Learn To Honour Your Personality Type 

I read the book, “The Millionaire Code: 16 Paths To Wealth Building” early last year. I saw this book at my local book stores for at least one or two years but I was too stingy to buy it because it was in a hard cover edition. It is a decision that I would live to regret because if I bought this book 2 years ago (instead of being a cheapskate by ordering for 50% of my local retail prices on eBay last year), my life would be very different. I would not have went into certain business opportunities that were never going to suit me well and I would probably have entered the right business opportunity and make loads more money and be so much happier.

The Millionaire Code helps you identify your personality type. There are four letters that will make up your distinct personality.

• Extrovert or Introvert (E or I)
• Sensor or Intuitive (S or I)
• Thinking or Feeling (T or F)
• Judging or Perceiving (J or P)

I was reminded of my personality type, INTJ, when my friend called me up just now for a chat. He shared details of his job with me on how he networks with lots of prominent people in different industries and how he is building up his negotiation skills, sales skills and stuff extroverts are very good at. He asked if I would be interested in the conference business and I told him it won’t work for me if I did something like that.

We both agreed that one of my weaknesses is my cold and aloof nature. He said my lack of networking will be the cause of my downfall. I disagreed with him because we do not have similar paths to make our money and my path does not require me to network as widely as he does. I can’t make money his way and he can’t make money my way.

If you put him and me in the same company and go through the exact same sales training, I would put my money on him outselling me by ten times or more. His personality is more suitable for a sales profession and if I try to be a salesperson, I would be a mediocre or at best, an average one. In fact, I once joined an MLM company about 4 years ago and I remember my upline telling me I need to “change” and she gave me a ton of examples of introverted people like me who made it big.

There are many things that I can change about myself. I can change the way I think and the way I live but if you ask me to change my personality, I don’t think it’s possible. Even if I tried very hard to change it, I would feel extremely unhappy. It is no wonder I dropped out of the MLM company within a year because I simply wasn’t a good salesperson. Even if I did stay on and try my best, I do not think I have what it takes to go all the way to the top. It is not impossible but chances are I would be average in that profession and that bothers me. Why be mediocre or average in one profession when you can be outstanding in another?

When I started reading those personal development books I came across statements like:

• “You can do anything you set your mind on”
• “You should aim for the stars and even if you miss, you’ll land on the moon”

I don’t really believe in the first statement any more. Why? Just watch the American Idol auditions… A lot of the contestants think they have what it takes to be an American Idol winner and be a successful singer. But seriously, some of them sing like ducks, dress like morons and are too many pounds overweight. We need to get real and look at our basic talents, strengths and weaknesses as human beings and select the right path that suits us best.

The second statement is kind of funny to me. It sounds great to think and aim big. I would rather aim at the moon because people have landed on the moon and not on a star. My chances of succeeding will be far greater therefore I would aim at the moon instead. I remember when I was in the army, my M16 rifle had an effective range of 200m. The bullets can actually travel over 2km if I remember correctly but it is most effective at 200m or less. Your chances of missing the target will be higher if you aim too far than what the rifle and the bullet can effectively hit. Why aim at a target that is so hard to hit when you can hit something easier?

I am not being negative, I am just being honest and real. I was doing some spring cleaning at home when I saw some of my old tapes, CDs and books by some motivation gurus and I think I should sell most of them on eBay to clear some space in my cupboard. Some of the things they say and write are outright lies but we buy into them because it gives us a sense of hope and that SELLS really well. I only have one or two people on my list that I can listen to without feeling stupid and one of them is Larry Winget and you should check him out.

Bottom line is, honour your personality, know your strengths and weaknesses, work on the basic talents you have been given, choose a path that suits you best and make the best of it. I wish I understood this earlier as I feel I have wasted the past two or three years of my life working on things that weren’t making the most of my strengths.

Tagged As: INTJ, Personality-Type

Categories: Vincent's Updates | 2 Comments »