Building A Better You

By D. Darrell Griffin

Find Purpose, Healing, and Success in Relationships Using the Enneagram!

Do you like who you are and the person you are becoming? Do you believe that your life now is what God had in mind when He created you? Would you like to build mor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valiant Path Publishing
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781957368009

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Copyright © 2021 by D. Darrell Griffin

Published by Valiant Publishing

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without prior written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

For foreign and subsidiary rights, contact the author.

Cover design: Sara Young

Cover photo/image: Kitsana1980

Editor: Victor Singletary

ISBN: 978-1-954089-35-8       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Printed in the United States of America

"Building A Better You It should be the goal of every person and every team and D. Darrel Griffin is helping to show the way. Dr. Griffin conducted an Enneagram workshop with my staff and lay leadership team at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, providing a deeper understanding of one another and transforming the way we perform as a team. Find herein practical tools for building a stronger team and a better YOU!»

—The Honorable Reverend Raphael G. Warnock, Ph.D.

Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA

United States Senator (D-GA)

"Unprecedented times call for unconventional strategies and techniques in maintaining thriving churches and nurturing congregational vitality. Christian pastoral leadership has become a team effort now more than ever. Working with Darrell Griffin on numerous other projects, I can attest to the strength of his work, the tried and true methods in this book, and the authenticity of his heart for pastoral leaders. Building a Better You will bless your life and enrich your ministry."

—Reverend Dr. Debra L. Haggins, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Hampton University Ministers’ Conference

"Building A Better You is not for fans of systems theory or psychoanalytic approaches to selfhelp, although it can prove therapeutic. Exploring the value of the Enneagram, Building A Better You is more of a diagnostic tool, which is both deeply spiritual and very practical. It helps you understand how God has uniquely wired you, identifying your strengths and growing edges. Equally important, if you are repeatedly fielding, forming, and fixing teams, then this book will teach you how to determine who you should permit to get on the bus and who to get off the bus—to adapt Jim Collin’s apt analogy. Finally, if you are serious about learning how to level up personally and professionally, this book is a mustread. I say this not simply as a 30year friend and colleague of Dr. Griffin. I say this as a satisfied, blessed customer."

—Rev. Anthony L. Trufant

Senior Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY

"Not often do you run across a literary body of work that not only challenges you, but uncovers the root of why we operate the way we do. Building a Better You utilizes practical steps and navigational tools which get to the root of who you are. This is a musthave for everyone who desires to have a healthy personal or business relationship. Unlock your true essence with Building a Better You today!"

—Terri L. Hannett

President, Cross Roads Consulting, Inc.,

VP of Urban Ministries publishing

Dr. Griffin’s compassionate approach when teaching the Enneagram opens new opportunities for organizations and individuals seeking to grow in service and leadership. His ability to merge storytelling, scripture and humor allow the novice and advanced student alike to gain new insights and apply the wisdom of this system. I have personally witnessed his gift as a teacher open the mind and spirit of a reluctant student or skeptical team. Do yourself and your staff a favor and allow this uniquely gifted minister to take you on a journey to become the leader you have been yearning to be.

—Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III

Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL

"For more than 20 years, Dr. D. Darrell Griffin’s keen insights have indelibly shaped my life and leadership. In Building a Better You, he offers these insights to the world. This book gives us a roadmap for increasing our selfawareness, understanding our needs, and leveraging our strengths. It also provides clear and compelling strategies for application to strengthen every area of your life. A mustread for anyone ready to get clear on how to become a better leader, build better teams, and live a better life."

—Rev. Shaun Douglas Marshall

Consultant & Author of Transition Decisions book, Chicago, IL

"Building A Better You is a muchneeded and ontime resource for this postpandemic culture. Dr. Griffin’s approach, authenticity, and practicality make the Enneagram a leading tool for transformation for individuals, teams and church cultures. This work helped to minimize the conflict and fostered great cooperation among the staff at Evergreen. Building A Better You builds a better kingdom!"

—Rev. Dr. Ricky W. Georgetown

Senior Pastor, Evergreen United Methodist Church, Brandon, MS

Rev. Griffin has written one of the best books on the Enneagram from a pastoral perspective. An excellent companion for the inward journey, teambuilding and congregational life. A mustread for those interested in spiritual growth and organizational leadership. I highly recommend it.

—Adam Clark, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Department of Theology, Xavier University

Dr. Griffin does an excellent job explaining how the Enneagram can enhance leadership efficiency as well as personal wellbeing. He not only gives strategies that facilitate healthy teambuilding, he pushes further to highlight the impact on personal growth and wellbeing.

—Pastor Noel P. Simms, M.Div.

