Full disclosure: I probably have a fever right now.
It’s a beautiful summer day, here in Portland, Oregon, but I’ve come down with a cold. So Grendel and I are cozied up on the bed, and I’ve decided to write a blog post. I’m not sure that’s the best idea, but I’m in the mood.
This is going to be less of a traditional, authoritative piece and more of an intellectual inquiry and hopefully fodder for collaboration and idea-exchange. In other words, share your thoughts in the comments and let’s get a discussion going!
**
A day doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t ask me about the overlap between multipotentialites and some other label or categorical framework: personality testing, astrology, Gifted and Talented, introversion, HSP…
I once got a rather rude email from a man insisting that multipotentialites are simply Enneagram Type 7s (his implication being that my work is irrelevant since I stumbled upon nothing new).
I found this funny because when I did the Enneagram test, I was a Type 4. I even spoke with an Enneagram expert once who told me that the idea that all multipods are Type 7s is a misconception based largely on how people perceive us from the outside (flighty, scattered, excitable, etc.) as opposed to how we actually test.
Someone on Twitter the other day asked me if I was a Gemini. I’m an Aries.
On the other hand, I am, without question, an HSP.
And I’m an INFJ. I seem to meet an awful lot of other NFJs in the Puttylike community. Does that mean that all multipotentialites are NFJs? Absolutely not. Plus as an astute friend recently pointed out, it might seem to me like everybody is an INFJ simply because INFJs are the sort of people who are likely to be into personality testing…
Perhaps there are tendencies toward certain categories or “types” within the multipotentialite community. I don’t know a ton about Myers-Briggs, but I bet you guys have some ideas about which letters might correspond with the multipod mind.
Honestly though, I think to a large degree, we’re all over the place. And that’s kind of what’s beautiful about our community: how different we are from one another.
Yet, we obviously have similarities. We struggle with similar issues, and we do tend to be curious, lifelong learners. So maybe it is possible to find overlap between multipotentialites and other groups.
Your Turn
Do you think multipotentialites tend to be certain “types” within frameworks such as Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, astrology, HSP, GT, etc.? Do you fit into the “typical” multipod types in each of these frameworks?
I think shared characteristics do not a homogenous group make! I’ve grown more and more sensory sensitive in the last couple of years, and fall into the HSP spectrum by turn; but as a child and adult I’ve consistently scored as an ENTP — almost the exact opposite of an INFJ! HSP+asthma+allergies have put a damper on my extroversion, to my resignation, but nonetheless I find ways to find my people fix despite becoming functionally more introverted.
My mum has been obsessed with personality typing for decades, I think in an effort to make sense of the people around her that she struggled to understand. Thus I have more on hand knowledge of this from being subjected to various sorts of tests throughout the years.
I hit the mark consistently as a 7 on the enneagram as well, though the more I learn the more I see it as a bit of stereo/typecasting. “Ironically, Sevens’ wide-ranging curiosity and ability to learn quickly can also create problems for them. Because they are able to pick up many different skills with relative ease, it becomes more difficult for them to decide what to do with themselves.” says the Enneagram Institute page on the subject, which is an essentialist definition of multipotentiality!
side note — Do you ever host a meetup in Portland? I too reside here (too much orb today!) and am interested if there’s something local.
I’m INFJ, type 2, Aquarius.
ENFP, type 7, cancer
🙂
ENFP,type7,Taurus
INTP, Aries
same ENFP, 7, and a Taurus. btw a hufflepuff lol
INFJ, Type 2, Virgo
🙂
same… INFJ Virgo – very interesting indeed!
INFP, type 9 (the “peacemaker”), Leo
ME TOO!
but Taurus
Wow! I tested years ago with same results INFJ, although I am a Gemini. Haha!
INFJ make up of 1% of the population! How about that?
For the same reason some might not enjoy laying out enjoying a hammock on a rainy day. Most people wouldn’t; why not?
Why do we associate enjoying a hammock on a sun shining beach day?
I believe it’s all a matter of perspective. We were conditioned as a society to follow a set pattern or rule of thumb for our lives… if you will.
I see life and variety of interests in terms of great possibilities not the latter. Anyone who sticks to one area of interest (in my opinion, everybody has one right?) has followed that SET path, and were too afraid to branch out for fear of what people would think of them. In fact those who sat down and created these personality tests were simply imperfect people who needed a little VARIETY? Haha! Understanding perhaps?
Ya know– take them out of the normal routine of their “boring” lives in order to go focus on people like us. Imagination creates excitement! Haha!
All joking aside, I am sure some truly enjoy the “SECURE” reliability of sticking to one career path. Going to the same job day after day after day, week after week, month after month! OMG! Shoot me please!!
