The Primary Interest meta program helps determine what naturally draws our attention, what keeps us engaged, and what we might find dull. Rather than acting as a filter that removes information, this pattern works more like a sorting mechanism—it helps us organize the information we’ve already noticed.
Sorting vs. Filtering: What’s the Difference?
Let’s say you have a box full of ribbons. Removing the ribbons you dislike is an example of filtering—you’re excluding based on preference. What remains, you can now sort—perhaps by color, texture, or size. Sorting relies on what has already passed through your filters. You can’t sort something that wasn’t noticed in the first place.
Our representational systems—how we process the world through our senses—act as filters. Once filtered, the remaining inputs are sorted based on our internal preferences.
So, if you choose to sort your ribbons by color and look only for red ones, you’ll temporarily ignore attributes like width or material. If your goals shift, you can easily switch categories and begin sorting by texture or another feature. This is how our minds work: we focus based on past associations and early experiences, which build the frameworks we use to prioritize attention.
Most people have one dominant sorting pattern with secondary preferences that influence how they experience the world. For instance, someone who primarily sorts for people and secondarily for activities will interact with the world very differently from someone who focuses on people and information.
Types of Primary Interests
1. People-Oriented Focus
If your primary interest is people, you’re likely sociable, expressive, and energized by interactions. You thrive in roles that involve teamwork, communication, or service, as relationships and human connection are central to your motivation.
2. Place-Oriented Focus
If location is your main area of interest, you tend to be highly aware of your surroundings. The physical setting—where something happens—matters deeply to you. You might favor certain environments and let place heavily influence your decisions.
3. Thing-Oriented Focus
Those who focus on things pay attention to the physical items in their environment. You might enjoy collecting, owning, or appreciating objects. Your sense of value or comfort could be tied to material possessions or tools (like saying, “I love my tablet”).
4. Activity-Oriented Focus
If your attention is drawn to actions and events, you likely have an activity-based motivation. You’re energized by movement and experiences, whether it’s doing things yourself or observing others in action.
5. Information-Oriented Focus
With a strong interest in information, you are likely curious, analytical, and intellectually driven. Learning, discovering new ideas, and understanding complex topics energize you. You might even enjoy diving into data and theory just for the fun of it.
Other Sorting Preferences
In his book “Figuring Out People: Reading People Using Meta Programs”, Michael Hall adds two more types of primary interests:
- System-Oriented – Focused on understanding how things work together or fit into larger structures.
- Time-Oriented – Driven by timelines, sequences, or the flow of past, present, and future.
As a humorous example, Hall notes his grandson organizes locations by food landmarks: “Keep going straight until you see KFC, turn right past the Chinese place—it’s across from the fish and chip shop.”