Greater Faith Covenant Church, Riverdale, GA

Retired School Administer New York City, NY, Department of Education

This innovative approach to the Enneagram has not only been an essential tool for my ongoing journey of selfreflection, but has revolutionized how I build and utilize my teams!

—Leslie X. Sanders

Lead Pastor, Naperville Covenant Church

Using the Enneagram, Dr. Griffin has masterfully laid out a strategic plan to help leaders in any sector of business navigate the waters of leadership and understand not only their personal leadership style, but the leadership style of their team members as well. This book is a mustread for those who desire to facilitate personal growth and develop stronger, unstoppable, and more effective teams. It should be a part of every serious leader’s library!

—The Right Reverend Jocelyn Carita Thornton, D.Min.

Bishop and General Treasurer, The Pentecostal Churches of Christ

"Building A Better You is a personal transformative work by Dr. D. Darrell Griffin on the insights and capacity of the Enneagram to reveal and garner appreciation for the authentic self. The purposeful passion he brings in his presentation has now been captured in printed form to enlighten the reader how to navigate internal nuances of the self while highlighting areas to strengthen in becoming more whole and wellrounded. The leaders of St. Paul Baptist Church and I shifted in how we relate to each other because we had gotten a better understanding of the self and the other. This book is a MUST if you want to engage in authentic and deep relationship with those in your personal space."

—Reverend Dr. Robert Charles Scott

Senior Pastor, St. Paul Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC

Assistant Secretary, Hampton University Ministers Conference of Hampton, VA

"In Building a Better You, Dr. D. Darrell Griffin invites readers on a joyfilled, challenging journey of selfdiscovery. He demonstrates how understanding yourself through the Enneagram also gives you a better understanding of others, which leads to healthier and more satisfying relationships. Building a Better You is a lifegiving, lifeenhancing book that will bless leaders, churches, and other organizations in both cooperation and collaboration. Practical, insightful, and challenging, anyone who has an interest in the Enneagram should read this book!"

—Dr. Doug Bixby

Author of Navigating the Nonsense: Church Conflict and Triangulation

Senior Pastor The Evangelical Covenant Church of Attleboro, MA

This powerful book makes understanding the Enneagram simple while helping us use it as a tool to discover who we were created to be. Dr. Griffin provides us with much wisdom and practical tools to help us better understand ourselves and the people we serve with.

—Pastor David A. Washington

Pastor Kingdom Covenant Church Chicago

"Building a Better You! provides a brilliant view of the importance of understanding self, others, partners, and teams. Dr. Griffin explains the intricacies of the Enneagram, provides a detailed breakdown of each of the nine personality types and describes the benefits of this tool. Dr. Griffin is a prolific wellrounded leader who understands the importance of building leaders; this book provides the framework to do just that. He takes the reader on a journey of personal insight, awareness, and internal awakening. As a personal recipient of Dr. Griffin’s teaching on the Enneagram, I am a stronger, more knowledgeable leader. This book is a mustread for all as it provides a clearcut roadmap to personal growth and development."

—Dr. Darlene Allen Nichols, PhD

CEO – DAN Ministries, Chicago, IL

"Building a Better You is a book I have seen in the making for years. My pastor, Dr. Griffin, has brought years of study and experience to this monumental work. I remember Dr. Griffin taking us through the concepts of the Enneagram as a staff. I personally have learned so much about myself as well as the importance of knowing the team(s) in which I serve. As you dive into this wonderful work, prepare your heart and mind to be confronted and challenged to be a Better You. God bless."

—Rev Bryndan Crawford Loritts

Teaching and Care Pastor at Shadow Hills Church, Las Vegas, NV

This book amplifies the content of the work that Dr. Griffin engaged my team in as we learned about ourselves and how best to work together to lead and impact schools. Using the results of the Enneagram each of us discovered more about each other but also about ourselves. We used that new knowledge to work better together as we provided services to a larger number of individuals and schools. Dr. Griffin and the Enneagram made a difference in my leadership and in the success of my team.

—Dr. Cheryl Watkins

Retired Chief of Schools, Chicago Public School, Chicago, IL

"Pastor Griffin’s Building a Better You is one of the most thoughtful and practical books on using the Enneagram to become a better person. The section on being aware that purpose can be offensive; discovering how clarity about your dreams, purpose, and goals would offend some people, is truly remarkable. Paralleling it with stories of his visits with his mother was really powerful. Pastor Griffin has written a mustread primer for anyone pursuing becoming their best self … Read this book, and learn from one of the top Enneagram experts in the field."

—Dr. Wytress Richardson

Author of A Call to Lead: Discover The Leader Within

Associate Professor, National Louis Unversity

"This book is a mustread for