The Freedom to Be Ourselves: How Understanding Human Wiring Changes Everything

What if the key to better performance, deeper relationships, and more energized teams wasn’t in doing more—but in understanding more?

Most friction in life and business comes not from lack of effort or good intention, but from not truly understanding how we’re wired—and how others are wired differently.

The Power of Knowing Yourself

Jerry shares how diagnostic tools like the Kolbe Index have helped him uncover not only how he works best but also why certain patterns repeat in both his personal and professional life.

“I’m a high Quick Start,” Jerry explains. “That means I think best at the last minute, in the moment, under pressure. It’s not that I don’t prepare—it’s that the real clarity comes as I go.”

Without understanding this, others might label that behavior as procrastination or disorganization. But when we know our own natural instincts, we stop trying to force ourselves into someone else’s mold—and we finally begin to operate in flow.

As Kathy Kolbe says, “Freedom is the ability to be yourself.”

Leading and Partnering with Awareness

This isn’t just theory. Jerry has seen firsthand how this understanding has transformed his relationships—including with his daughter, Kelley, who is now his business partner.

“We’re total opposites,” he says. “I’m a brainstormer. She’s a process person. We’ve had moments where, if we didn’t know this about each other, we would’ve stopped working together—even though we love and respect each other deeply.”

Instead, knowing their differences helps them appreciate the tension points, rather than be derailed by them. They’ve built a partnership—and a business—by playing to their strengths and recognizing when they’re slipping into energy-draining territory.

Building Teams That Actually Work

This principle carries into how Jerry and Kelley build teams. Rather than reacting to misalignment after it happens, ELEVATION180 uses these tools proactively.

“We use them on the front end to build the team—putting people in seats where they can thrive, where their batteries stay full,” Jerry shares. “It gives us a huge advantage. We don’t just fix dysfunction; we avoid it in the first place.”

That’s not always possible in every company, especially if the team is already in place. But even then, there’s immense value in helping people move into roles that match how they’re built.

And the ripple effect? Less burnout, fewer conflicts, and more focus on what matters.

This is About Humanity, Not Just Strategy

In a world moving faster than ever, Jerry believes this kind of deep self-awareness is becoming not just helpful—but essential.

“Whether it’s SWAT teams, special ops, or your business, this primal understanding of human nature is what’s going to matter most in the future.”

Because when we know ourselves—and can explain ourselves—we create trust, grace, and collaboration. We stop taking things personally and start building intentionally.

The most moving insight came from Jerry’s reflection on his marriage: “My wife and I are extreme opposites. If we hadn’t done this work, I’m not sure we’d still be married. It helped us see that what felt like not caring was actually just a difference in wiring.”

The Bottom Line

Most of us try to make sense of the world through our own lens. But the most powerful breakthroughs—in business, leadership, and life—come when we realize that not everyone sees the world the way we do.

And that’s not a problem to solve. It’s a gift to embrace.

If you want to create stronger teams, healthier relationships, and a clearer path forward, start by asking: How am I wired? How are they? And how can we build from there?

Ready to stop forcing what doesn’t fit—and start leading, living, and performing in alignment with who you really are?

Through our ELEVATE180 programs, your future becomes predictable. Transform your future by understanding yourself and your team in order to maximize your energy, capacity, and capability. If you’re ready to reach your fullest potential and unlock your Bigger Future, reach out to us. We’d love to schedule a call to explore how we can help you avoid burnout and elevate your success.

ELEVATION180 is a transformational coaching and mentoring organization that elevates your performance to achieve freedom, lifelong sustainable results, and a bigger future. Discover more by visiting www.ELEVATION180.com.

For insurance sales producers and agencies our GROWTH180 programs help you to transform your future by growing their book of business year after year.

For businesses, teams, and leaders, our ELEVATE180 programs help you transform your future by understanding yourself and your team to maximize energy, capacity, and capability.