Your Personality Type and Entrepreneurship: Do They Jive?

I went to visit a church client of ours last week and as I was leaving, I can't help but noticed that their receptionist/secretary was so focused on what she's doing while the Senior Pastor (my personal favorite client) was watching her and waiting for her to get done. I guess he asked her to type something up for him. I complimented her and for some reason my client mentioned how he thinks my personality is choleric. He went on to say that I have a strong character and that I have no problem saying no.

This really came as a surprise to me. Number one because I'm really not fond of choleric personalities (the negative side of them) and number two, I just didn't see myself being one! In fact, I do have a hard time saying no (or at least I do know how to say no and know when to say no, but for the most part, I need help in finding the words to say it courteously).

Well, I was not too happy to have been perceived as a choleric. Honestly, this was the first time someone has told me I'm choleric. I'm always perceived to be sweet and innocent. *Wink* (Bragging aside!) I do remember taking a personality type way back based on the four temperaments and I was pretty sure I came out as melancholic.

Anyway, when I got back to my home office, I immediately went online and Googled the characteristics of a choleric individual. Now I can see some of the positive and the negative characteristics of the personality type in me but I still refused to accept (LOL!) so I took another personality type test from Human Metrics site. This one was based on the Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers typology. My result? I came out as ISFJ. Yes, ladies and gentlemen! I could be doing videos sometimes and I have once dreamt of becoming a superstar (LOl!) but I am indeed an introvert which is why I know I'm not choleric.

ISFJs (Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging) are usually known as the Nurturer or the Protector. I really could truly relate to this more. Here's some of the characteristics and why I fit them:

Characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their "need to be needed."

I have a strong sense of responsibility in my family and workplace. And this is why I also enjoy providing tips in my blog free of charge! This type of work fulfills me.
ISFJs learn best by doing, rather than by reading about something in a book, or applying theory. For this reason, they are not likely to be found in fields which require a lot of conceptual analysis or theory. They value practical application. Traditional methods of higher education, which require a lot of theorizing and abstraction, are likely to be a chore for the ISFJ. The ISFJ learns a task best by being shown its practical application.

I hated Math, was never good in Chemistry and refused to probably understand Physics but back in college I had no choice. This is why Science and me never clicked. This is why I never turned out to be a doctor. I find it easier to be hands-on and learn things as I go. In business, you will never find me reading theory about marketing. I learned marketing based on experience and what works.
The ISFJ feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty. They take their responsibilities very seriously, and can be counted on to follow through. For this reason, people naturally tend to rely on them. The ISFJ has a difficult time saying "no" when asked to do something, and may become over-burdened. In such cases, the ISFJ does not usually express their difficulties to others, because they intensely dislike conflict, and because they tend to place other people's needs over their own. The ISFJ needs to learn to identify, value, and express their own needs, if they wish to avoid becoming over-worked and taken for granted.

I remember when I still had a day job as a graphic designer at a local church, whenever there's a need to work till 11 PM to finish deadlines, I had no problem doing so. I have a hard-time saying no when asked to complete a project on top of the other things, and so on and so forth. And I tend to overwhelm myself a lot of times.

There were more ISFJ characteristics that I could relate but the above are just some that identify to what I am in the business world. What really struck me though was the possible career paths and two of them being a business owner and a designer. THAT IS SO ME right now! That just felt so right. It's as if I realized once again that I am in the right direction.

These personality type tests though are of course by no means the final authority that should dictate your business direction, entrepreneurship journey, or career path in life. Heck I never knew about these personality types when I jumped into the business world.

The reason why I am sharing this is because there are some that still wonder if they are going in the right direction, struggling to find their passion, doubts if they picked the right niche for them…well perhaps, finding your personality type can help you sort of discover your path business or careerwise.

Here are the personality test links:
Jung-Briggs Typology Test

Temperament Test

You can also take them just for fun! Enjoy…

Until then!…

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Comments (2)

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October 7, 2010 at 9:27 AM

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Levik says:

February 1, 2011 at 9:34 PM

Hey fellow Idealist! Great site! Came across it on Facebook. Found personality types in general to be very introspective, in a good way, though hard to reconcile compatibilities with others (similar interests, dating, motive style). I guess it’s nature vs nurture. Keep up the good work Lynne!

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