Continuing with the right side of the cerebrum, I will discuss the last BQD, the Innovator. Because we are still on the right side, this BQD will also tend to display more emotion than the left brain BQDs; although not necessarily to the extent that the posterior right does.
When anyone is conjuring up new ideas or getting involved in creative, out-of-the-box, thinking this is the section that fires up. When we think of the great inventors in history, or even our time, it is a pretty good guess that they most likely have their energy expenditure advantage in this portion of the brain. Often times they will have ideas that, to the other 75% of the population, seem 
strange or far-fetched. While some of the ideas are a little “out there,” some have resulted in the greatest achievements of all time.
The portion of the brain that sees the BIG picture is in this brain quadrant. It enables individuals that have their BQD here to see the things as they can be with amazing ease; so much so, that their brain will often see projects as if they are already completed. This, at times, is not in their favor; in their mind, the projects are completed and no longer need attention when, in reality, they have not yet even begun. It is also energy intensive for them to access the posterior left and track the crucial details that completing a project requires.
The home of sarcasm is also housed here. This means that a person with this BQD will most likely be known for making off-the-wall or sarcastic comments. At times, this may get them in trouble for the things they say. However, they also make us laugh most often and bring humor into the world in a very unique way.
This BQD is gifted at three dimensional imaging. Imagine the virtual reality headsets that allow people to twist and turn a virtual object to see all the sides and top to bottom. This is the way that individuals with this as their home quadrant see things. It allows them to fit items into small places with ease; or know exactly what will fit where in a room, without having to measure it out first.
This is the portion of the brain we all use when we are imagining or daydreaming. Therefore, this BQD is gifted at doing this. It may, however, work against them in a school setting or business meeting. But, when exercised in the right place and time, it is a beautiful thing. For example, it allows people with this as their home to excel in creative problem-solving and brainstorming new ideas.
This is the “why” portion of the brain, so individuals with this lead tend to ask this question a lot. They will have a thirst to find the answer. This may lead them to acquire a lot of knowledge, leading to a high IQ. However, because another gift of this lead is the desire to move on to the new and novel, they will not always use all of the knowledge they obtain to achieve success.
The home of entrepreneurialism is housed here. So, most of your “serial” entrepreneurs are innately this BQD. They may tend to go through many different businesses during their lifetime because they are always desiring change and finding the next best thing. The down side is that, because they are not gifted in the detail, posterior left portion of the brain, they are not gifted in tracking the details necessary to have a truly successful business.
The right side of the brain is often viewed as the creative side of the brain. In all honesty, each BQD has their own way of being creative, but the artistic side of the brain is the right. You will find that is expressed in the posterior right as art connected to people and nature: Norman Rockwell or Thomas Kincaid. The anterior right, however, houses they abstract artistic functions: Picasso or Georges Braque.
This BQD personality prefers to keep things in sight. If things are put away in files or boxes their brain tends to lose it. So, they prefer to have things out in vertical stacks. While this may seem to be messy, in all honesty, they have that incredible three dimensional picture in their heads, so they know exactly where in that stack of things a particular item is. If you move or try to straighten-up their “mess” they will completely lose the items in their space. Therefore, what appears to be disorganized is actually organized in their mind.
Remember, the portion of the brain that we use when we are following the rules or coloring inside the lines is the diagonally opposite portion of the brain. That means that it is labor intensive for individuals with this BQD to access that area. The result is that they resist being held in by following the rules or staying within the lines. Tell them to do something and they will likely ask why. Tell them they can’t do something and they will set out to prove you wrong!
Because their brains are gifted at picturing things clearly, combined with their desire to always be moving forward, they will tend to get bored easily. Once they learn a basic idea or teaching they are ready to move on to the next new and exciting thing. Therefore, they are easily distracted in learning situations.
Once again, as with the other BQDs, based on the functions that are processed in this portion of the brain, I have created a detailed list of personality traits that will tend to be dominant in a person who has an energy expenditure advantage here. Familiarize yourself with the list, think of people you know that have these traits and tend to be gifted in doing the functions listed below. The more you get this list locked in your brain, the easier it will be for you to sit and do a consultation with a person and, after asking a few specific questions, identify what their BQD may be.
- Has a three dimensional, internal mental picturing ability. Spatial.
- Thinks in pictures and symbols.
- Highly intuitive.
- Good at identifying trends.
- Meditates and imagines a lot. Huge imagination. Labeled daydreamers.
- Energized by innovation and brainstorming.
- Creative problem-solving.
- Takes in huge amounts of data. Sees the big picture, not the minute details.
- Not good at recalling labels.
- Reads the hidden meaning in words.
Willing to take a risk. Gifted at exploring the unknown.- Entrepreneurial, especially with new ideas.
- Loves change; seeing it as new opportunities.
- Spontaneous. Doesn’t need to have a plan.
- Visionary. Able to see things as they can be, not as they are.
- Why?” askers. Must dig for the answer.
- Enjoys reading adventure, poetry, sci-fi, philosophy.
- Artistic in abstract music, and painting,
- Home of sarcasm, off-the-wall humor.
- Gestures expressively; and tears are gestures.
- Doesn’t like rules.