Personally, I’m so much happier to have the variety. It’s much more exciting wouldn’t you say? Who really cares what the rest of the world thinks. I don’t, at least NOT anymore. It’s all about JOY. The rest comes as it is meant.
Take care of yourself. Get well soon!
Hi guys! My name is Marie and I’m currently doing a research on the following topic – I am trying to find out what are typical TOP 5 Gallup CliftonStrengts talents among multipotentialites. I bet Learner or Maximizer might be somewhere at the top, but would like to ask you all – have you ever taken the Gallup CliftonStrengts test? Would you be willing to share your results here in the comments? Many thanks!! And thanks Emilie for all your work for the puttylike community 🙂 M.
Hello,
I think an Enneagram 7 has bigger chance to be a multipotentialite. But other types can be too, why not? What I see is both extroverts and introverts can be interested in many things though.
I’m an enneagram 7/6w/sx, ENFP, gemini for example. And I never finish anyt 😀 😉
I’ve never tested 7 on enneagram, but I am all over the place with it. I’ve tested as 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9, depending on the day. Multipotentialite, you bet! I always thought I was an INFJ because that’s how I test, but when I took a functions test I found out (much to my relief, because INFJ never did quite fit right) that I’m actually a very self-disciplined INFP. I honestly have never fit neatly into any box, ever. Even with my health, there’s a lot of guessing going on because I never present with symptoms in a typical manner! LOL
I doubt that there is a overlap between a specific MBTI-type and multipotentialites, although I suspect that SJ-types are rarer among multipods than the general public and NTP more common. Personally I am an INTP.
As for the Enneagram, probably no correlation there either but I know too little about it. I do know that I, myself, is a 5w4 (per the Riso-Hudson system).
Just my 25 cents.
Hey why do you think NTP is more common? I agreed that SJ types are probably rarer but I thought NFP would be more common?
I am INFP. I think I have the same Enneagram as yours, type 4 with a 5-wing (that’s 5w4, is it?)
I think to be a 6 type and I am a Scorpion. For example 6 types usually have strong priorities on a scale and one of them is sometimes overwhelming. This is also a pattern for multipotentialites because when they fall in love with something they dive in it completely. Nonetheless, moltipotentialites change these priorities or have a large number of coexistent passions during their life. (this is me XD)
I think that every enneatype has its own peculiarities that can be combined in different ways with multipotentiality.
I’m an HSP and right on the line for INTJ/INFJ but leaning towards INTJ. I’ve not heard of the enneagram test and I’ve never given any thought to astrology. It doesn’t make sense to me. I know a few other INTJ’s that would be multipods too but I can’t say I enough to make any kind of determination.
I am an INTJ, type 4/5 (there was a 2% difference between the two in my case).
Nice to meet another (leaning towards) INTJ woman because we are so rare.
I just discovered multipotentiality so I’m curious to read more about it.
INTJ and 5. If I take too much time to think, I can over think, and over analyze. But if I don’t take time to think, I feel lost and out of touch. And then I have a creative, vibrant sense of humor. What up!!!
I’m an INFP (partially ENFP, too) / Sagittarius / Enn #4 … and a Multipotentialite. 😀
I’ve often thought that creatives & multipods are one and the same, though.
Multipods do seem to be especially creative – I agree! Though I also know many creatives who specialize in one thing — i.e., stick to the same writing series indefinitely, etc. It’s all so interesting.
Interesting theory. And yes, I’m also an INFJ. But I’m a Cancer. I truly don’t think that the personality tests are indicators of whether we are multipotentialites; I know of plenty INFJs who are “specialists.” I think it’s just how we’re wired.
Never realized how much you and I have in common Emilie, not only am I also an INFJ but I’m also an Aries. I’ve never taken the Enneagram test but I have always been curious about personality testing. Typically, I find that I am almost always fifty fifty creative and logical (usually leaning towards the creative side). Even in my astrology, I am fifty fifty (I was born on the cusp of Aries and Pisces go figure). But while some would say that I got the “typical testing” results of a multipotentialite, I find the idea of “typical” as a way to describe us ignorant and frankly, rude. We are called multipotentialite or HSPs because we cannot be defined by our careers or our personalities. We are who we want to be whether it be for the day or week or month or year. Testing is fun and sometimes help those of us who are confused by our desires to be everything. The only term that could define us by a type is multipotentialite and even that means so much.
Hear hear!
Hi! Stumbled across this while searching INFJ Aries, emmeagram type 1w2. And it would seem I found two other INFJ Aries! I initially tested as a 4 enneagram, but not so. Wondering if the Aries and type 1 fuel each other.. Because both contradict INFJ PT. I’m a living contradiction, so logical, but also so intuitive. And yes also HSP. Fun! Lol. Oh and born the 23rd of March so a bit of pieces thrown in for good measure. Ok just wanted to note here as I explore what this website even is!!!?
