How the Kolbe A Index Can Unlock Your Natural Superpowers: Insights from Richard Canfield
Ever feel like you’re fighting your own instincts at work, home, or even on your morning jog… er, treadmill meeting? (If you wonder why your best ideas happen while chasing the dog or dodging LEGO mines on the floor, keep reading.) As someone who’s wired very differently from the average suit-and-tie crowd, I understand this battle all too well. I’m Richard Canfield—family man, Amazon bestselling author, Authorized Infinite Banking Practitioner, the host of Wealth on Main Street, and, yes, a Certified Kolbe® Consultant who specializes in helping Canadians, entrepreneurs, and parents tap into their innate strengths using the Kolbe A Index™.
Today, I want to share how the Kolbe A Index changed my trajectory and continues to transform the way I work, solve problems, and help my clients and their families build generational wealth (without losing their sanity or their edge).
Discovering My Kolbe: More Than Just Another “Personality Test”
Let’s get this out of the way: I’m not big on labels—or boxes. (Literally, my desk is a pile of vibrant post-it notes, scattered fidget spinners, and one very loyal tape measure.) For years, I just thought I was “random,” “chaotic,” or “always late”—as echoed by well-meaning teachers, parents, and colleagues. Sound familiar? Here’s the kicker: It wasn’t that I was flawed; I just didn’t have the right language or framework to explain why I was wired so differently. That changed when I discovered the Kolbe A Index™.
Cue the Kolbe A Index™: a revolutionary tool developed by the late, great Kathy Kolbe, designed to measure something called conation—your instinctive method of taking action. Not your IQ, not your EQ—your natural MOJO for getting things done. As I explained recently on the Innovate & Overcome podcast, “The Kolbe A Index™ has to do with our natural instincts. It’s how we go about getting things done in the world. There’s a way that you do it, and you don’t even realize you’re doing it.”
The Four Kolbe Action Modes: Where Do You Shine?
The Kolbe A Index™ reveals your “zones of genius” across four key modes (rated 1–10) that guide your instinctive strengths:
- Fact Finder: Do you crave loads of details and research, or are you a straight-to-the-guts, “boil it down for me” kind of person?
- Follow Thru: Do you love step-by-step systems, or do you improvise, skip steps, and adapt as you go (guilty as charged)?
- Quick Start: Are you a cautious planner, or do you thrive under last-minute pressure, daring deadlines, and high-stakes improvisation?
- Implementor: Do you need to touch, build, and handle real things, or do you live mostly in your head with images and ideas?
Here’s what’s liberating: there’s NO “wrong” Kolbe score. Everyone gets a perfect score—for THEM. Whether you’re a 3 in Fact Finder (like me, which means I simplify and get to the point) or a 9 in Fact Finder (hello, spreadsheets, research and data), your results simply describe your energy zones. A 7-9 Fact Finder is often heard responding to a question with ‘it depends…”
Now get this—if you’re working against your natural grain, it doesn’t just zap your energy; it can lead to job stress, burnout, and those infamous “why can’t you just focus, Richard?” conversations. But when you align with your Kolbe strengths, you unlock the zone where your best self (and yes, your best business results) come alive.
Why the Kolbe A Index Is a Game Changer for Business, Families, and Beyond
Knowing your Kolbe A Index™ isn’t just self-help fluff—it’s a strategy tool for your business and family. It helps you communicate your instinctive strengths clearly, improving team collaboration and reducing family tension. I often tell clients, “Your Kolbe A Index™ results aren’t about limitations. They’re your blueprint for sustainable success.”
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to maximize energy while reducing burnout, the Kolbe A Index™ helps you design your days, teams, and processes so you can lead from your strengths. Parents can use the Kolbe A Index™ and the Kolbe Student Aptitude™ assessment to understand their children’s natural instincts, fostering confidence and independence in their kids.
Stop Fighting Yourself (and Others): Build Your Life Around Your Instincts
Two major lessons Kolbe taught me—and that I see reflected in my wealth-building clients and podcast listeners:
- You can accomplish anything—but not with equal energy. Anyone can do deep research, follow the rules, or race the clock if needed. But spending most of your life in the wrong “zone” will leave you drained, stressed, and creatively stunted. That’s why advocating for your own needs (and your family’s) using Kolbe language is a huge advantage, whether negotiating with teachers, leaders, or business partners.
- “A good way to start your day is to decide what you’re NOT going to do today.” That one line almost knocked me off my treadmill. We all make endless to-do lists, but Kolbe taught me to create a “not-to-do” list—saying no to energy-zapping tasks so I can focus on what I do best: coaching, creating, and solving business and family money puzzles (and, yes, a bit of podcasting).
If you’re struggling with communication in your business or family, or just feel like you hit a “friction wall” in your daily routines, give Kolbe a try. You could unlock core strengths you didn’t realize you had—and find language to build bridges (not just argue over where the shoes go).
Ready to Harness Your Instinctual Superpowers?
If you’d like to delve deeper into your Kolbe A Index, or if you want to see how it can revolutionize your business, family dynamics, or even how you build wealth the Infinite Banking way, let’s chat.
Check out my other area’s of expertise here:
- Mindset: The #1 Skill for Wealth Building in Canada
- Nelson Nash’s 5 Rules of the Infinite Banking Concept
- Discover more actionable wealth tools on Wealth on Main Street.
Want to help your kids shine? Ask about the Kolbe Student Aptitude assessment—because every family needs a common language that encourages, not squashes, our natural strengths.
Want my help to map out your Kolbe and uncover your next steps? Visit coachcanfield.com or book a consult here.
And remember, whether you’re racing the clock, “breaking the rules,” or building your empire in your own unique style, your instincts are the superpower. Let’s harness them for lasting wealth—for you and your family.
Until next time, bank on purpose, trust your instincts, and stay curious.
Disclaimer
This article reflects the opinion of Richard Canfield, a Certified Kolbe® Consultant and Authorized Infinite Banking Practitioner. It is intended for informational purposes only. Always seek personalized financial, tax, and legal advice from qualified professionals registered in your jurisdiction.