- Resists a schedule. Poor concept of time.
- Tends to do too much. Has several open projects while still beginning new ones.
- Seen as, but doesn’t perform as, genius.
- Vertical stacker. Appears to be disorganized.
- Gets the picture quickly.
- Gets bored easily.
- Talented in the artistic.
- Struggles in spelling and reading.
- Fights rules and regulations. Again, asking, “Why?”
- Easily distracted.
- Needs to move to learn.
Based on their brain strengths they most likely excelled in the following subjects in school:
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Artistic things
- Creative problem-solving activities
As with the other three BQDs, there will always be negative terms, labels, or words that are used to describe them. Part of the beauty of understanding all of this scientific information is that it allows us to look to the reason why people do what they do, and resist the desire to use these terms. Nevertheless, if you or a person you are working with, feels that this may be how they are described then it is another clue that this may be their BQD.
- Clumsy
- Lacks focus
- Overly Sarcastic
- Disorganized
- Inconsiderate
- Rebellious
Again, asking questions about your childhood or the childhood of the person you are working with can help you determine your/their natural giftedness. Sometimes ones innate BQD could have been suppressed early on due to pressures in childhood and birth order factors, which I will cover in more detail in a later unit. But, for now, here is a list of characteristics that may indicate a natural BQD in this portion of the brain.
- They get the picture quickly.
- Prefers to have clothes and assignment in stacks.
- May have a lot of incomplete projects.
- Procrastinates on assignments, doing “all-nighters” to finish before due.
- Gets bored easily.
- Are talented in the artistic, not gifted in spelling & reading.
- Fights rules and regulations
If you are coaching or consulting a person with this BQD, and the subject of work or career is something that you are discussing with them, you will want to help them lean towards work that matches their brain. Good career choices for individuals with this BQD would be ones that allow them to explore the new and exciting. Careers where they can set their own schedule, innovate, and try new things. Many entrepreneurial endeavors are pursued by this BQD. A word of caution: if you have this BQD, and are in business for yourself, it is imperative that you create a good team. You can’t do it all. Once again, this list is by no means exhaustive but it will give you a flavor of what might be a good fit.
- Creative design (ex: website, homes, engines, etc.) This type of career will allow the Innovator BQD the creative outlet in a “think outside of the box” kind of way.
- Research & Development. What could fit better than to work through experimentation, and trial and error? This field would allow the “how it can be” muscle to flex.
- Architects. All you need to do is take a look at the Space Needle in Washington or the hang-out-over-the-cliff home designs to see how this would be a great fit for the anterior right BQD.
- Psychiatrist. This may seem like a strange choice, but think about it; no two patients are exactly alike. Therefore, it can become like a complex puzzle to come up with treatment and counsel that will fit each unique personality you come in contact with.
Philosopher. This type of career takes a lot of abstract thinking and “what are the possibilities” viewpoint.- Entrepreneur. Do I really need to explain this one? Being an entrepreneur, you are able to do what you want when you want and how you want. Anterior right’s dream job.
- Consulting, with an emphasis on problem-solving. When someone comes to a consultant it is often because they need help with solving a problem, creating new and innovative ways to address the same old problems, or how to create more efficient or effective solutions; all of which are Innovator BQD strengths.
As with the other BQDs, it is equally important to understand that, from an energy expenditure point of view, the diagonally opposite portion of the brain will be the most energy intensive part to work out of. This means that for this BQD the tasks that use the posterior left portion of the brain will consume large amounts of energy. They will find it challenging to process functions that are connected with the Master Coordinator personality. Spending too much time in the diagonally opposite quadrant will lead to high energy expenditure and brain exhaustion. Functions like tracking money and time, or organization will be too labor intensive for them. They may also find it challenging to interact with individuals who are gifted in the posterior left brain quadrant.
While you will never want to spend too much time outside of you BQD, it is necessary in life to use all of our brain at one time or another. There may be situations when you, or someone you are working with or coaching, need to develop some competencies in this portion of the brain. After all, if you have to do anything that requires creative problem-solving, “fill in the blanks” without all the facts, or use spatial imaging to see possible outcomes, you will need to use this brain quadrant. Listed below are a few things that you or the person you are coaching can get involved in or do that will help build those necessary skills in the Innovator potion of your brain. This is by no means a comprehensive list but it gives you an idea of where to start.
- Play creative games like Pictionary or Cranium. These type games cause you to think outside-of-the-box and flex your creative muscle.
Do 3-D puzzles. Remember, when you are doing spatial imaging in the brain you are using this quadrant.- Travel with no itinerary or schedule. That’s right; just throw a few things in a suitcase, load it in the car, and go where the feelings move you. Learn to enjoy the journey.
- Create, draw, or build something abstract. Follow no rules or patterns, just let it flow. You might be surprised, or scared, with the results.
Validation is vitally important for all BQD’s. If you feel that you are, or you know someone who fits into, this BQD realize that the traits present in your/their personality that are due to this being your/their brain energy expenditure advantage. These are your/their innate gifts–not shortcomings. Honor your/their need to explore the new, to change, and to express creativity. Be patient with your/their off-the-wall humor and the “oh, pretty, shiny,” easily distracted personality.