Huh, had no idea you were an INFJ. I think generally we all have the NT
I’m an INTJ 5^6 sp/sx
I’ve never had the Enneagram test, but I’m INFP, Virgo, Rabbit in the Chinese Horoscope. The Gallop Strength Finder has me as Strategic, Learner, Ideation, Input, Intellection. I’ve had HBDI results of A:54 B:53 C:81 D:120 certainly is in keeping with the Gallup. I just think that it’s really just a matter of it takes all sorts, and we’re most likely a similar breakdown to the rest of the community with similar ratios for all the above.
INTJ, aquarius, goat (chinese), Gallup: 1. Maximizer 2. Learner 3. Relator 4. Individualization 5. Focus
I don’t care if there is a “type” to define us, as long as everyone knows enough about themselves to make the best of their lives.
Get better soon, Emilie!
Another INTJ here, Enneagram 1w9, Dragon (Chinese), Libra, and HSP. We are all beautifully and fascinatingly different but alike in our multi-potentiality!
Me too–INTJ.
I would never assume that having multiple passions is reserved for one type in any personality framework. I think it’s natural to have multiple passions, and that true specialists are actually rare, it’s just that the industrialisation forced specialization as a preferred lifestyle for everyone (as well as the 8-4 or 9-5 workday, despite some people working better during hours 6-2 or 10-6).
And if anyone’s making stats, I’m a Libra/Libra, HSP, Enneagram 4 and INFP 🙂
I’m not making the stats, but I’m just finally glad to meet another INFP! I’ve never had the privilege before. 🙂
Nela–I’m also a Libra, 4, and INFP. I’m kind of borderline on the HSP thing.
I’m a Libra/4/INFP as well!
Another INFP here. (I have a hunch that IN** types are more into personality testing, but I may be wrong…)
WOW! We should all form a club. I’m also Libra/Libra, HSP, Enneagram 4 and borderline ENFP/ INFP. If found a site on face book for people who test as neither completely Introvert or Extrovert. I really liked that as I hate being caged into either one. I like Enn 4 as I really like to be unique. And finding this website has changed my world, my perspective of myself and my struggles with life.
I am same as yours. Libra, HSP, Enneagram 4 and INFP 🙂
I’m a INFJ as well, and I had never taken a HSP or Enneagram test, so I discovered just now that I am a HSP and a 1w9 or 9w1! Interesting stuff. I think what brings us together as multipotentialites is more of a brew of a lot of different factors rather than one sole predictor. Plus, we all self-identify as multipotentialites, rather than having one particular test or formula to say definitively whether we are or not. I think that is what makes the Puttylike community so great: we enter into the community by virtue of relating ourselves and our experiences to the description of multipotentiality, rather than needing a rite of passage to label us as such.
I’m an INFP and Enneagram Type 4. I agree with Nela that it’s probably more common to have multiple passions than to be singularly obsessed with one passion. But it’s an interesting question, whether some personality types are more predisposed to being Renaissance Souls. INFP & Type 4 both signify the personality type of an artist who finds it difficult to conform to the 9-5 lifestyle. I do think the Venn diagram of multipotentialites and artists probably has a lot of overlap.
I’m also an astrologer, and I think an astrological analysis of many multipotentialites’ whole charts might yield some interesting patterns. But that’s just a hypothesis. Sun signs, or even sun-moon-rising won’t tell us enough to say that there is a specific “sign” of the multipotentialite. We would have to use whole charts. For example, I’m a Libra sun, but I have quite an emphasis on mutable signs (Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini, and Pisces) in my chart. I have a Pisces Midheaven — people with this midheaven often have the most difficulty finding “one” career, or may have many in a lifetime.
Wow! Two INFP’s in the span of two replies, I’m just blown away. 🙂
I think it would be really interesting to look at Mercury and Midheaven placements in charts to see if there’s any sort of correlation. I happen to have both in Gemini which…seems to explain a lot.
I’m 58. I’ve been (and still am) a spinner (fiber), who had a herd of 38 angora rabbits, a filter, a glass beadmaker (published), jewelry designer (published), and painter. I’m an HSP, ENTP, and have never done Eneagram. I’m very very hard on myself–and have been for 30 years. After running my own ad agency/marketing company of 1 for 14 years, I got a new real live job in November. 2015, after searching for 3 years. It was the last time I painted, made jewelry, or anything else creative. I find I have just enough energy to get through about 4 days of work and commute (2.25 hours a day round trip, 76 miles). It’s sorta sucking the life out of me, and then I use the weekend to recharge (one day of piddling around, one day to get things done). It’s been brutal, but a regular paycheck I’m grateful in the extreme for.
