It can take years to really get to know someone. That’s why it’s natural to wonder what someone’s true character is, especially when you make a new friend as an adult or when you’re in the early stages of dating.

As you meet people, you only have a brief moment to trust your gut during that first impression, but you’re not always right, and trusting isn’t easy. A confidence coach doesn’t think you need more than 30 seconds to get a good read on a newbie, however, and she’s sharing the 1-question test that can help you decipher a person’s true character.

A confidence coach shared the 1-question test to help you determine the kind of character a person has within seconds.

Laura Eiman is a confidence coach who won a gold medal at the Olympics in weightlifting at the age of 64. On her websiteEiman said, “Confidence begins by changing your mindset — your attitude about yourself and the world around you. Most coaches don’t teach mindset skills. It’s hard and time-consuming. They teach quick fixes. I don’t.  You will learn confidence strategies that serve you the rest of your life!”

Eiman is also popular on TikTok, with over 121,000 followers on the app, where she goes by the username @confidencecoachforwomen. She recently shared “a tip I’ve been using for decades” to teach people how to quickly size up the character of others. “Ask yourself this one question about them,” she said. “Does this person want to be right all the time, or does this person want to be happy all the time?”

Eiman’s method is simple and can work in a variety of situations. She suggested applying it to things like first dates and job interviews. Instances when you are meeting someone for the first time and don’t have long to learn about them. “Ask yourself this question after your date, or after your job interview,” she stated. “It will give you a clear indication as to what this person’s character is like.”

: College Professor Can Immediately Tell If Someone Will Be Successful In Life By 3 Characteristics

A person who wants to be right all the time is not the kind of person you want to be around.

Eiman offered some sage advice regarding which kind of people you should seek to surround yourself with. “I stay away from people who want to be right all the time,” she said. “They’re kind of narcissistic. The world revolves around them. They’re always playing the blame game on you. They’re never taking responsibility. Who wants to be around them?”

If a person wants to be right all the time, chances are they are most concerned with themself. After all, being right all the time really only benefits the person who is right. Psychology Today dove deeper into how the “blame game” affects relationships. Jamie Cannon, MS, LPC, wrote, “Problems arise when you are involved in a heated debate with someone who is a pro at blaming others — and individuals who always need to be right have likely mastered this skill.”

“Recognizing ahead of time that they will probably try to blame you, or at a minimum avoid taking responsibility for their own words or actions, can remove some of the sting when it actually happens.” Better yet, you can use Eiman’s test and avoid engaging with these kinds of people altogether, or at least limit your interactions to more surface friendships.

And while Eiman’s test is true in terms of making a quick judgment about someone, like with everything in life, it doesn’t always tell the whole picture. Therapist Karyl McBride, Ph.D., told Men’s Health“People who always need to be right tend to have fragile egos.” She went on to explain that it’s usually a “coping mechanism” to help them deal with feelings of insecurity. For that reason alone, perhaps it’s not exactly the infallible judgment Eiman made it out to be.

: 5 Things Husbands Of High Character Do For Their Wives, According To Psychology

Not everyone is on board with the confidence coach’s method for sizing up a person’s character.

A look at the comments section on Eiman’s video showed a pretty sharp divide between her and other TikTok users. “Kind of a broad assumption,” one person wrote. “I wanna be happy, and I’m only happy when I’m right,” another said. A third person chimed in and said, “I stay away from both! It’s impossible to do either.”

the stock company | Shutterstock

However, other commenters agreed with Eiman and appreciated her tips. “I like this lady!” someone wrote. Another person expressed their gratitude to Eiman and said, “Thanks for the newfound way of making friends.” “She’s on point,” a third person said.

While some may think that Eiman’s advice is too easy, or, at least, too general, it’s not a bad idea to consider what is most important to a person when deciding what you want your association to be with them moving forward. Even if that means determining quickly whether they are a blamer or not.

Just be careful when making a 30-second judgment — you might not be right all the time!

: The Common Assumption That Will Throw A Great Relationship Into A Tailspin, Says Psychology