Color Profiles Explained

Those who score high in the red personality category have a very wild and free-feeling attitude toward life. Freedom is the ultimate pleasure for a red. Life is a great adventure and you need to grab it with both hands. Reds are very kinesthetic people and learn by doing. They experience life through the senses; they do not ponder things or philosophize about them.

Those who are red love a good contest and everything can be turned into a contest. However, rules are just suggestions and can be broken if necessary. The slogan “No pain – No gain” reflects the red way of life.

Reds are highly skilled in many fields. They are “gadget people” and find their skills in doing rather than just knowing. They are naturally charismatic and a room full of strangers would likely elect them the leader. They are able to make immediate decisions – in fact, they love making instant decisions – and become the go-to people in times of crisis. They are often seen as the “life of the party.”

Those who are red need variety. Routine is a buzz kill. Their zest for life is contagious. They are master negotiators and strong in sales. They enjoy testing limits just for the excitement that risk-taking stirs. They are extreme optimists and eager for the next challenge. Waiting is as big a buzz kill as routine.

Reds often pursue work that is self-paced, relatively free of rigid rules, and has a measure of unpredictability: coaching, emergency services (fire, EMT, police), sales/marketing, and home-based businesses often appeal to them.

Challenges

Waiting feels like emotional death. Not all issues require an immediate decision, but extreme reds often act before considering all their options. Wisdom takes time they aren’t eager to give. The inability to slow down and think can keep them from promotion. Learning the value of consultation and strategic thinking actually protects the freedom they crave.

Those in the red color group dislike rigidity and authority and are often seen as immature in their enthusiasm for competition and excitement. They can interpret others’ caution as criticism or distrust. They are great at immediate decisions but not always at considering future implications. Because “future planning” involves waiting, reds may neglect things like investments, retirement, or long-term strategy. The brighter the red, the more stubborn he or she tends to be.

Reds also have difficulty being serious when the situation calls for it. They tend to keep the emotional environment up and happy, but not all situations are meant to be upbeat. They can be perceived as flippant or uncaring, like a bull in a china shop, and need to learn sensitivity and timing.

Biblical Examples

Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, had strong red characteristics. He was the only disciple willing to step out of the boat and onto the waves at Jesus’ invitation He spoke before thinking and received rebuke from Jesus. When soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter immediately grabbed a sword and swung, cutting off Malchus’ ear. Yet the same all-in personality made him the bold preacher at Pentecost and a key leader in the early church.

Esau illustrates red impatience: he traded his birthright for a bowl of soup to meet an immediate need. He was also an outdoorsman who lived a self-paced and unpredictable lifestyle.

Spiritual Motivation

A red leader looks for the thrill in every challenge. They are very willing to try it all – even raising the dead! Ministry and work are very hands-on and change is welcome. In a church setting, reading and doctrine often take a back seat to experiencing spiritual things; reds tend toward more charismatic traditions.

They are influential and active, usually right in the middle of any project or ministry. They need to feel respected for their ability to act and produce results. Flexibility is key. A red leader focuses more on people and action than on a rigid process, believing that free flow of ideas and Spirit is what makes ministry effective.

Those who scored highest in the red category have a very hands-on approach to leadership. Even if there’s a whole group involved, a red leader will be there working right alongside everyone else. They tend to focus on what’s happening right now and may neglect future preparations, gravitating toward dramatic, crowd-gathering projects that make room for the unpredictable.

Those of the blue color personality are clever, inventive problem solvers. They are naturally curious and enjoy research and discovery learning in their pursuit of knowledge. They are fast and accurate in their work and consider themselves to be ingenious. Blues are the people who ask “why” and do not like the answer “because we do.” There is always a better and more efficient way to get a job done according to those who are predominantly blue – improve, improve, improve!

They are motivated by intelligence and abstraction. They are thinkers and dreamers, and do not tend to be implementers. They respect and respond most to competence in themselves and others.

Blues accumulate information and wisdom. They are driven by relevance and do not see intrinsic value in traditions or repetition. They are the inventors and model builders that others follow, trail-blazers and pioneers because they are curious enough to try. They are “big picture” thinkers and often find details tedious, though they can handle multi-faceted situations well.

Socially, blues are often seen as unemotional but have very complex inner lives. To others they appear calm and cool. Group dynamics can be stressful; most of the activity is happening in their heads, so engaging their hearts can feel distracting. Blues are “renaissance people” who know a lot of things and bring many topics (about which they are near-experts) to the table – especially in small settings where conversations can stay intellectual rather than emotional.