Let me just comment that 1. it’s important to realize that whether you’re an INFJ or and ENTP, your E, N. I, F, j, S, etc. are ALL on a scale! Some people are a little more I than E. And some people are waaay more E than I. And so it goes for all the letters of the MBTI. And 2. it’s important to not use the letters as an excuse for where you are or who you are. If you know you’re an N (intuitive) for instance, instead of an S (sensor) this tells you mostly you make decisions using your gut intuition. BUT, you can develop and foster your S, helping you make decisions based on your senses. (Eyes ears nose etc etc.) So, this is really REALLY long now, but I think I made some good points. Hang in there everybody– but take it from a 58 years old who did NOT have access to this kind of sense (Emilie) when she was 28. Use it. Learn, adjust, and use it to make a better life for yourself. It’s really important once you get past 38 or so. Love to you Alll. And will close with that lovely Mary Oliver quote that Emilie reminded me of: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Get busy.
Oh, and if you’re keeping track, I’m an Aquarius. Also, I wanted to sign up for weekly emails– so had to submit again.
Enneagram 5, INTJ.
I think your personality type might just influence what type of multipod you tend to be. Barbara Sher’s Refuse to Choose has a great run-down of some different ways to be multipods or “scanners” in her terms.
INTP here. I don’t know what enneagram I am since I don’t care enough to spend money on finding out (perhaps there are free tests but I bet they will cost me endless newsletter clutters instead 😉
It seems to me the “curious about many things” might usually come with some other specific traits, but not always, and mostly all the rest that we are is as diverse as people are. Nobody says that gays always like apple pie or accountants listen to Barry Manilov, right? (ok, some probably do say things like that, but…)
You can always find similarities if you want to. It’s a thing we do, it makes us feel safe for some reason. But I’m not a cat, I don’t enjoy sitting in boxes.
Ok, so I got curious – apparently according to one test I’m 5w4. Whatever that means.
Sorry to be spamming you here – managed to read the description before I rush out the door, and the 5 is spot on. In case you’re making a tally. 😉
How that corresponds to the INTP I don’t know, but it mentions specializing. Which I do, but only until I get the urge to learn something new…
INTP/J, Enneagram 5
INFJ, Pisces (cusp, if I’d been born 2 hours and 22 minutes earlier I’d have been Aquarius), Year of the Dragon. Not taken any of the other tests but might try a few now.
I’m Virgo, and according to internet tests, INTJ and 5w6.
I am an ENFP, all the way. I’m also a multipod! I think the two go together perfectly, because my M-B type likes to try new things and gets bored easily. We also like to shout our passions from the mountaintops and like including others in on our findings. Sounds like a multipotentialite to me! 😀
Also ENFP … Nice description, Mel! 😀
I’m an ENFP multipod too ! 🙂
I’m ENFP too. I totoally agree that being an ENFP and a multipod go hand-in-hand.
I’m an ENFJ, Sag/Cap cusp and HSP. I see how these traits mingle with my (sequential) multipotentialitism (a word??? :)), but nothing explains my hyper focus on a particular passion at a time the way MP does.
I totally agree that we’re all over the place! And am stoked to have found your blog and community, by the way. 🙂 Thanks for all you do, Emily!
INFJ, Gemini, Snake for what it’s worth 🙂
I am an ENFJ. I feel like the “E” and the “F” are the most important parts of my multipotentialism. I live life through my feelings, which are subject to change so I change a lot!
I’m a full-blown multipotentialite and not your 7 type at all. I am a 9 in the Enneagram (both wings), an INFP, a Poet/Lover, not into astrology.
I think we have to be all over the place as you said, even though I read in a Jungian personality typing book called “King Warrior Lover Magician” that Lovers might be very close in their workings to Multipodes. Very insightful, avid discoverers and experimenters of anything beautiful, sensual or interesting, always in search of a new experience with a tendency to drown into sensations/sense and get addicted to the search.
But Magicians could fit into as well. Masters of knowledge and technology and driven by curiosity too.
Left-brainers anyway.
16 personalities has the extra letter on the end. You can be either a -A or a -T.
I’m an INTP -T. Apparently that is described as “constant improvement”. Very fitting for a multipotentialite.
To be honest, most, if not all of these tests have little scientific depth. We seek confirmation of how we (want to) see ourselves, and that’s what these tests do. You could just as well read today’s horoscope…
I’m seeing a small but definite skew towards FP types here. The same thing is happening on the MBTI thread in Puttytribe.
For the record, I’m ENTP so this isn’t about my seeing what I want to see. 🙂
I am an INFJ!
I love Emilie Wapnick – her Ted Talk made me put things into perspective and live life again!
Hi Emilie,
One thing I have noticed about every personality or skills inventory or learning style test I have ever taken is that the answers and the results are really situational and dynamic. I would even go so far as to posit that the more multipod a person is, the more dynamic and responsive to situation is there personality.
