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5 Things that Make an INTP One-of-a-Kind

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What makes an INTP tick?

The INTP personality type has many nicknames including “the absent-minded professor”, “the thinker”, “the architect”, and “the logician”, and they all pay tribute to an incredible mind. Albert Einstein, Adam Smith, and Abraham Lincoln were famous INTPs, after all.

This past year, I’ve gotten to know a few INTPs well. What’s struck me about their personality is how easily they combine logic and creativity. They’re master problem solvers with an unparalleled ability to focus. To hear from two INTPs, check out this podcast.

Our world owes a lot to INTPs. Here are just a few reasons INTPs are awesome.

Want a life better suited to your INTP personality? Download the list of My Favorite INTP Resources and learn how to create it.

What makes an INTP tick? How can you know if you or someone you know is one? Check out this article to learn 5 things that make an INTP one-of-a-kind.

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7 Reasons Every Introvert Needs a Blog

How to Have a Voice in a Noisy World

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One of my introvert friends has been blogging for a while, and only I just found out. When I read his work for the first time, it gave me goosebumps. He has the gift, and I’d wager you do too.

As an introvert, you are especially well equipped to write. In The Introvert Advantage, Martin Olsen Laney, Psy.D. explains that the pathway from an introvert’s brain to her mouth is longer than the same pathway in an extrovert. Extroverts are wired to talk, while introverts are born to reflect, and reflection is essential to good writing.

Jennifer Kahnweiler, in her book Quiet Influence, also underscores the fact that introverts are writers. She says writing gives introverts time to get their thoughts together and present them exactly how they want to. It incorporates research too, which is another introvert strength. Introverts excel at finding and incorporating ideas that make their work both interesting and compelling.

Check out these seven reasons YOU need a blog – even if you don’t think you do.

Some of the best bloggers are introverts: Blogging gives them a voice in this noisy world. Check out 7 reasons every introvert needs a blog.

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How to Tell if You Are an Extroverted Introvert

11 Signs You Are a Social Introvert

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How can you tell if you’re an extroverted introvert?

I’m a teacher, so I work with people all day long. The other day, I told a coworker that I’m an introvert. He looked at me in disbelief: “An introvert? Really? You’re not an introvert!”

When it comes to introversion, there’s a lot of confusion. The dictionary definition is partly to blame. Google defines introvert as follows: “a shy, reticent person.”

While there are introverts who are shy and standoffish, the majority of introverts are neither, as the author’s of Confident You point out. Nevertheless, years of false associations compound the problem. Most people assume they know what an introvert is, and then they look for evidence to support their false assumption.

The reality is that there are a variety of introverts – eight different kinds to be exact. And some of them prefer more people contact than others.

Back to the question: How can you tell what kind of introvert YOU are? I offer you 11 telltale signs.

Are you trying to figure out whether or not you're an extroverted introvert? Check out these 11 telltale signs, and find out for sure!

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4 Proven Ways to Boost Your Energy for Introverts

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My fellow introvert, is there actually a way for YOU to boost your energy?

YES!!!

If you ever…

  • Drag yourself inside the door after work…
  • Put up with lightheadedness after spending too much time in a loud or noisy environment…
  • Lock yourself away in your room for a couple hours (or days or weeks) just to resuscitate…
  • Wish you had more time to yourself to think without interruption…

And if you know what it’s like to feel…

  • Burned out…
  • Fried…
  • Depleted…
  • Spent…
  • Exhausted…

Then, you know the struggle of having to guard your energy. It’s one EVERY introvert faces. Being introverted means you need time to yourself to recharge. 

'Being introverted means you need time to yourself to recharge.'Click To Tweet

Understand that important principle and YOU CAN boost your energy! You just need to make some very doable adjustments to get your lifestyle working with your energy.

Consider four simple – yet profound – ways to boost your energy!

Want to Boost Your Energy?! Download the free checklist: Boost Your Energy for Introverts!

Want to know how to boost your energy if you're an introvert?! Check out this post to learn 4 proven ways any quiet person can increase her energy.

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How to Take Action Now When You’re Trapped in Thought

Practical Steps for Moving Steadily Toward Your Dreams

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Have you ever had a great idea or dream but lacked the courage to take action?

Langston Hughes understood what most people wrestle with when he wrote Dream Deferred.

Most introverts struggle to turn their ideas into reality. When it comes to generating ideas, they are powerhouses, but enacting their plans is a different story. Action is not their forte. They overthink and allow fear of failure to paralyze them.

This fact really isn’t a surprise considering introverts are wired for thought. They focus their energies inwardly on their own or others’ ideas, memories, or experiences, unlike extroverts who focus on the outside world. In short, introverts prefer thinking, while extroverts prefer to take action.

The good news is that you CAN turn your ideas and dreams into reality, even if you’re an introvert. You just have to be strategic about how you go about it. If you’ve ever longed to do or accomplish something but couldn’t muster the courage, get ready for some practical strategies that’ll help you start to take action today.

Have you ever had a great idea or dream but lacked the courage to take action? Discover four practical strategies for moving steadily toward your dreams.

