2 weeks ago I knew nothing about the Myers Briggs test. I was a regular gal going about my day to day life, fixing things, figuring out stuff and eating potato chips. Sometimes I'd break for 5 minutes to pet my cats.
Now I am thinking of marrying the Myers Briggs test. It will be a simple ceremony. Just me, the test and probably a few reporters because someone marrying a test is kind of big news. Once when I was working on the Jerry Springer show someone tried to marry a horse, but I don't think anyone has ever married a test before. A test is a much smarter thing to marry since it can't kick you in the head plus you don't need to have its feet looked after.
In case you missed my post from last week where I introduced the Myers Briggs test here's a little rundown. The Myers Briggs assessment puts all people into 1 of 16 categories based on how they feel and react to different situations basically. Each person fits into one of those categories which are each represented by 4 letters.
Confused yet? I'm doing an excellent job of making something very simple seem very confusing. I'm good like that.
Your type is decided by whether you are an Introvert or an Extrovert. A Sensing person or an Intuitive person. A Thinking of Feeling person. And finally a Judging or Perceiving person.
Here's the test if you weren't around to take it when I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago.
These are the 16 types and just some random one word description of the type.
This is a *slightly* more in depth look at the types.
So ... I'm an INTJ. Which means I’m an Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Judging kind of person. I found that out 2 weeks ago, prior to my whirlwind engagement to the test. That's just the most basic assessment of the type. There are pages and pages written about whatever type you are. Everything from how to deal with people who aren't your type to what kind of job you should have because of your type.
INTJs are very rare. How rare? Female INTJs are the rarest of all the personality types. I am a female INTJ.
0.5% of all woman are INTJ. And only 1.5% of the entire population (men and women included) are INTJ.
Which makes my next statement extraordinary.
28% of The Art of Doing Stuff readers who took the test were INTJ. Statistically that means pretty much every INTJ female out there is reading this website. Even the men were INTJs. Like reader Cussot said, this site is an INTJ magnet.
Here's a rundown of all the types that read my site and took the test the other week so you can see how rare or popular your type is around these parts.
I'm thinking of wearing white. Don't judge.
As it turns out, Penelope Trunk, the woman whose test I linked to last week caught wind of my post and read it along with all of the comments. She emailed me to say #1 she was AMAZED at how many INTJs were hiding out here and #2 she asked if she could interview me during one of her Myers Briggs online courses about being an INTJ who is running her own business.
Penelope holds online video courses, many of which are on the Myers Briggs types. She let me watch one of them last week so I could learn more about what it means to be an INTJ. What my assets are, where I might have trouble. Apparently an INTJ is brilliant, can get almost anything, is pretty much always right ... but everyone hates to work with them. So it's a good thing I work alone. Mainly because I think most other people are incompetent. Also not my fault ... just a trait of being an INTJ.
When I told Penelope how much I loved her video course I blurted out that I'd like to share it with you folks. Penelope runs these seminars for money. For cash money. It's her job. So to ask her to let you watch one for free was kind of pushing my luck but she agreed.
So for the first time ever, for just The Art of Doing Stuff community, here is one of Penelope Trunk's videos on the different Myers Briggs types and what they mean. In this particular course she talks about which personality types are the complete nut jobs, which types are most likely to commit which type of crime and other fun and interesting things that pretty much every person should know.
Click here to watch Penelope Trunks Personalty Type Master Class - Session 1
You'll be asked for a password. The password is "stuff" (don't include the quotes)
Like it? Addicted to it? Need more? I know the feeling. And I know a LOT of you were interested in this when I posted about it. Here's the link if you're interested in taking this course from Penelope, which is The Personality Type Master Class. Understand you, your coworkers, your family, everyone! And learn to deal with them better.
So the interview! Penelope is hosting another course specifically for INTJs. It's a 4 day live, online video course called Best Practices for Leveraging INTJ strengths. She will be interviewing me during one of them. You wanna learn more about it? Maybe sign up for it? You can do so here.
Not an INTJ? Don't worry. If we were all INTJs the world would be a boring (though incredibly productive) place. If you liked the look of it you can take the
Now go away. I have a wedding to plan.
[shareaholic app="share_buttons" id="5342563"]
Leisa
Just took it and I too am INTJ - pretty amazing, definitely want to learn more
Tigersmom
I'm a lucky ISFJ who learned the importance of saying "no" fairly early.
Apparently we are the most common type and I'm ok with that because I know that even though my personality type is a common one, I am not common. (Must be my freakishly strong self-preservation instincts.)
As always, you have my continued support. ; )
Katie
I share your enthusiasm for this type of "stuff". What I have found most interesting is that my "type" has not changed over the years. Every once in a while I take the test again just for fun (first time when I was 21, and now it's 20 years later...and I ALWAYS get the same results, no matter what version I take, no matter what I am going through in life, so I am a true believer in the validity of the research behind it. Therefore you have my blessing for your wedding. Hey check out the book "Please Understand Me II" by David Keirsey, a fascinating and fast read you just won't be able to put down. In addition to full explanations of each personality type, Keirsey shares insight about parenting, mating, and leadership for the different types.
Love ya - keep doing what you're doing!
Sincerely, INF/TJ (F/T always tied!)
P.S.-Thank you for arranging the opportunity to see Penelope Trunk's video.
Roxy
Apparently, I also am an INTJ. I think we need a secret handshake or something... Well maybe not if we are introverted...
