How do you have the perfect day as an INFJ?

By “perfect day” I’m referring to the way you’d organize your day if you were completely in control of it.

Many of us work jobs or have responsibilities that require us to begin the day working in an area of weakness while leaving our strengths on the shelf. For instance, you may have to start by cooking breakfast for your family or you may have to answer emails first thing in the morning at your job when you’d rather be learning, advising, or creating.

Elaine Schallock of PersonalityJunkie.com theorizes that, if given the choice, INFJs would be happiest working through their functional stack, or four mindsets, starting with our greatest strength and ending with our weakness. Would scheduling your day as I describe in the rest of the article make it more meaningful, productive, and enjoyable?

What’s the perfect INFJ career?

Recently, I’ve corresponded with INFJ…

• Nurses
• Screenwriters
• Actors
• Landscape architects
• Furniture designers
• Artists
• Graphic designers
• Editors
• Art instructors
• Child development specialists
• Counselors
• Teachers
• Musicians
• Writers

And that’s by no means an exhaustive list. It just gives you an idea of the scope of opportunities available to INFJs seeking meaningful work. Almost every INFJ I’ve ever met has struggled at some point to find work that excites her. She wants a job she’s passionate about that makes a difference in the world, and she wants to be able to express her creativity, original thought, and uniqueness. But given the above list, there’s clearly no one-size-fits-all job for the INFJ.

There are, however, several guiding principles you should keep in mind as you pursue fulfilling work.

Believe it or not, your introversion gives you a networking advantage. This runs contrary to popular belief and perhaps your own experience.

You and I both know that, as introverts, we lose energy when talking to a group of new people. What’s more, we despise small talk. Really, we’d rather be at home with a book or with a few close friends than at a networking function of any size.

But, truth be told, your introversion is really a gift, when it comes to networking. Check out 5 ways your introversion makes you an extraordinary networker.

Are you an introvert wanting to take your networking skills to the next level?

Changing your thoughts can make all the difference in your networking success. In this episode of the I Speak People Show, author Michal Stawicki explains why the ways you think about yourself, other people, and networking make an enormous difference in your ability to network. Over the course of the interview, we discuss…

• Personal Development – especially as it pertains to the way you think about yourself
• Common problems introverts face when they network
• Solutions to those problems
• The importance of generosity and consistency in networking
• A slew of powerful books

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.

What would you do with more energy?

As an introvert, you need to be especially careful with how you spend your energy. In this episode of the I Speak People Show, you’ll learn four proven ways you can boost your energy as an introvert. 

To help you apply what you learn today, make sure you grab a copy of the Boost Your Energy for Introverts Checklist.

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. 

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!

What’s it like to be an INTJ and how can you know if you or someone you know is one?

In this show, you’ll hear about…

• How INTJs manage energy
• How INTJs approach organization
• What INTJs think about
• How INTJs handle major decisions
• INTJ strengths
• And more…

Want to figure out your personality type for free?! Download this free resource!

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.

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?