It's You in Four Letters

Every boss that I have had has always really loved the Myers-Briggs personality test. They all loved to have everyone take it and share their results as a "team building" exercise. When I started questioning what I wanted to do for a living, many many people recommended taking it again. Apparently, the culinary school's department chair is also a big fan. Every once in a while I wonder what it would be like if it became the next cocktail question. Instead of "what do you do for a living" you could ask, " And what is your personality type?" Maybe you would be better able to extract yourself from completely boring conversations.

So this week I took the Myers-Briggs personality assessment. It came out the way that it always does for me. I am a ESTJ (Extrovert, Sensing, Thinking and Judging) through and through it would seem. It always is comforting and also a little surprising to me that it is always the same.

It is funny because I am borderline in a couple of the categories, the first one is the extrovert/introvert category. It doesn't surprise me I am on the edge because I don't feel much like an extrovert. I like people and need to have them around, can and will talk to strangers in line or on the street, but I don't get revitalized by it. When pressed for the best way to spend the day after a hard week, chances are I am going to want to bond with my couch instead of hitting a club. Maybe I might invite someone to join me for dinner at Chez Boyd, but it will be someone who won't mind if I open the door in my PJs.

I have always been prone to picking up acquaintances pretty easily, but true friends are hard to come by. I have some that I don't even consider friends any more, they are more like family. People who could tell you they did something SO ridiculous that if they were anyone else you probably would be uncomfortable and not hang out much longer, but instead you just shake your head and say "Geez Jillian, that's the stupidest thing I have heard in a while." (really just an example, not true) I love them because they are defacto sisters in my life. To maybe put it more succinctly, I have lots of people I would have dinner with and not too many I would ask to help me move.

The other category I am always on the border for is the Thinking/Feeling. That shit cracks me up. If you are a Thinker, you are rules/outcome oriented. You don't think too much about how that effects the feelings of everyone involved, even including yourself. For example, if you wanted to do a teacher appreciation and stopped a teacher's class to deliver a cup of coffee, the feeler would be happy to have been recognized while the thinker would be irritated because you interrupted the class, he has already had his coffee this morning, and it's not like he can drink it while he is lecturing.

I always end up on the border of these, even though I know I am TOTALLY a Thinker. I think because the way the questions are asked, they always ask about whether or not you follow rules. But it is really all about logic. Well, I follow all rules that make sense. I am not into stupid rules just for rules sake.

So there you have it......it's me in 4 letters.