FlagirlinTN
I am also an INTJ. I didn't comment after taking the test so your percentage may go up. I laughed at the part where you described a person that is really good at doing stuff, but people hate working with them. Describes me to a tee. Probably because I have little patience in waiting for people to do things right and would rather just jump in and do it myself and know it's right. I agree with the person who says computers have brought us all out. The "flies on the wall" can take part, but still be where we are comfortable. Thanks for explaining me to me!
Kim
I'm ESF, not really surprised. Can't wait to check out all the info on types!
Erika
Hi Karen,
well I would LOVE to get my results, and filled out twice, but on the last page the "send me the results" button is not working!
Erin
I had the same problem
Carol
Erin and Erika, try using a different browser. I had the same problem when I used an older version of IE but then tried the test on Chrome and it worked fine.
Karen
Hmm. It may have been too busy with everyone here trying. That's just a guess though. ~ karen!
Jackie
INTJ here too!
tajicat
I took the test, wanted to be INTJ, I wasn't, I'm ENFJ. Oh well, it does sound like me. :)
Grammy
I took the test when you posted it and wasn't surprised that I am an INTJ, but when we were all posting our results I had no idea that classification is rare, so it didn't seem odd that there were so many of us here. I asked my husband to take it and didn't tell him what my results were till he had his results in hand.
We are both INTJ types. We just looked at each other and said, "Well, that explains a lot." We thought our marriage was a very good one. Now we both keep recalling every single time we ran into a bump because of some insignificant thing that wouldn't have been anything at all except for our unnatural pairing. We've been living this hell for nearly forty years. We didn't know it was hell till you and your little quiz came along.
For all you kids out there, save yourselves before it's too late! Don't let Karen's winsome ways and good sense of humor and great tips fool you. She's running a cult. How else can you explain the skewed statistics showing every human female of a certain type is here. Watching you. Judging. Taking notes...
Karen
LOL!! ~ karen
Peggy
Hmmm. I'm an INTJ too. Explains a lot about how and why I think the way I do; not typical of most people. I'm happy to be one of the unique ones, though. Cheers to you, Karen, another INTJ........
Tracie
How fascinating! I just discovered that my brother-in-law is an INTJ. He also has an eidetic memory. I will have to share this with my sister, so she might be able to finally understand what she has had to deal with all these years. ;) You guys can be tough to figure out. I am an ISFP. My sister is quite unique too, but will have to investigate further for hers. I know she shares some of his traits, which is why they get along. Thank you so much Karen, this is impressive stuff...and was that a big bottle of wine Penelope was swilling? Please say it was...;)
Karen
I think it was, yes, lol. ~ karen!
Nancy W
I took it twice as I was skeptical (part of being INFP) and I got the same result, 2 weeks apart. I'm a believer now, so you go ahead and marry that test. Congrats!
Paula
The results of your 'survey' are very interesting in that, the majority of your readers are introverts. Do you think this has to do with introverts being attracted to the anonymity of the computer? Extroverts are too busy 'being out there' face to face with 'real' (I use this term loosely) people?
Rondina
If introverts are at home being anonymous, this gives them time to "get things done." Wasn't the subject matter of Karen's blog one of the reasons you first signed up?
She talks very fast.
ESFP
YvonneM
OMG! I took the test a few days ago, and I'm INTJ as well. I've loved your blog from the first time I read it and I don't think I've missed even one posting - it's your sense of humour, biting wit, refusal to let the tough stuff get you down and your off - the - wall attitude to life that keeps me coming back. Continue with the wonderful work Karen, we INTJs really appreciate it!
Karen
Thanks Yvonne! It's really, really remarkable so many INTJs found this site! ~ karen
Martin
OMG im a middle aged married Australian male and I'm a INTJ, perhaps we need local INTJ support chapters to get together and compare notes!!
Karen
So strange, lol. ~ karen!
Brodee
Haha, Martin I too am an Australia, Male, INTJ. We should establish a chapter for us 1%!
mia pratt
I need to research your results, Karen, because you are indeed interesting...dare I say, borderline fascinating? In a "can't look away" kind of way, hahahaha! I am an INFP; which would confirm my parents' labeling of me as a "black sheep" when I was in high school. I think the truest statement in the analysis for me was that "I wanted to be invited to the party but it was likely that I wouldn't go." Hahahaha, yes, I actually attend about 3 times out of ten invitations, but if I'm not invited - I feel a pang of black-sheepiness<:}
Janet
Fellow INFP here. Your story is liking reading my biography. <3
Laura Bee
I feel the same way. We INFP's just feel too much. Sigh.
Barbie
WHOOPS! I went back to check if I commented....I DID! OMG! ESFJ.....and THIS is why I hated the result! I am definitely taking this test again. In the morning......
Barbie
I took the test when you posted it back whenever....but can't remember what I was.....I don't think I agreed with it and thought perhaps I was too tired when I took it and didn't take my time answering the questions and rushed through. Think I will go back now and do it again. Pretty sure I didn't comment on what it said I was because I didn't agree with it! lol
Deb Ketchum
one of the 9% peeking round the door and waving fondly *:)
JMC
Me too Deb. We're even rarer than Karen it seems. Should we be scared?
Shanelle
Me three! 1% of the population (of the world?) - *eyes wide with amazement
Feeling pretty special today :)
INTJ gal
That percentage is inclusive of all genders. Female INTJs currently only make up approximately .8% of the population. At 1.3%, the rarest type for males is INFJ. (According to this site: http://www.slayerment.com/mbti-gender)
INTJ gal
Can't edit my comment for typos...that should read "1.6%" for males.