You Don’t Have to Win This One: Pottery for Presence and Joy (Enneagram Type 3 – The Achiever)

For the ever-driven Type 3, pottery is an invitation to pause the hustle, breathe deeply, and create for the joy of it—not the applause.

Enneagram Type 3s are ambitious, goal-oriented, and success-driven. They’re often admired for their confidence and work ethic, but beneath the surface can wrestle with burnout, self-worth tied to productivity, and fear of failure. At The Clay Hole in Draper, Utah, we offer something many Type 3s didn’t realize they were craving: a space with no scoreboard. Just clay, creativity, and the freedom to show up as your whole self.

In our weekly classes, there are no performance metrics. Just progress, presence, and (surprise!) play. Whether you're focused on perfecting your piece or laughing through a glaze spill, pottery gives Type 3s a different kind of win: peace.

What are the best hobbies for the Enneagram Type 3?

Achievers love hobbies that showcase skill, build confidence, and offer visible results. Common Type 3 hobbies include:

  • Competitive sports or fitness challenges
  • Public speaking or debate
  • Leadership training or self-development
  • Photography or videography
  • Entrepreneurial side projects
  • High-performance goal tracking

While these hobbies energize their drive, pottery offers something more rare—and more needed: space to connect with their *unfiltered* self. A place where mistakes are expected, where joy comes in slow creation, and where no one’s keeping score. Type 3s flourish when they stop striving and start *feeling*—and clay leads the way.

Many ENTJs and ENFJs also find pottery to be the perfect counterbalance to their productivity-driven lives.

Why pottery is perfect for Type 3s

Pottery helps Type 3s:

  • Unplug from achievement pressure
  • Connect with others in a non-competitive space
  • Practice imperfection as growth
  • Experience creativity without performance
  • Feel grounded, relaxed, and real

At The Clay Hole, there’s no need to impress—just come as you are. Clay doesn’t care what you accomplish. It just asks you to be present.

“I didn’t realize how tightly I was gripping my identity until I sat at the wheel. Pottery taught me how to breathe again. To be human again. And that’s a different kind of success.”
– Clay Hole Member (Type 3)
“I love how freeing this studio feels. I come here to fail on purpose. To learn without pressure. To play. It’s been life-changing.”
– Studio Regular

FAQs about pottery for Enneagram Type 3s

What if I want to get really good at pottery?
You absolutely can! But here, we value joy and progress over perfection. You’ll get better—and feel better, too.

Is this a productive use of my time?
Yes, in the most soul-filling way. It restores your energy, clears your mind, and supports long-term growth.

Can I do pottery with friends?
Definitely. Many Type 3s thrive when sharing the experience with a buddy or two.

Read all FAQs →

Conclusion

If you’re a Type 3, give yourself the gift of slowing down. Of making for the sake of making. Pottery is your invitation to become—not just achieve. And at The Clay Hole, you’ll be surrounded by others doing the same.

Explore Membership Options

Find us on social media

Dan Pearce and The Clay Hole have nearly 3 million followers across platforms. Follow for often hilarious, often very helpful pottery videos!

Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Find us at our studio