In the world of business and marketing, knowing yourself is half the battle. That’s where Human Design comes in, offering a unique roadmap to understanding your strengths and weaknesses.

One of the key elements that really applies in business and marketing is the Will Center in Human Design (also known as the Ego Center or Heart Center). Think of it as your inner engine, driving your willpower, self-worth, and how you handle resources. About 37% of us have a defined Will Center, while the rest have an undefined one. Interesting, right?

More than two-thirds of the population are not designed to “prove themselves” to others, and still, this is what most of them (us) do all the time…

This is why I am compiling this article. I want to keep it concise, so bullet points and lists rather than my usual long personal contemplation are ahead. Yet, I am still adding some examples and insights.

Figuring out which one you have can seriously up your game in the business world.

Why the Will Center Matters for Marketing & Business

The Will Center is like your business compass. It guides how you approach:

• Willpower and Drive: How consistently you can push through projects and stay motivated and where that motivation comes from.
• Self-Worth and Confidence: How much you believe in your abilities and the value you bring to the table. If and how your environment and those in it affect how you feel about yourself.
• Resource Management: How you handle finances, time, and other essential resources for your business.
• Commitments and Promises: How reliable you are in delivering on your word to clients and partners. Well, it is not that you are unreliable if you have an undefined Will Center. But we are talking about the need for flexibility vs non-negotiable commitments.

Understanding your Will Center means you can play to your strengths, dodge common pitfalls, and make decisions that truly align with your business goals and dreams.

Defined Will Center: The Powerhouse

If your Will Center is defined (colored in on your Human Design chart), you’re a powerhouse of willpower. In short, this means:

• You’re a natural goal-setter and achiever.
• You can have a strong sense of confidence, which can be a huge asset in sales and negotiations – especially when you want it, believe in it, and feel good about it.
• You’re good at taking charge and managing resources.
• You manifest through sheer determination and hard work. Your willpower is incredible (when your heart is in it). Just remember to avoid tying your self-worth to the outcome.

But even powerhouses have their kryptonite:

• Burnout: You might push yourself too hard, leading to exhaustion.
• Self-Worth Tied to Success: Your confidence might take a hit if things don’t go as planned.
• Rigidity: You might struggle to adapt to change fast.

The defined Will Center is like a bargaining center for goals. For the Will Center to be activated and provide energy, the goal needs to be personally meaningful and worthy to you. It’s not just about any goal, but one that is worth spending your energy on.

When something is asked of you that doesn’t personally resonate, it becomes very difficult to activate the Will Center, because it only gives energy when the goal aligns with what is meaningful to YOU. The Will Center is constantly evaluating – “Is this something worth achieving for me?”

If the goal stops feeling worthy or meaningful to you personally, then the available energy from the Will Center dries up. This is when apathy can set in, because there is no longer that internal drive and energy behind the goal.

One of the key things to understand about the Will Center in Human Design is that it is a motor center that operates in pulses. It is either ON, and you have access to all those amazing powerhouse gifts, or it is OFF, and you feel like even getting out of bed is a waste of time.

This is where the awareness that all you need is to allow the Will Center to recharge before it goes on again and take a lot of rest and self-care is key.

And you cannot push it even though it will probably make you so annoyed at yourself when the OFF period suddenly happens. Just imagine that your Human Design Will Center is one of these devices that has to be charged to 100% before it can be switched on again.

So “plug it in” and relax into the flow of life before the next burst of energy.

How to Thrive with a Defined Will Center Human Design in Business:

With a defined Will Center, you’re the powerhouse of the business world. When you really want something to happen, you’ve got consistent energy and determination, which means you’re great at setting goals and sticking to them.

But here’s the catch: You might push yourself too hard and burn out, or you might tie your self-worth to how well your business does. It’s super important to balance that drive with some self-care.

Here’s how to play to your strengths:

• Plan Like a Pro: Use your natural drive to create a solid business plan with clear steps. Break down those big goals into smaller, manageable tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed. Think of it as setting up a series of mini-wins that keep you motivated without draining you.
• Delegate Smart: You don’t have to do everything yourself! Identify tasks that others can handle and trust them to do it. Not only will this free up your time, but it will also give your team members a chance to shine. Remember, sometimes it’s about building a strong team, not always being a one-person show. Especially when it comes to executing your brilliant ideas; for example, if you are a Manifestor and the implementation or, more so, seeing it through to completion is not your natural strength.
• Price with Confidence: You know the value you bring, so don’t be afraid to price your products or services accordingly. Communicate that value to your customers so they understand why you’re worth it.
• Remember Self-Care: Seriously, this is non-negotiable. Schedule regular breaks, take time off, and do things that make you happy outside of work. Your business will thrive even more when you’re rested and refreshed.
• Commit Ethically: Keep your promises to clients and partners. Integrity builds trust and long-term relationships. And you are good at it but do not overcommit. Respect your boundaries and energy levels. Make sure you’re setting realistic expectations so you can deliver on what you promise.

