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Paul, we define bigg success as life on your own terms. Knowing who you are is implicit in that definition. There are a lot of personality tests. Why yours?

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You’re right. There are a lot of personality tests and I think they all try to do the same thing. The one that we’ve developed is the gold standard. It’s based on the Young – Myers model of personality type that a lot of people know about. Our test really identifies the key aspects that are critical to finding work that they’ll find intrinsically satisfying and being able to succeed in those jobs based on the insights they get on their personality type.

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I have to tell you, Paul. I took your free test. It’s only four questions. It took me about five minutes. It sounds easy, but I may have failed!

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Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! You can’t fail a personality test!

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I marked “not confident” on two of the four questions, which meant I got more information about that particular aspect. It’s fantastic. But, for instance, I ended up saying I was an introvert. But everybody I talk to says that I’m an extrovert. When I look at the descriptions you have, which were very helpful, it seems like I’m about fifty -fifty.

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Here’s the thing. There’s no psychological instrument that is 100 percent accurate. That’s why you have that cool little drop down box when you’re “not confident” that helps you figure it out. Nobody is exclusively an extrovert or an introvert, but everybody is primarily one or the other. Sometimes it takes a little digging. What happens when you take this personality assessment is that you come up with a personality profile. If it turns out that it doesn’t hit the nail on the head, then you can look at other profiles. It’s really rare that a person has to do this more than two times to find their true type.

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I found out that I’m an “ESFP” which means I’m an Extrovert, Sensor, Feeler, and Perceiver. It says that only four to nine percent of the population is this type of person. I’ve always felt that I was different and this just verified it for me!

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There are sixteen different personality types. Every type has its strengths and its blind spots. Every person is unique. You can be in a room with a hundred other ESFPs and you’ll have a lot in common. You’ll have a great time because ESFPs do like to have a good time.

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That’s me!

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But you’re all different – different backgrounds, parents, experiences. You live in different parts of the country. It’s a very individualized thing, but learning about your type is really your home base. It’s the essence of who you are. For ESFPs, these are people who really live in the moment. They’re very resourceful. They like to enjoy what they’re doing. They’re very social people. They like to take care of other people and make sure everybody gets what they need.

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Going back to what George was saying, I also have some introverted qualities but you’ve already answered that when you said that we all are introverts and extroverts.

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It’s really a preference. It’s like handedness. Some people are born righties; some people are born lefties. I believe that, after having done this for about 25 years now, people really are born with a personality type preference. You grow and you learn as you get older. But you’re either a righty or a lefty. Let’s say you’re a right-handed person by nature. You can learn to use your left hand if you work at it, but it’s never going to be your natural, default setting. It’s the same thing with personality type. If you’re a sensing type, then you’re a person who’s pretty realistic and practical, sees the details, and focuses on what’s going on in the moment. It doesn’t mean that you have no imagination or that you can’t be creative. It just means that’s not your first mode. Somebody else might be very creative and that’s where they go automatically.

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Paul, I write left-handed. Most things I do right-handed. The first ball glove my Dad bought me was a left-handed glove. But I’d take the glove off and throw with my right hand. So, related to personality types, if there are things that you admire about an extroverted personality, is it possible – or is it good – to try to move yourself in that direction?

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It’s a good question. I found that the people who are the most successful in any of their endeavors are really the people who have the most balance. That doesn’t mean they’re androgynous – that they’re equally both – because I believe that people have a natural in-born preference for each of these categories. But if you are so extroverted that you have to be with people 24 / 7 – you can’t be alone or you can’t read a book – that’s not good. If you’re so introverted that you can’t look somebody in the eye or you can’t do anything with other people, that’s not good. So fortunately, all of us have a balance but there really is a natural preference from where you get your energy. The key is to understand who you are because that’s really the key to your career satisfaction. Then build on your strengths while being aware of your blind spots so you can compensate for them.

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That is really helpful. I want to take the test again now, thinking about my natural tendency but also keeping in mind that’s it’s not all I’m going to be.

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Well, I think your Dad screwed you up with that left-handed glove!

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And that’s just one of the many ways!

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What is your personality type?

You can find out by taking the free personality test we discussed today.

*Special Offer: To get a 10% discount on your full career report, use promo code: biggsuccess

Tomorrow we’ll continue our discussion with Paul. Please check back to discover how knowing your personality type will help you find new opportunities in today’s tough job market.

Thanks so much for putting up with our goofy personalities today! Until next time, here’s to your bigg success!

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(Image in today's post from PersonalityType.com)

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There’s a great article, by Eriq Gardner over at Psychology Today, about what your choice in art says about you. He describes four 4 personality types:

#1 – Taste hunters
These people are always looking for new art and sharing their discoveries with others. If you visited their home, you’d find an eclectic mix of books, CDs, and DVDs. These people are more likely to become artists themselves.

#2 – Thrill seekers
These people are highly social, connecting with others at concerts, clubs & theaters. They crave sensory excitement, often consuming several media at once. They enjoy bold colors or themes of sex or violence.

#3 – Self-medicators
These people may be somewhat neurotic, evidenced by anxiety and sensitivity. They are highly creative and emotional. So they like art that depicts emotion – romantic movies and books, and music like rap and heavy metal. They use art to regulate their moods and validate their feelings.

#4 – Art as decoration
These conscientious people are dependable, focused, and task-oriented. They enjoy order and rules. So they like art about things they like in real life. They choose art for its aesthetics, often selecting it based on its market value. Conventional art is preferred over modern or abstract. Musicians who are technically accomplished are favored.

Which type are you?

Edward Lewis was definitely the “art as decoration” personality. He went to the opera to be seen by people who viewed as important. He chose the best seat because it made him look important. He consumed art in a very logical manner. He didn’t experience it fully, but he appreciated the craftsmanship that went into making it.

Vivian Ward was very extroverted, enjoying flashy clothes throughout the movie. She felt the opera deeply. This all steers us toward thinking she was a “thrill seeker”. But she was also very emotional, perhaps showing some tendencies of a “self-medicator”.

That’s the thing about these four personality types. Most of us probably fit into more than one. What type or types are you?

Consuming art can reduce your stress

The article also cites a study of office workers – one group looked at art, the other didn’t. It took five hours for the group that didn’t look at art to wind down after work. The group who looked at art achieved the same stress level in forty minutes!

It also helps you understand yourself better. By thinking about the type of art you like, you get to know yourself better.

It’s also a great way to get a conversation going. It helps you connect with others. By knowing what art a person consumes, you come to understand them better.
So take advantage of the upcoming weekend to take in some art!

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Next time, we’ll discuss smart investors in tough times. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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