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How to Find a Job You Love as an Introvert [Download]

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A Gallup poll from 2013 revealed that 50 percent of working Americans are disengaged with their work, while another 20 percent are actively disengaged. Worse yet, job dissatisfaction is probably killing people. Dan Miller observes that more people die of heart attacks on Monday morning than any other time of the week. Could it be that victims are coming off of an enjoyable weekend, dreading going back to a job they hate?

When you get down to it, a job gives each of us a sense of dignity. Most people find purpose and worth in the work they do. When people can’t work – or they get stuck doing work that’s not a good fit for them – they get depressed or worse.

In December of 2010, Tunisian police confiscated Mohamed Bouazizi’s produce cart and scales because he didn’t have a vending permit. Bouazizi then went to the governor’s office to complain, but no one would see him. He felt desperate and helpless with no way to feed his family, so to protest, he doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire.

Work is important; there’s no way around it. Everyone wants to do significant work. Furthermore, the average person will spend more time with coworkers at work over the course of her life than she will with her family. It’s important, then, that each of us finds the right job.

So where is the best work for you to do? How can you find a job you love as an introvert?

How do you find a job you love as an introvert? What steps should you follow and what questions should ask? To discover proven strategies, start here.

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Why People Underestimate Introverts and What to Do About It

How to Help People See What You Have to Contribute as an Introvert

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Why do people underestimate me, and what can I do about it?

Have you asked that question? If you’re a quiet, thoughtful introvert, chances are good you have. It’s easy to get frustrated when people assume you don’t have much to offer just because they can’t physically observe your gifts.

Getting better acquainted with the cause of the problem will help you work toward a solution.

Why do people underestimate me as an introvert? If you've ever asked that question, you're not alone. Read this post to find out what you can do about it.

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11 Secrets of the Perfect Introvert Party

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How do you throw the perfect introvert party?

When you think of the typical party-going crowd, I doubt you picture introverts. Most would rather be at home, safe from loud music and incessant chatter, enjoying a book, movie, or quiet time alone.

Just a week ago, a friend of mine told me how much he was dreading a party his wife would be hosting at their house. She was going to have her girlfriends over, as well as their husbands and children. While my friend’s wife had great relationships with her pals, my friend did not enjoy relating to the husbands. He hardly knew them.

He also remembered how their children had wandered his house unsupervised the last time his wife’s friends were over. One of them had ransacked the bathroom and squeezed soap all over the floor. Worst of all, my friend told me that the upcoming party had no cutoff time, so he had no idea when everyone would finally be gone.

No introvert in his right mind would enjoy that kind of party. There is, however, a way to have a successful introvert party. You just have to keep in mind 11 secrets.

How do you throw the perfect introvert party? Check out this post and discover 10 secrets to creating a party atmosphere any introvert will love!

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How to Get to Know Your Introvert Date

3 Tips for a Better Relationship with Your Introvert

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How do you get to know an introvert date?

If you’ve ever pursued an introvert, you know introverts can be hard to get to know, and if you are one, you probably know that you don’t let your guard down with just anybody. When an introvert does open up, she does so gradually, over time. This is in stark contrast to most extroverts who reveal a lot about themselves from the get-go.

When you’re interested in a person and he’s slow to share about himself, it’s easy to lose interest, get frustrated, and move on. But if you do, you might miss out on a great future spouse. Are you willing to take that risk?

If you want to get to know an introvert but aren’t sure how to go about it, consider these three tips.

Click Here to Download the FREE Get to Know Your Introvert Worksheet

How do you get to know an introvert date? If you want to get to know an introvert but aren't sure how to go about it, check out these three tips!

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How Do ISTPs Think? One-on-One with a Craftsman

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How do you know if you – or someone you love – is an ISTP?

ISTPs are one of eight Myers-Briggs introvert personality types. They are marvelous in-the-moment, hands-on problem solvers. The first thing you might notice about an ISTP is her ability to come up with creative solutions using what’s around her.

Once when I was playing music with friends, we were having trouble mounting a new microphone. We lacked the proper attachment to connect the mike to a stand. Fortunately, there was an ISTP among us. In about five minutes, he came up with a way to zip-tie the mic to a stand so that we could move ahead with the recording process.

What really makes an ISTP shine is his ability to figure out how a system works. Whether he’s studying a car, combine, or computer, he’ll learn each of the parts and how they work together. Then, with this in-depth understanding, he’ll be able to quickly diagnose and fix any problems that arise.

ISTPs are introverts with an eye for detail and an appreciation for efficiency. They’re thinkers through-and-through, but they also savor new experiences, spontaneity, and variety.

To give you a first-hand look at how an ISTP thinks, I interviewed a good friend of mine and asked him eight questions that get to the heart of the ISTP personality. As you read his responses, think about yourself – or that person you know or love – and see if the ISTP introvert personality type is a good fit.

(To determine your own personality type, check out this series.)

How do you know if you - or someone you love - is an ISTP? How does someone with this introvert personality type think? Read the post to find out.