To borrow some lingo from programmers, we multipods have dynamic polymorphism. The standard tests are trying to classify a moving target with a static template. I don’t think any of them were designed from the start to accommodate a recognition of that; they can therefore not reliably classify multipods. Perhaps your major contribution to study of personality can be to design a test of how dynamically a person’s profile changes in response to different situations/interactions.
All of life is in the derivatives. Nothing, literally from the way sensory input enters out brains to the formation of our inner thoughts and our perceptions of space and time, is absolute. It is therefore highly implausible that personality is not also derivative and reactive.
Stephen…you are so right!!!
LOVE your perspective on this.
<3 B
Now THIS makes sense! I was a total extrovert as a kid, then had a long phase of total introversion, and now feeling like a bit of an ambivert (a term I just learned here!). Every time I took the Meyers-Briggs test I always answered to myself, “Well, it depends on the situation!”
Absolutely. You could give me the same test 3 times and I’d answer differently depending on the day.
INFP, Aries. Just tested, surprisingly i am Type 5! I guess it doesn’t matter which “types” you are. You can really doing what you like and what you interested in.
I think Nancy has got it right when she suggests using personality tests and the like to know yourself better and work on the areas you know to be a weakness. I love the tests because they are fun but I take them lightly and I don’t really see a correlation between my results and other multipod ‘types’.
I don’t think the exact nature of your multipotentiality matters to anyone but yourself but for the record…….the Enneagram Type sampler came out equally at 7/8 which makes me an extrovert but that is in contrast to my ISTP result. According to Gallup my strengths are futuristic, strategic, learner, intellection and competition. Oh and I’m a Capricorn and a Tiger. However my mother blames it all on the fact I was born on a Thursday as apparently ‘Thursday’s child has far to go’.
I’m ENFP and Gemini and have been told I’m practically the walking stereotype of a multipod but I believe that multipotentialites can be all personalities. After all, there are many different that I, being my types, would find boring and restricting but that others could find fascinating in several different ways and uses!
Hi global family!
Greetings from Scandinavia, Finland.
I am an INFJ(/INFP), HSP, creative & study multipotentialite, and maybe should have a test how Asperger (Autism) I am. It’s a combination with a lot of challenges during the day, but ’cause I have a shop of my own, it keeps me on the road as the boss of my life. Need though a lot of time on my own to keep the balance together. Totally thinking I wouldn’t change my life for millions of dollars, it is so mentally rich otherwise. 😀
I went through a career change process a couple of years ago. Went to see a couple of conventional career coaches before I was even aware I was a scanner.
I took the Myers-Briggs and other tests, and got widely different results every time I did them!
I got so frustrated and thought there was something wrong with me, until I another coach told me I was a scanner and that I should read Refuse to Choose. Finally, it all made sense.
I don’t think scanners/multipotentialites can be easily pigeon-holed in the way that non-scanners can.
Hi!!! I’m an ENFP!! And my husband is an INTJ…and we are BOTH multipotentialites 🙂
Of course we are also the “little black sheep” of our families..and we’re not afraid to keep it that way. We used to, and still fall into the trap sometimes in believing that something is JUST. PLAIN. WRONG with us!! But the more we grow and learn and develop, the more confident we can be in our own skin…not having just ONE thing that defines us as a person..
Being able to easily define ourselves DOES feel secure, but eventually we come to realize the entrapment. It’s just impossible for us to fit into a pre-defined role or mold that others seem to jump into happily!
For instance, I was just offered (2 weeks ago) a very good job promotion…created just for me…and I just HAD to turn it down. I just know myself and I could not commit the time. I CHANGE too rapidly to commit that time! I kept getting messages intuitively that committing an ENTIRE YEAR in a job role, in a location I am not thrilled to be in is just completely unsettling to me!
Because here’s the deal.. When will I ever have time to work on ALL the things that I love doing?! Writing on my blogs, performing music, inspiring people, going on ADVENTURES, learning about myself through it all..Currently, I’m finding it hard to do these things and I’m only working 35 hours/week…in this new role it’s salaried…who KNOWS how many hours that will entail? And then, where is my life going…and for WHAT? Security?
I don’t know about you other multipotentialites out there, but I think that’s what makes us different..we value growth over security. We would MUCH rather have a little less money if that means we get to truly LIVE this one life we’ve got now..And WHO says we can’t have BOTH?! (I’m still working on that belief, but it shall ring true for me in the right timing!) 😉
Wow, I wrote a lot more than I expected, but I hope whoever is reading this right now can be inspired or helped by any of the words here..We are all perfectly messy and beautiful and wonderful humans. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! <3 <3
(Yep, definitely ENFP coming out there, haha! But it's true!! Okay, bye!)