Blues tend toward careers where expertise and freedom are valued: entrepreneurship, college-level teaching, architecture, writing, and leadership roles such as CEO or board member.

Challenges

As high as EQ (emotional intelligence) is for purples, it is often not as high for blues. They may be seen as emotionally numb or bankrupt, though they do have deep emotions – the expression is what’s missing. Because social interaction is stressful, blues can spend too much time alone.

Their disdain for incompetence can come across as a superiority complex. Strong blues may label others as “stupid” or dismiss people who can’t keep up intellectually. They are intolerant of ignorance and can seem harsh.

Blues see emotion as irrational and may avoid emotional situations, which can cut them off from relationships – even at home. They invest heavily in knowledge to the neglect of other areas and may come across as “know-it-alls.” They tend to dominate projects because they believe their ideas and methods are better than anyone else’s.

As big-picture thinkers, many blues abandon projects before they are finished. The problem is “solved” once the brilliant plan is created, but the follow-through is lacking. The details necessary to complete a project are boring to a blue, even though they’re essential. Blues tend toward self-sufficiency and pride; asking for help is very difficult. Suggestions for improvement are often received as criticism.

As long as the emotional climate in the room is balanced, blues are content; but when the emotional pendulum swings, they are tempted to leave. They may also resist emotional expressions in spiritual contexts and avoid emotional “pursuits.”

Biblical Examples

Moses exemplified many blue characteristics. He spent years as a shepherd (a solitary career) and initially resisted God’s call because he didn’t feel confident speaking in front of people. In the wilderness, he met with God alone and then delivered the message to the people. Jethro had to teach Moses to delegate, because Moses was trying to solve everyone’s problems by himself.

Solomon also shows strong blue traits. When offered anything from God, he asked for wisdom. He wanted to “know stuff.” He is famous for the brilliant judgment regarding the two women claiming the same baby. His writings (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs) are deeply reflective and wise.

Paul (formerly Saul) is another example. He was a proud, judgmental teacher trained in the Law. God called him to unite the Law with the Messiah and lay out the theology of grace. He wrote Romans and much of the New Testament, drawing on deep knowledge and careful reasoning. He spent time with churches and then wrote to them from prison, where he could think and write in solitude.

Spiritual Motivation

In leadership, a blue is primarily focused on knowledge. They will know the Bible extensively and will build ways for others to know it deeply as well. However, they are especially concerned with relevance rather than just bare doctrine – clever, accurate application of scripture to real-life situations is deeply satisfying to a blue.

Blues are entrepreneurial and creative in ministry. They see room for improvement everywhere. Expect events and programs to change and evolve. Once a blue leader releases control and trusts others, there is a lot of room for collaboration.

A blue minister will not usually manipulate emotions. An invitation is given, and people are free to respond without pressure. A blue leader is motivated by the relevance and uniqueness of a ministry or project, and often wants to write their own curriculum, craft their own resources, and pioneer new approaches.

The purple color personality values harmony, unity, and peace over all else. A lack of peace interrupts a purple’s day to distraction. People are more important than the process. Purples thrive on relationships that bring love and closeness. They are deeply caring and tend toward philanthropy because they want to make a positive difference – especially for “underdog” ideas, projects, and people.

Because of their relational nature, purples need honesty and vulnerability. When they ask, “How are you?” they expect an honest, heartfelt answer. Truth and authenticity are what make people and ministries stronger. Those who fall strongly in the purple category cannot tolerate hypocrisy or insincerity.

Purples prefer circular room arrangements over linear ones so they can see every face and ensure everyone feels included. They are nurturers who encourage others toward growth and higher potential. If a project or event doesn’t make people better, they question why it exists.

Purple people are often deeply spiritual, whether or not they are in formal church settings. Because of their emotional awareness, they have a high EQ and act as emotional barometers in any situation, reading subtle shifts in the “temperature” of the room and doing whatever they can to restore peace.

They often “do life with flair” and may express themselves through poetry, music, drama, or other arts. They gravitate toward people-oriented careers such as psychology, counseling, education, and the arts.

Challenges

The very high EQ of a purple can lead to emotional decision-making. In looking for the best in people, they can be easily deceived. When they are, the hurt is deep and personal. They may become too involved in helping others, to the detriment of their own family and health. Their intense focus can leave people feeling “smothered.”

Purples wear their emotions on their sleeves and are easily offended. Because they filter everything emotionally, they assume others do too. Comments that are unemotional to the speaker can feel very emotional and personal to a purple.

When projects fail, purples take it personally. Failure in others is felt almost as deeply as failure in themselves, because they are invested at the heart level.

