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"]
Ila
Another INTJ woman here. Im more of an ambivert, the E sometimes peeps in. But its true, I can be a chatterbox if it is something truly interesting like say international politics, human physiology, organic chemistry...
Peter Hartley
Lol 29% now lol another INTJ checking in. I find that chart sooo fascinating. Also, can you put a list up of all the girl INTJs up so I can develop a complex pattern to be able to target them in everyday life so I can finally find Mrs. Right. Thanks! (Jk they would probably think that's suuppper creepy)
Karen
They would. :) It's funny that this site seems to be an INTJ magnet. ~ karen!
kathryn
dare i suggest that a higher proportion of (female) INTJs than of other types is commenting on these posts because we would all like to think that we are a rare member of what is not only of a particularly select group, but one that also contains the almighty cult-leader, ahem, sorry, i mean the almighty Karen?! "sadly", i don't get to join that gang - i sometimes come out as INTP and sometimes INFP - one of which must be wrong according to the very entertaining Penelope's proclamation that you can't vary between F & T. all fascinating - thank you oh Great Artistic Stuff-Doer, much appreciated!
k x
Debi
Over the past twenty years, I've consistently tested as an INTJ, though I've moved more toward the feeling side. I posted an INTJ sign in my classroom and kids from AP psych who are also INTJ always say something about it. We may be rare, but we're proud...and we'll never unite, will we?
SeaDee
I've been in Japan for fourvv weeks so I'm still catching up on posts! Whose wedding are you planning???
Glo
I just found this blog following a link from Pinterest. I'm also an INTJ, and have known that since 1990 when my workplace had everyone tested. It seems that online draws more INTJ attention because of the natural intellectual curiosity we all have. We'd rather be thinking and learning than doing other things.
Kristi
Another INTJ reader right here :)
Mara
I've taken this test a few years ago and took it again today and still the same.
INTJ!
Carol Scoates
Took my first Myers Briggs over 20 years ago. I haven’t always been an INTJ. My T and F have switched around a few times. Divorced, single Mom, happily married blended family. Now we are happy empty nesters. For those who have had a few changes in their test results over the years, was it while in the throes of raising children?? Those pesky little people can really mess with us.
I was raised with the 7 P’s. Proper Prior Planning etc. I live by it and have raised all the kids with this mantra on the fridge. I thought it was the way the world should operate. And have always been disappointed. Now I realize it’s an INTJ thing.
Penley
OK I too, like a some other commenters, took the test a while back but didn't comment. Did it again this time around just to be sure. INTJ here as well. After this post I went and looked at the personality traits and fortunately (and unfortunately) they seemed to be pretty spot on! I found the stuff about drawing energy from either other people or from time alone (the I vs E part I think) most interesting - when framed that way, I could really see that aspect of my partner who is ENTP, who draws energy from being around other people, versus myself who really needs down/alone time quite often. Interesting stuff!
Kim
INFJ de-lurking....
danee
Hi Kim, I'm an infj too, need all night and all weekend to wind down from talking to people at work. I'd ask you over for a coffee but I have a feeling you'ld say you had other plans.
Kim
LOL! Not necessarily Danee....I am sometimes quite social....depends on when you catch me!
Carol
After reading this I had to tell you I took the test a couple of weeks ago shortly after reading your post - to my surprise I was also INTJ. But I'm convinced it must be wrong, think i need to take the test again… ~ Carol
Karen
LOL. What do you think you are? Even though we've never met in person (weird) I could see you as an INTJ. ~ karen!
magali
I'm an ENFJ and the description is quite accurate. I just watched the webinar and it was very interesting and fun, thank you to you and Penelope for sharing that! Pretty much everything she said about ENFJ confirmed that it is my type. I now understand better why even though I never purposely got into the non profit sector in the first place, I have chosen to remain in this sector!
nettie
So weird, I just took this and I am INFJ.
gabrielle
Karen, I have to tell you that I was also classified INTJ as part of my exit strategy from Homewood. (I am bi-polar, had my own biz for 25 years until PTSD crashed me.) Unfortunately, knowing this has not been terribly useful, altho initially it did make me feel special which is nice. Here is what the wikipedia has to say about meyers-briggs:
"Although very popular in businesses around the world, the MBTI is also widely criticised by academics for its methodological weaknesses, poor statistical validity and low reliability."
(BTW, businesses tend to discourage high-creative types like us - I was an independent, solo artist before I crashed and burned - which is why INTJ values are considered so rarified).
If you want to learn more about this 1940's test Jungian-influenced test, follow the link and don't forget to read 'criticism':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers%E2%80%93Briggs_Type_Indicator
Karen
Hi Gabrielle, yes, I mentioned that in the first post I did on Myers Briggs. ~ karen
Kay
Interesting! I, too, am a female INTJ. I have taken the test before, though, and sometimes I swerve into INTP territory. I am slightly disappointed that, as an actual music composer... I'm not classified as a "composer" apparently.
lavacha
INTP/J here. I loved the webinar, thanks!
Kate Budacki
Hi, I am another INTJ and really am enjoying this, as well as your blog entirely.
I listened to part of Penelope's webinar and wanted to wring her neck. I wonder if that is the I or the N or the T or the J ? in any case, thanks for giving us some additional info on this very interesting subject. Penelope was just a little too free range for my taste, but I might just do some more research. Best practices - I could use some. :-)
Karen
Thanks Kate! It must just be a personality thing because I love Penelope's ramblings and offshoots, lol. So it's neither the INT or the J. Maybe I was in more need of a distraction from work! ~ karen
Michelle in Htown
I took this the first time you posted, and I ran it again just now for good measure. Once again: INTJ. Is this thing rigged like all those Facebook quizzes where we all end up with the same storm type or something??
It makes perfect sense since I'm a writer, an ad agency traffic manager and have always enjoyed eating alone if I have a book! My first boss once told me I'd better be careful to not hold everyone to the same (high) standards I hold myself or I'd alienate people my entire career. Good advice, and spot on for an INTJ. I'll be taking that course, even though video courses make me twitchy (I'd rather be reading them ...).
Cheers!
Alicia
Whatta surprise - another INTJ here!