in part to its extreme talents of inference and uncovering intention, understands translation may lose subtly and meaning when approached too literally. Before sharing truths, the Translator would be well served to hold itself accountable for what it shares and to fight the urge to interfere with or force meaning.
Sage consumers can be tough — They don’t succumb easily to the “herd mentality” because they recognize the value of independent thought and they don’t engage in high-pressure sales and marketing tactics. They enjoy learning for learning’s sake and for the pure joy of adding new knowledge to their memory banks. To connect with Sage consumers, give them the information they need to make an informed decision or connect the dots for them in a way that allows them to use your analysis without feeling lesser for not having seen the connection in the first place. Whatever you do, do not talk down to them or dumb down your message. If you insult their intellect, you’ll likely lose a potential consumer for life.