Undefined Will Center: The Adaptable Strategist

If your Will Center is undefined or open (white on your chart), you’re:

• Highly receptive to the needs of your market and clients.
• Great at offering objective advice and seeing the big picture.
• Able to amplify the energy of those around you, making you a valuable team player.
• You manifest by being adaptable and open to opportunities. Resist the urge to prove yourself; instead, trust your intuition. Be open to receiving as you take inspired action to execute small steps toward your bigger dreams and desires.

However, open or undefined Will Centers can face challenges:

• Imposter Syndrome: You might doubt your abilities and feel like you need to constantly prove yourself. Even when everyone else and everything else indicates the opposite!
• Seeking External Approval: You might rely too much on others’ opinions, which can cloud your judgment. Practicing self-recognition is key for your design. You may also do more just to be appreciated, which never really works that way and can leave you exhausted, bitter, and frustrated. Interestingly, I find that “getting a kick in the butt” in some situations in my life has been good for me to prove I am not “as bad as they think.” I also know that I need to evaluate if this ass-kicking is for my own good or if it is some kind of frustrated criticism that has nothing to do with me. Naturally, with the latter, I just choose to ignore it.
• Competition Traps: You might get caught up in trying to outdo others, which can drain your energy. I find that sometimes getting competitive was actually a good trigger to complete a project, for example, and pushed me into action, but I am always very careful evaluating if I really have the resources and the energy to follow through. If I do not feel I have it, I choose to pass.

One more note on the connection between self-worth and your environment. When you have an undefined or open Will Center, people in your world will directly affect how you feel about yourself and the value you bring. Incorrect people are toxic for you, so be mindful if any negative feedback is given or someone undermines you, as it will affect you in a very unpleasant way when it comes from an incorrect person. In fact, because this is a motor center, you can also feel completely exhausted as a result of such interactions or situations.

Surround yourself with people who you trust, who inspire you, who see and recognize you, and do not hesitate to remove those who do not. You cannot afford to have them in your life. Your responsibility is to create an environment where only people who are energetically correct are allowed.

Growing thicker skin, becoming more confident in yourself, and not compromising your values happen as a result.

The “Not-Self” Trap for Undefined Will Centers

For those with an undefined Will Center, the biggest trap is feeling like you need to prove your worth through your business. This can lead to:

• Taking on too much work to impress clients.
• Discounting your services to win over customers.
• Feeling crushed when you don’t meet unrealistic expectations.

With an undefined or open Will Center in your Human Design, you’re the adaptable innovator, able to sense opportunities and connect with people easily. However, you might struggle with consistent motivation, or you might compare yourself to the competition and lose confidence. Remember, your strength lies in your flexibility and your ability to understand what others need.

Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Partner Up: Find someone whose strengths complement yours so you can achieve more together. It does not have to be a peer or an assistant. It can also be a mentor to add a form of accountability. Just make sure they are not rigid in holding you accountable. You need flexibility.
• Get Creative with Marketing: Use your natural adaptability to create marketing campaigns that really resonate. Experiment with different messages and approaches to see what works best. The key is to be authentic and true to your values. Build trust with your customers by being open and honest. Share your story, your values, and your commitment to making a difference. People connect with authenticity, so let your true self shine.
• Price with Confidence: Do your research, know your worth, and price your products or services accordingly. Don’t undervalue what you offer. Also, check out what others are charging so you get a good idea. You deserve to be compensated fairly for your skills and expertise. But beware of following other people’s directives on what you should be charging. If you feel your pricing feels comfortable for the stage of business you are at, the realistic income goals, or how much effort you are prepared to put in, that is what you should charge. If your prices are too high to feel comfortable, you risk sliding into the “proving your worth” energy. If it is too low, you will end up feeling resentful towards your offers. Find a sweet spot that feels good. As you grow, you can play with your prices and do not feel bad raising them and lowering them again if you need to, as you are discovering where that sweet spot is.
• Manage Your Energy: Remember to prioritize rest and self-care. Don’t let the pressure to succeed drain your energy. Take breaks, recharge, and engage in activities that inspire you. You will not miss out, and people will not value you less if you take time for self-care.

I have a completely open Will Center. A sales coach once told me, “Juliette, your program sounds like it is absolutely worth $$$$, so all you need is five clients. Come back to me next week with good news; I believe in you”.

He had a defined Will Center in his design, by the way. But for me, there were three big misalignments in his request.

1. He told me what to charge. It was challenging for me; it did not feel safe or justified. My self-worth was quite low at the time.
2. He told me how many clients to recruit, which means a target, which means it was not a flexible objective.
3. He gave me a deadline, which again was not flexible, and I felt like my worth depended on me hitting it.

Not only did I not bring five clients, I got paralyzed and did not show up the next week. This paralysis lasted 6 months, and it stopped me from not only selling but showing up and promoting my business altogether. It also ended the Show Up! Stand Out! podcast I ran for almost 3 years with hundreds of interviews recorded (and which was one of my best discoverability and client nurturing tools at that time, too). It was the scariest time in almost a decade of running my online business.

You see, how by understanding your Human Design Will Center and tailoring your approach, you can create a business that is both successful and fulfilling – because it will be a business that works for you and suits your design. So, you can cherry-pick what you want from anyone else’s strategy and create your own unique path to prosperity and success.