In September 1999 (25 years ago!), I found myself in a situation that could only be described as
a mix of chaos and opportunity. It was a defining moment in my career, and I recently talked about it in the Becoming Wiser podcast with Dr. Robert Rohm.
Want to know more? Keep reading.
First Contact
In the military, I specialized in the field of Human Intelligence (HUMINT). My claim to fame during my service was being the first Intelligence Operator (INTOP) chosen to be in a contact handler role since the Second World War. This involved cultivating sources in a hostile environment, building relationships, assessing intentions, and even modifying behaviour when necessary – all without any Jedi mind tricks, of course.
So I was constantly seeking ways to understand human dynamics better. That’s when I stumbled upon a book titled “Positive Personality Profile.”
It wasn’t exactly love at first sight. The Barney purple-colored book, the crooked graphic – even the title, “Positive Personality Insights,” ticked me off. But a website listed in the back piqued my curiosity. It offered a certification program for becoming a certified human behaviour consultant.
The idea of an accredited certification just made sense, so I enrolled.
During the session, Dr. Robert Rohm’s statement struck a chord with me:
“JJ, let me show you how you can annoy 90% of the general population just by being yourself.”
It hit me because I’m aware I wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I was getting results in the military. However, annoying 90% of the people around me meant leaving significant potential untapped.
Then he said, “JJ, would you be open to learning to say the same thing in a different way?”
What I got out of that is, “Do you want to get better results?” Absolutely. I was ready at that point to stop fighting to be understood and to increase my quota of positive relationships.
There’s a saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” At that moment, I was that student, eager to learn from Dr.Rohm and Personality Insights. I was ready to apply the DISC Model of Human Behaviour within my work, family, and community.
The Training That Almost Didn’t Happen
Two years later, Personality Insights offered Advanced DISC Behavioural Studies, so I signed up. I was expecting to join a group of around 20 to 25 attendees, but as fate would have it, I was the only person who signed up. What was meant to be a group training turned into a week-long one-on-one session that would change the course of my career and life.
I was told the training was in danger of being canceled due to the lack of participants. To my surprise, Dr. Robert Rohm was ready to call it off. However, I had already booked my ticket to Atlanta where the training was going to be held, and was determined to make the most of this opportunity. I insisted that the training proceed as planned. He obliged.
Classic High D, I know.
A Miscommunication to Remember
One of the most memorable moments of that week came during our farewell at the airport. Dr. Rohm told me that he believed I was “anointed” and that he wanted to work with me because of this special calling he saw in me. I took this as a compliment, but a language barrier hampered my understanding. As a French speaker, I misinterpreted “anointed” as “annoying,” due to the similarity in French the word “anointed” came across as“ointment” in my mind. When you have a wart on your hand or a finger, mom would put ointment on it. The smell was bad and it colours your skin orange that seemed to last forever, that can be annoying, right?
I took it as he still wanted to work with me even though I was annoying. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and I’m okay with that. In the military, there was good leadership or poor leadership, but in the end, you still followed orders. You didn’t have to like the person.
For a whole year, I mistakenly believed Dr. Rohm tolerated my irritating personality but was committed to working with me anyway.
Turning Point and Legacy
Despite the confusion, I felt it was essential for me to learn and work with Personality Insights because I realized the potential of applying the DISC Model of Human Behaviour to a training program I was teaching senior military attachés.
These individuals embark on two- to three-year deployments, requiring extensive training in interviewing, debriefing, and elicitation. Understanding temperament, personality, and people’s personas across cultures is crucial for them to not misread the message.
So for the last five years of my two-decade military career, I specialized in the field of human intelligence and applied the DISC Model as the Strategic Debriefing Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces.
When I retired and started my own company, it became crucial for me to be able to run events. I would have Dr. Rohm come to Canada in the spring and sometime in the fall to meet the people I brought together who needed to be certified.
This went on for years, until one day in February 2002, Dr. Rohm proposed a groundbreaking idea: JJ Brun certifying people on behalf of Personality Insights.
That was the birth of the Master Trainer Program. Since then, I’ve certified people on behalf of Personality Insights, focusing primarily on the French market.
The Journey Continues
Today, as a recognized authority on the DISC Model, I am excited to continue this journey of discovery and growth. My story underscores the power of embracing unexpected opportunities and turning them into lasting impact.
The events from that September day have shaped my career and commitment to helping others unlock their potential through understanding human behaviour. Here’s to the continued exploration and application of these insights as we move forward!