LOVE IT!!! ENFP, too… tho with ambivert times, as well. YES!!! Growth always tops “security” for me, too. Thanks for your excellent message! Nice to know I’m in such great company!! 😀
I tried security over growth for a while (getting older!) but once the growth slowed right down and I wasn’t given enough space to be creative in the job, that was the end of that job. I just cannot fathom how people can stay in that kind of job stagnancy. I know it’s often out of necessity, but it causes me agony to be in that space for too long.
Nicely put Brittany.
I resonate with your “Job” example. My bosses want me to take a top role in company when the GM retires. I’m not interested in as that “security” sounds shackling to me. My wife has fear of the unknown though so leaving a JOB is proving challenging to me. I’ve taking baby steps and hopefully she will come around. Full time job is crushing me.
Thanks a lot for this one.
Have not taken the other personality tests as not sure if the costs will justify the knowledge?
Clint.
I’m in NF camp. Or to fully explain I’m an ENFJ for the most part. If/when you talk about Myers Briggs types in an abbreviated fashion i.e. less than all 4 letters, it’s more common to just use the middle 2 letters – for example I’m an ENFJ so I’d refer to myself as NF for starters, and a lot of people I know who have NT as the middle 2 letters of their types also refer to themselves generally as an ”NT”. When the discussion deepens, then you can get into the 1st and 4th letters assuming you didn’t right off the bat. This is because the 2 middle letters refer more to what is at the core of ”how your brain works”, the others letters refer more to how you do what you do, or your ”style” perhaps. For example, the difference between INFJ and ENFJ is that the INFJ is more Introverted, logically then the ENFJ is more Extroverted but their ”essence” if you will is NF so they are very much on the same page in the way they view the world, one just goes about it a little more loudly than the other. And yes, intro vs extro is an important difference but it’s not so much about your core philosophy nor is it about how your mind works (which is very much based on the 3rd letter). For example NF is more touchy feely whereas NT is typically more analytical and methodical (i.e. F ”feeling” and T ”technical”), both are iNtuitive but see/visualize things very differently. So if you’re not going to use all 4 letters to describe your type, then at least start with JUST the middle two (and not the first 3), and then bring in the 1st and 4th (assuming you don’t right off the bat). And just in case you’re curious, even though I’m an ENFJ, I was borderline I for E, borderline S for F, so ENFJ but very close to INSJ, the difference being aside from the intro/extro part I just explained, a person with the last 2 letters of SJ is going to be, in a nutshell, a little less patient and perhaps more ”with their feet on the ground” than someone with FJ as the LAST 2 letters – they’re again both very much on the same page but as an example, an ENFJ will be often more ”up in the clouds” with big picture concerns whereas the ENSJ will be more about staying grounded and focused and ‘getting shit done now”, they both wanna get the same shit done, but the SJ is typically just not as interested in philosophizing about it for too long up in the 100,000 ft view strata if that makes sense. NFs are really big picture folks, and are willing to stay up there till they get a clear understanding of whatever situation they’re dealing with, and it’s great to have i.e. a ENSJ around because they help make sure you stay on track and get shit done in a timely manner, though this can differentiate them at times because sacrifices need to be made for time constraints, thus NF and NS are not always on the same page, just like NT and NF. NTs are great because they can view things in ways an NF might not be able to initially. These are just a few examples and by no means exhaustive so I didn’t mean to leave any particular type out. Hopefully this will help those of you who are new to Myers Briggs wrap your head around it (I spent 2 semesters in grad school working with MB type projects/studies, not an authority per se but I put some hours into it).
Hey Alejandro – thanks for sharing this. This makes sense – I feel an affinity to ‘NFs’ – probably because, as you nicely articulated, those middle letters most make up “our core”.
I think it makes sense that mutlipotentilites cover all spectrums of personality types. Like some here, if I do a ‘test’ more than once, I rarely, if ever, come up the same more than once. It has bothered me a little in the past, but in reality, I hate pigeon holing myself, so what else can I expect but varied end results?
Having said that, I was intrigued that the rarefied INFJ pops up here. The link might be dubious but the opening line of my INFJ report (apparently I’m one too) is “INFJs are distinguished by both their complexity of character and the unusual range and depth of their talents.” (http://typelogic.com/infj.html).
Is there a link? We are what we say we are. If it helps us to think this way, then why not? But if it becomes another way of including and excluding people, then let’s keep everything as open as multipotentilites are. Wide, deep and intensely curious.
I’m an Aquarius. An ESFP. A Enneagram type 4 or 7 (the test was inconclusive :-)). Probably an HSP and a confirmed High IQ-er. And many other things.
No, I don’t think by default multipotentialites are already fitting into some framework. Rather, I think that due to their many interests they often have inconclusive tests.
You reminded me of a fantastic book that anyone with introverted tendencies (or anyone who is curious about introversion/extroversion/ambiversion in general) might like to check out. It’s called “Quiet” and it’s written by Susan Cain. She also delves a bit into the nuero science and psychology of introversion and extroversion (so it’s a highly interesting read in that regard as well).
Modern culture idolizes extroversion much in the way that it venerates the idea of “one true calling”. In some ways, reading this book was affirming for me in a way that finding the Putty community was. It made me feel less like the way I am is something that needed “fixed”.
Oddly enough – I’ve taken the Enneagram test and the Meyers-Briggs tests several times but I’m not 100% certain I’m recalling my “types” correctly. (I tend not to remember things beyond what’s immediately relevant to things in my direct purview. I “relearn” a lot. I think because figuring it out is more interesting than memorizing it.).
I know I’m an ambivert and I believe I scored INTP and enneagram type 5. I think the concept of ambiversion ties a little bit into Stephen’s thoughts above – I swing pretty heavily between introversion and extroversion depending on my environment.
I’m an ENFJ and a Type 4.
Also of note is that on the “born for this” quiz I’m a “creative independent”
https://bornforthisbook.com/quiz
I’d guess that lots of multipods are the same.
My MB type is INTJ. I am a Virgo, born on the cusp of Libra. My Ennea type is 9, with wings of 5 and 6. I don’t fit the “norms” mentioned above.
I think we are all unique, with varied interests. I do think mulitpotentiality is nurtured by environment, passed on from generation to generation. My grandad was a salmon guide and tourism host to a few celebrities back in the fifties. My dad was a carpenter, jack-of-all-trades. He always was up for doing something new. Me, I am photographer and tourism writer (more focus has been on the photography, the tourism writing is in the beginning stages).
Only common thread, as I interact here and see multipotentialites as I interact with the offline world is that without fail (I’m waiting for exception) multipotentialites are non-conformists in some way, either big or small, visible or masked behind a so-called normal life.
I’m also an Enneagram 5 and I’m an ENFJ (apparently). I agree with many of the other comments here that the personality tests are constructed around “norms” which we tend to fall outside. hence, probably few of the tests give an excellent fit.
All these alleged tests need to be taken with a massive pinch of salt as most of them have been debunked as being highly inaccurate and having no scientific basis. As an educator the idea of learning styles might be interesting but reality is not that we have preferred “Learning styles” but in most cases our brains all work better if we learn by doing i.e. involved in active learning, most of my teaching uses Inclusive learning, Universal Design in US.
Myers_Briggs has been debunked several times e.g. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-28315137
Tests are aimed to try and categorise and the last thing we want to be is categorised. Also as soon as we are categorised, or people try and categorise us, we metamorphose into something different.
I’m an ENFP! I love it, but hate how sometimes people view me as scattered and flighty as well! But…I would hate that…because…I’m an ENFP…hahaha. Thanks for the email!!
Seems like many multipotentialites are HSP’s
I’m a Leo, Enneagram type 6 and INFJ-T type ‘Advocate’. This is supposed to be rare (1%).
Reading all these comments seems to show that most multipotentialites are HSP’s. As for everything else. We seem to be a mixed bag… just the definition of multipotentialites isn’t it?
MBTI: INFP-A
Zodiac: Gemini sun sign, Saggitarius Rising, and Pisces Moon
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Enneagram Type 9w1
Draw whatever conclusions you may from these.
I’m trained in life sciences, I’ve been a multi licensed financial planner, an electronics assembler building prototypes, a fine arts guy, a salesman, a writer and marketing professional, and I’ve even been a chef. I tend to think that I need to draw from everything to synthesize an appropriate response and solution that will work. I make connections very easily to things that don’t seem congruent.
I don’t really label myself as a creative. I work in tech, but I’m not a techie. I am not a bean counter, but I know how to and can appreciate the beans – magical or not! I’m not a niche person, but I swap in and out of niches faster than a multi-colored click pen changes colors. I’m not a time manager type, but I value time by finding ways to transcend it.
I’m just happy to find other like-minded individuals and provide support.
From my MBA studies, Myers-Briggs is nonsense. It was developed by amateurs with no background in psychology or any other behavioral field. There have been several tests of the Myers-Briggs framework, and in many cases the same person, taking the same test, will end up with very different results. I’ve taken it several times, and while I tend to get one type more often than others, I’ve also ended up with 5-6 other types, depending on the specific questions, mood, etc.
Aside from that, my personal experience is anecdotal at best, but I’ve not found much correlation between multipod traits and other personality archetypes. They may be unrelated, which would be a great thing if true on a larger scale than my personal experience. It would mean that multipods are capable of a wide range of diverse perspectives and motivations.
