Tom recently took a personality test, sent me the results to his and then sent me the link to take my own personality test. During my time away last month I quickly took the test and then had to giggle as I read the results. I am an ESFP: extrovert, sensor, feeler, perceiver. The result were dead on, except for the part that said I was big into fashion. I think that came from the questions that I answered pertaining to whether or not I cared what people thought about me on a daily basis. I answered “yes” to those questions, but in reality I think I care what people think a lot less than most. After reading the test results I though to myself, ” see, I can’t help it that I am overly talkative and social, a poor planner, hate desk jobs, am not interested in politics, am practical, and am disorganized. I was just created this way.” Here are some of the highlights for the results.  I don’t expect you to read all of this but I thought I would put it all in there anyway.  Now you can delve deeper into my psyche….

“If anyone is to be found spontaneously breaking into song and dance, it is the ESFP personality type. ESFPs get caught up in the excitement of the moment, and want everyone else to feel that way, too. No other personality type is as generous with their time and energy as ESFPs when it comes to encouraging others, and no other personality type does it with such irresistible style.” (I couldn’t have said it better myself!)

“They’d rather rely on luck or opportunity, or simply ask for help from their extensive circle of friends. It is important for ESFPs to challenge themselves to keep track of long-term things like their retirement plans or sugar intake – there won’t always be someone else around who can help to keep an eye on these things.”

“ESFPs are welcome wherever there’s a need for laughter, playfulness, and a volunteer to try something new and fun – and there’s no greater joy for ESFP personalities than to bring everyone else along for the ride. ESFPs can chat for hours, sometimes about anything but the topic they meant to talk about, and share their loved ones’ emotions through good times and bad. If they can just remember to keep their ducks in a row, they’ll always be ready to dive into all the new and exciting things the world has to offer, friends in tow.”

ESFP STRENGTHS

• Bold – ESFPs aren’t known for holding back. Wanting to experience everything there is to experience, people with the ESFP personality type don’t mind stepping out of their comfort zones when no one else is willing.
• Excellent People Skills –  They are talkative, witty, and almost never run out of things to discuss. For people with this personality type, happiness and satisfaction stem from the time they spend with the people they enjoy being with. (So true!)

ESFP WEAKNESSES

• Conflict-Averse – ESFPs sometimes ignore and avoid conflict entirely. They tend to say and do what’s needed to get out of such situations, then move on to something more fun.
• Easily Bored – Without constant excitement, ESFPs find ways to create it themselves.
• Poor Long-Term Planners – In fact, ESFP personalities rarely make detailed plans for the future. To them, things come as they come, and they rarely bother with taking the time to lay out steps and consequences, with the belief that they could change at any moment – even with things that can be planned. (Ok so I have to agree with this.  For many years in my twenties I would never commit to a certain social plan just incase something better came up.  Totally rude, but I did it.  I can plan in the long term financially only because my mom is a CPA and we were taught it throughout life.)
• Unfocused – Anything that requires long-term dedication and focus is a particular challenge for ESFPs. In academics, dense, unchanging subjects like Classic Literature are much more difficult than more dynamic, relatable subjects like psychology. T
• Romantic…Conversation with ESFPs is similar, focusing on fun, sometimes quirky subjects rather than deep, soul-searching expressions. The past and the future, the sciences and politics, and long-term plans and commitments are all routinely ignored by ESFP personalities. They slow things down and add too much weight to ESFPs’ freewheeling style.
  (It is a wonder I ever got married)
• Friendships….Making new friends isn’t a problem for ESFPs though – they use an alluring combination of blunt truths and disarming openness and charm to keep things moving. (Totally me!) Where ESFP personalities falter is in keeping the friends they already have. In their excitement and focus on here and now over history, ESFPs too easily exhaust the adventure one person has to offer, moving on once one person’s novelty has worn off.This can all give the impression that ESFPs are shallow, pleasure-centric creatures who care little for anyone but themselves. This is a terrible misunderstanding, and far from the truth, but nevertheless makes friendships with Intuitive (N) personality types challenging. ESFPs care sincerely about their friends – it’s why they put so much effort into coming up with group experiences they believe everyone will enjoy – and they are deeply distressed by the occasional conflicts that end these relationships.
• Novelty is king for people with the ESFP personality type, and there’s only so much diversity among fellow Explorer types. ESFPs love touching on intellectual and philosophical subjects, and they seek out a diversity of personality types and perspectives to keep among their friends. But as these friends grind into the details of some esoteric topic about the long-term consequences of faltering European economic output, ESFPs inevitably find their minds wandering, hoping for someone to rush up and say “Guess what just happened!”

Parenthood…

Discipline is far from their strongest suit, but hindsight and maturity have their effects, and ESFPs are often keen to prevent their children from suffering the same hurts and setbacks they themselves experienced. People with the ESFP personality type are quite sensitive themselves, and expect their children to be respectful and considerate with what rules there are, a point of contention through the teenage years. (Totally me!)

career: nurse or EMT or teacher!  no desk job that is boring and mundane.