Biblical Examples

King David was a classic purple. God called him “a man after My own heart.” David was a musician and songwriter; his psalms are emotional and vulnerable. He was a loyal friend (think of his relationship with Jonathan) and invested deeply in people. The indebted and disillusioned gathered to him, and he nurtured them into a group of mighty warriors.

However, his intense focus on others and ministry led to neglect at home. Many believe he was burned out when he stayed home from battle and fell into sin with Bathsheba. Yet he was quick to repent and grieved deeply over his sin.

John the disciple also matches many purple traits. He called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” His focus was on the love relationship he had with Jesus. Jesus entrusted Mary to John’s care at the cross. John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross, willing to risk his life out of love. He later received the Revelation on Patmos.

Spiritual Motivation

Purples are naturally discerning and sensitive to the emotional and spiritual tone of a congregation. If the feeling in the room is off, they may pause the process to address it.

Their primary motivation is the good of the people and unity in the Body of Christ. They want ministries that truly improve people’s quality of life. Their environments feel like “family” – safe, secure, and welcoming.

They lead with “we” and “us” rather than “me” and “my.” If you want a purple to buy into a project, talk about the positive impact it will have on people. As leaders, they are verbal, make eye contact, and keep an “open door” policy – sometimes to their own detriment as deadlines pile up. Many people-oriented spiritual gifts show up strongly in purple personalities.

Those with gold as their strongest score are like the mountains of the personality world. They are solid and unmoving, dependable and responsible. They are independent and tend toward being ordered and structured. They are less disturbed by negative emotions in the room than by clutter and disorganization.

While purples are dedicated to people, golds are dedicated to the process. They are like foundational bedrock that supports everything else, often doing unseen but essential work.

The gold personality carries a strong sense of right and wrong. There are no gray areas. This shows up in punctuality: ten minutes early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. They have a strong work ethic and are intolerant of laziness. However, they are dedicated to the success of the task and will sometimes “cover” for less diligent colleagues to ensure a good outcome.

Golds need time to prepare. Ill-preparedness – in themselves or others – causes stress. They prefer independence in both their work and personal lives.

Socially, golds are traditional. They don’t tend to change jobs, churches, or friends often. They carry a dignity that commands respect. They are loyal, patriotic, and believe that people could improve their situations simply by doing the right thing and following the rules. Golds often “parent” everyone, teaching and training even in casual settings.

They gravitate toward careers requiring accuracy, order, and contribution to the moral fabric of society: medicine, finance, education (especially history and math), and engineering are common fields.

Challenges

“All work, no play” can describe the gold color group. Their steadfastness preserves history and successful ventures, but also keeps them from enjoying change and spontaneity. Others may see them as “wet blankets.” Their inflexibility can cause stress in those around them, which then boomerangs back as stress on them.

Because process is more important than people, emotions may be overlooked, ignored, or even condemned. Strong golds can be very judgmental of those who don’t share their work ethic. They tend toward workaholism because results and productivity are so important. Time off – vacations, sick days, even family events – can be seen as laziness.

Their black-and-white sense of right and wrong can lead down a path of criticism and legalism. Giving and receiving grace can be difficult. Because they feel so responsible, golds may take on more work than is healthy and can be taken advantage of by others. Burnout is common, but they may refuse to admit it or slow down.

Biblical Examples

The prophets and Pharisees as groups both exhibit gold traits. The Old Testament prophets were charged to speak God’s word accurately and without softening. They did not avoid hard confrontations or water down the message.

The Pharisees based their worth on the Law and the accuracy with which they kept it. Their inflexibility toward anything “new” made it difficult for them to recognize God’s new work in Jesus. Some Pharisees did believe, but many were so committed to tradition that they missed the Messiah standing in front of them.

Noah showed gold traits. God gave him a plan to build a vessel that had never existed before. He obeyed without question and followed the instructions precisely. His dedication and work ethic saved his family – and gave him plenty of time to get used to the idea of a flood.

Luke, the physician, wrote with great accuracy and order. His gospel and the book of Acts are careful, detailed accounts preserving the history of Jesus’ work and the early church.

Martha is famous for her strong work ethic. She kept working when Mary sat and listened to Jesus. Jesus gently encouraged her to pause and sit with Him – an important reminder to all golds that rest and presence are not laziness, but essential.

Spiritual Motivation

In ministry and leadership, golds focus on holiness and righteousness. Obedience to the Word outweighs almost everything else. They may emphasize accountability and structure strongly.

They are professional and bottom-line focused. If you want a gold on board, speak to them about the effectiveness, stewardship, and long-term impact of a project. They value process, structure, and clear standards, and bring much-needed stability and integrity to any team.