The Nutty Professor

I have been restless, lately, and have let my mind feed on a variety of my interests, one of which is my Myers-Briggs personality type. I took a few online tests and read various descriptions and it appears that out of the 16 personality type combinations, I am a confirmed ENTP. “What does that mean?!” you ask? Well, it means that I direct my energy externally (E), process information through intuition (N) and finding patterns (don’t go through entire instructions…I like to wing things), decide on things based on thinking (T), analysis and logic rather than on feelings, and organize my life with perception (P) — exploring, keeping my options open and acting spontaneously. Some categorize this personality type as the “Inventor” or “Visionary.”

While reading more about this type online, it was interesting to see how many of the descriptions very acurately described me. The following are just a few excerpts from the articles I found about my character. I have bolded some of the things that especially resonated with me.

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General

Clever is the word that perhaps describes ENTPs best. The professor who juggles half a dozen ideas for research papers and grant proposals in his mind while giving a highly entertaining lecture on an abstruse subject is a classic example of the type. So is the stand-up comedian whose lampoons are not only funny, but incisively accurate. ENTPs wish to exercise their ingenuity in the world of people and things. They are very alert to what is apt to occur next, and always sensitive to possibilities.

More than other NTs, ENTPs value intense experiences — including emotional experiences — and are less likely than other NTs to attempt to suppress their emotions. When ENTPs are up, they’re on top of the world, facing unlimited possibilities, unbounded horizons, and an exhilarating future. When ENTPs are down, the universe lacks any redeeming qualities, whatsoever.

ENTPs are likely to have all sorts of hobbies and to be experts in unexpected areas. ENTPs have a lively circle of friends and are interested in their ideas and activities. They are usually easy-going, seldom critical or nagging. However, when they feel cornered and feel attacked, they can visciously strike back.

They are aggressive and opportunistic and perform best when trying to win. ENTPs have short attention spans and leave many projects unfinished and goals unreached. They procrastinate, but can often complete a project under time pressure. The more emotions and panic there is around them, the more active and assertive they become. They dislike people who try to control them and they hate hierarchies of power.

ENTPs are creative thinkers who see many ways of getting things done and logically analyze how different choices might turn out.

Growing up

ENTP children get enormous enjoyment out of doing things in unique ways. The concepts of creating and inventing something new is very appealing to them, and, because they are outgoing in their personality style, they often engage others into their projects.

ENTPs tend to have a rational, empirical view of the world and often have a strong and early interest in science and technology.

ENTP teenagers seldom choose a definite career path, as they like to explore all of their options.

As young adults, when ENTPs choose a career for themselves, they tend to set flexible goals that allow them to incorporate new information and accommodate to new circumstances when they come along. It is hard for ENTPs not to be able to explore the road not taken. Their byword is keep your options open. Sometimes this flexibility can look like indecision to outsiders.

Learning

ENTPs are relentless learners. When the subject matter interests them, they are able to find meaning in whatever they are studying. Knowledge is important to them.

They learn through give-and-take discussions and by questioning and challenging others. They are quick, verbal, and logical, preferring to use their skills in interactions with others. ENTPs look at the logical foundations in others’ thinking and build on them to develop their own conceptual systems. They want to be taught concepts rather then facts. Models are important to them. They typically absorb their teacher’s material and present it in a framework that ties all of the elements together.

Recreation

Both at work and at home, ENTPs are very fond of “toys” - physical or intellectual, the more sophisticated the better. They tend to tire of these quickly, however, and move on to new ones.

ENTPs are always seeking out new experiences, new ideas, and new achievements. ENTPs value progress and change, both in their personal lives and in the world as a whole. The idea of a static, unchanging life — appealing to some SJs — is abhorrent to an ENTP.

ENTPs are risk-takers — flying, skydiving, scuba diving, hang gliding, mountain climbing, and fast cars all have a strong appeal for ENTPs. Unlike STP risk-takers, however, ENTPs are less likely to become experts in a particular activity, and more likely to sample a wide variety of different experiences.

Relationships

ENTP’s do not care to spend much of their time or energy making romantic social connections. Not only do they find the rituals of dating slightly absurd, but they seem to have more difficulty than other temperaments engaging in play, which makes dating usually something of a trial or an effort for them. ENTPs may find it difficult to commit to anyone until the right person comes along. During this period, ENTPs explore the closeness until they can be certain that they have looked at all of the possibilities. Because of this, they are not likely to settle down early.

Since ENTP???s are very outgoing, they usually have good friendships with people of all types. With this in mind, ENTP???s usually get along best with those who are intelligent and imaginative. It is with these types of people that ENTP???s can participate in lively debates, which will energize the ENTP.

They have a need to please people and be liked, and are happy to be the focus of attention.

While ENTPs value their personal relationships, they find it easier than some other types to leave those relationships behind. An ESFJ, for example, might be terrified by the thought of leaving all of their friends behind and moving alone to a new city. An ENTP in the same situation may miss those friends, but at the same time be looking forward to the new people, new places, new experiences, and new opportunities they may find in their new environment.

Despite being extroverted which would seemingly make them easy to get to know, in reality ENTP’s are difficult to get to know for their personality structure is characteristically complex and, at times, even hidden from view. This may be a hiding skill that was developed when young. Being of abstract thought (only 15% of the population) they were surrounded by other children who thought differently (had more concrete thought - 85% of the population) than the ENTP did, the ENTP feels isolated from their young companions. However, they also have a need to be extroverted, to be around other people. This places the ENTP youth in a difficult paradoxical position, on one hand, the need to find others with rare abstract thought versus the need to socialize with the available people. Thus they have the skill where they appear to be easy to get to know, but in reality, they hide their more complex, abstract, characteristics and reveal them only to their most trusted relationships.

Career

ENTPs contribute an innovative, versatile, and enterprising approach to work. They view limitations as challenges to be overcome and look for new ways to do things. They prefer the start-up phase of a project rather than the follow through or maintenance phase. Once the project is designed, they prefer to turn it over to someone else. They take initiative and inspire others toward greater accomplishments and challenges.

ENTPs can succeed in a variety of occupations, as long as the job does not involve too much humdrum routine. At this point, they become restless. If a project in which they are engaged is no longer challenging, they tend to lose interest in that project and sometimes fail to follow through - often to the discomfort of colleagues. The worst job for them is working for someone who demands considerable rule following or tries too often to tell or order, rather than make suggestions to the ENTP. Throughout their careers, ENTPs want their work to be enjoyable, with interesting possibilities for applications. Additionally, having their work widely acclaimed and accepted as a unique contribution would be highly gratifying for ENTPs. They also weave in vacations whenever possible and want a flexible work schedule.

Some occupational fields that seem to be more appealing to entertainment, research sciences, law, writing, psychiatry, and other occupations that allow them to be innovative. They usually are outstanding teachers, continuously devising new participative ways to make learning exciting for the students.

Some Famous ENTPs
John Adams
Thomas Edison
Theodore Roosevelt
Walt Disney
Tom Hanks
Steve Jobs

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So, what do you think? Does this sound like me?

If you’re interested in finding out your own personality type there are several online tests out there. Here are just a couple quick and easy freebies…

http://www.personalitytype.com/quiz.html
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp