In a living system, agents can be divided into three main types: the Builder, the Maintainer, and the Discarder.

The Builder is the one who builds, makes, and creates. The Builder values what is new and different the most. This type is drawn to change, novelty, and the creation of something that was not there before. In practice, the Builder shows up as the person who starts new projects, suggests new ideas, or creates new structures. The Builder’s focus is on bringing something new into the system.

The Maintainer is the one who maintains, preserves, and takes care of what already exists. The Maintainer values what is already there the most. This type is drawn to stability, continuity, and reliability. In practice, the Maintainer is the person who keeps things running, looks after existing processes, and makes sure systems do not fall apart. The Maintainer’s focus is on protecting and supporting what has already been built.

The Discarder is the one who throws away, removes, and scraps what is not needed. The Discarder values what is no longer needed being taken out of the system. This type is drawn to cleaning up, simplifying, and making space. In practice, the Discarder is the person who says, “We don’t need this anymore,” who shuts down old projects, and who removes things that no longer have value. The Discarder’s focus is on clearing out what the system can do without.

All three agent types are necessary in a living system. Without Builders, nothing new appears. Without Maintainers, what exists falls apart. Without Discarders, the system fills up with things that are no longer needed. Understanding these three roles can help us see our own tendencies more clearly and notice which type might be missing or undervalued in the systems we are part of.