similarminds.com

[meta]

Post descriptions or anecdotes of your personality type here.

[Kate]

Well, I'm an INTP myself, but in my experience, I often find myself madly attracted to ENTJ's. It's mainly their extreme charisma and drive coupled with the ability to think logically. Quite disturbingly, I've dated an extremely high number of ENTJ's, but the relationships were always strained.

[tim505]

[TCaudillLG]

...Well, I see this list of ENTJ traits, and on the outside they seem very positive. What they don't emphasize, however, are the consequences of those traits tomorrow.

Most young ENTJs that I have met were extremely lustful for power, and ruthless in their quest for ideological dominance. ENTJs believe, as I see it, that the democratic will of the group is the best course of action. They seem to fail the realization that their own dominance can be a driving force in the adoption of their plan by the entire group. ENTJs too often don't study a problem under their own power before attacking it. In so doing they defeat an issue only to bury the seeds of a new one. An endless struggle, in other words, that just to my mind leaves the bodies of its fallen to the ages, while the fearless leader marches onward with a plan for today, but never for tomorrow.

It's not wrong to think on one's own power, to accumulate knowledge. The price of the accumulation is ostracism (led by my extroverted alter-egos, no less) and moments of shadowy conflict when my visions fail to materialize in the minds of those I would enlist. This is the life of an INTJ. It's not perfect by any means, but it's not evil. I know that I should struggle for balance between mental conflict with others and my own intellectual progress, and I do. ...I wish more ENTJs would begin their side of the struggle earlier on... but that's the world: for every good, some bad.

[tim505]

My fellow NTJ, there are plenty of ENTJs who do not behave that way. Maybe you haven't recognized them yet. It's always difficult to determine type externally. I do see some validity in your comments and have observed this in some ENTJs, but I haven't seen this in most.

The questions thus are:

What method did you use in establishing type? 1) Typewatching or 2) relying on these people's disclosure of their MBTI type? or 3) both

a) If 1) - Are you sure you have identified correctly those people as ENTJ?
b ) If 1) - There might be other ENTJs you haven't suspected out there
c) If 2) - What is the size of your sample?


It is not *that* obvious to type ENTJs. For example, most people don't suspect I am ENTJ. Even though my preferences are: moderate E, very strong N and T, moderate J (official MBTI test).

To what extent can people mistype? Or is it a validity problem with the model/test? At one point I was interested in seeing to what extent an MBTI test was valid, and see if people very close to me would score me correctly. So I asked them to do it for me and here are the results:

Girlfriend (type from test - ISFJ): scored me as ENTP (borderline P/J)
Friend (type from test - ESTP): scored me as INTJ (borderline E/I)
Co-worker (type from test - ISFJ): scored me as ESFJ!!! (extreme E and J)

None of them had prior knowledge of the MBTI. So if you average that you get ENTJ - but none of them got my real type. People seem to type someone as ENTJ whenever that person exhibits directive behavior and dominant attitude. This is not necessarily the case. ENTJs do things *if* it serves a *purpose*.

For example: I'm in a restaurant with 10 friends. The bill comes. People would expect ENTJs to "take charge" of it. From my personal experience of my own behavior and a little sample of self-acclaimed ENTJ (I know 4) (congruent with my
observations), this is NOT necessarily the case. Because taking care of "who pays what" is a boring and stupid task. It's best to leave that to someone else (supposing that person is competent enough to do so). If it cannot be delegated the ENTJ will take charge.

Also, we can look more "I" than we really are at times. I love people and look for interaction, but I don't like endless small talk and rambling about nonsense. So sometimes I just "switch off" and shut-up out of sheer boredom.

We may look more "F" because of our "E" and people oriented attitude.

We may look more "P" because we only organize if it serves a logical purpose. Not for the sake of doing so.

For things that matter to me, that have a direction, a purpose - I have to take charge and normally people acknowledge that and are respectful of my way of doing things. I am considerate of other people's opinions and strive for "the best way" - Whoever comes up with it.

ENTJ's motto could be: "Why, for what use - How to do it best? Where will this bring us?"


_________________
ENTJ

[Guest]

[qoqo]

[qaqa]

[Guest]

I know only one ENTJ, I'm almost certain only one. This person drives me crazy much of the time. Sometimes showers me with affection, sometimes ignores me. But there's definitely a seductive, powerful quality to the ENTJ. Sometimes vulnerable. Complex, appealing. Unique. ......Charming.

[pulnimar]

Bill Nye the Science Guy
MacGyver
Terry Pratchett
A significant amount of teachers (voc/tech), engineers.

My dad is a Te (typed by me as ENTJ). Quite messy, projects going on (I have books/messy desk, he has "stacks"). Has been in the last few years: member of a school board, currently teaching core subjects at local Bryman College, sold his car wash, recently bought the Harley he's wanted for years (delayed gratification, though he could have afforded it anytime), 59 years old.

Former Nuke ET in the Navy (30 years 3 months, retired Command Master Chief), member and former editor of Airplane club, a VP of his union while working in the shipyard, etc.....

Socialistic tendencies in how he works, though his voting is somewhat different. Quick with solutions to immediate problems, lacks foresight/caring? on potential complications. Great instructor, will take people as individuals, and likes teaching them, helping them improve themselves but will refer to arabs as Aye-rabs (though he would treat an individual arab as a fellow person).

[improvisational]

Hello.... a question to all ENTJs

It came out in a test as part of a job interview that I'm classified as an ENTJ. I've recently done a bit of reading on it and it seems pretty accurate.

I wanted to ask other ENTJs on this forum if they feel that because they belong to a minority of the population, they might find it more difficult to relate to people. Without wanting to sound like an ass, I tend to feel very bored in the company of most people in social situations, the conversations nearly always seem trivial and useless, as if we were merely reiterating something we both know already. In the worst cases, sometimes too often, I feel like an adult in the company of children and start developing misanthropistic feelings.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else feels something like this, or any views.

Thanks

[tim505]

I totally relate with what you are saying. I've developed misanthropistic feelings also at certain points in my life. I've never talked about it because I didn't want to look like an ass either :)

I find myself often in the paradoxical situation of wanting to know people, of going towards them, of beeing optimistic about the encounter - only to find myself dissapointed by the lack of any real conversation. It's not just an ENTJ thing. I think all NTs, and Ns, like deep conversations.

I hate superficiality, people not beeing authentic, or avoiding any kind of deep and/or truthful contact. I hate "politics" in organizations - faking impressions and discussing trivial topics just to "pretend" you're friends. People get scared of real conversations. Most people just keep conversations at a neutral level to avoid any kind of conflict. The result? Boredom...
_________________
ENTJ

[improvisational]

Tim505,

Thanks man, that's precisely it, as if people were afraid to connect at an emotional level in all instances, to show their true selves, to show what they really want and think... perhaps it's a self confidence thing. The strangest thing is that a lot of those people can still be very vocal and loud (basically, love talking about anything all the time over other people's voices) but yet become 'frightened' by a real conversation....

[CW]

Wow... I am glad to find someone in the same boat.

I would love to find a group for ENTJ's. It can be so frustrating.

[TheMindMakesItReal]

Well I am only 15 and I think that ENTJ is a very good personality type. I say this because I think that being a leader at this stage in life is most exelent for the rest of life because I want to be an MP or something else to do with the Canadian Government. I like to play many video games and have a most exelent GameCube which I enjoy to play often. Any gamers out there who would like to converse about the many many different games, gaming consoles and many other gaming subjects and of course if you have MSN my address is Evannordli458@msn.com if you are interested of course.





P.S I know I have difficulty spelling but if you would be so kind as to tell me my mistakes for future referance.