If being a multipod were correlated to a specific personality type, I would be disappointed, because that means that personalities that do not correlate with being a multipod would be less likely to contribute their uniqueness to the multipod whole.
INFP with some ENFP tendencies, cancer on the cusp of gemini. I just can’t settle on a darn thing!
Female INTJ and a Scorpio. I think I’m a type 4 as well. My parents constantly tell me I’m too flighty, irresponsible and unrealistic even though I find myself to be fun and unpredictable yet responsible.
Yup. I was exactly the same as above. Experienced all the same judgements on. But it is working out well for me….at least I feel so. People have a tendency to judge too much.
For what it’s worth, I’m a 60 year old Leo INFP. Haven’t tried any of the other tests though…
I’m INFJ, Aries, HSP, empath, healer, empowerer, fairy. I personally would find it really interesting to do a survey to find out if there is any common ground between multipods in regards to testing/astrology etc. Also for the reason that it would be lovely to talk with others who ‘get’ exactly where I’m coming from. From every aspect of who and what I am. For example, how does being highly sensitive affect how multipods operate? Nothing wrong with playing with labels 🙂
Hi Clair, I am a libran, HSP, empath, (fairy) ISFP, borderline ambiverted -peopley person. I scored widely across the enneagram test. I like your question. I am currently jobless and have been for quite some time due to health issues but I also think it’s my highly sensitive nature that affects the way I work. I’m definitely a multipod and I don’t suit most work environments because of who I am. I get You!
Very interesting comments throughout! I’m an INFP and an Aries – but that in itself is sort of weird as Aries aren’t typically so introverted – or are they??? I’ve never heard of the other tests, HSP or Enneagram – must go check those out!
INTP/J, Enneagram 5, Scorpio. Most of these frameworks (with the exception of astrology) are self-assessment personality tools, so should be looked upon with some skepticism. They are only as accurate as one’s ability to assess one’s self (I personally find it difficult to see myself with the greatest of accuracy, and when you consider that a great deal happens subconsciously and is constantly in flux, seeing one’s self accurately seems to be quite the moving target). With astrology there doesn’t seem to be any underlying logical schema (no offense to anyone into astrology). That being said, they (personality tests) seem to be a somewhat decent GENERAL indicator.
Comment Stats (so far):
MYERS-BRIGGS
INTJ: 7
INFP: 6
INTP: 5
INFJ: 3
ENFP: 3
ENTP: 2
ENFJ: 1
ESFP: 1
ENNEAGRAM:
INTPs & INTJs: mostly 5 with 6, 4 and 1 less infrequently
ISFP/ESFP: 4 including one 4/7
ENTP/ENFP: 7 including one 7/6
ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS:
All over the map, there are 2 INFJ Aries
I am an Enneagram Type 7! But an ENFP in Myers Briggs. And a Libra if that matters…
There’s always danger with this kind of labelling – it can bring some insights and understanding but it can also give you an excuse to act in a certain way. I think it can be helpful to do these tests and learn what we can from them but we shouldn’t allow them to dictate our lives, or to pigeon hole each other! 🙂
Hi,
Very interesting as I have wondered these things as well. I am an INTJ although I test as an INTP quite often so I am somewhere between the two. I couldn’t decide on the Enneagram between a 5 and a 7 and my score on those was exactly the same. I am HSP, but didn’t know it until I googled it based on your email containing the letters and my having no idea what they stood for. 🙂 I just took the test and yes I am. Now I have another book to order and read, thank you 🙂
I can see how personality type could be an influencing factor as some personality types are so rigid in their determination to do one thing and do it perfectly, which is not us.
I am an Aquarius and that fits with being a mulipod too I’d say, but that’s possibly a meaningless coincidence.
Blessings,
Laura
You got me! I typically avoid commenting but this is the work I do so how could I not…
Stephen your comment is spot on. No one has created a scientifically valid and reliable Psychometric Test for Multipods to date.
All the existing tests out there are not designed to test Multipotentialites. Myers Briggs is NOT scientifically valid therefor one can assume that results will vary depending on the age and circumstances of the tester over time.
I test people for a living so I have probably taken more Psychometric Assessments than most. I would say, the first order of business would be to use scientifically valid and reliable test ONLY.
Second, understand that Multipotentialites come in every shade and color so probably not going to see any parallels regarding the existing tests, other than most Multis are creatives and most creatives test NF in MyersB.
Third, there could be an argument for a (DNA) gene or Genetic Energetic predisposition. My father is a Multi but my mother is not. Is there a specific gene at play here? I suspect so….
Without scientists studying our genes, there is no way to know for certain. I do think Nature plays a role here more than Nurture. Most, Psychometric Assessments are more Nurture based.
Speaking of which, I am looking to beta test a course I have written for female entrepreneurs, (but men can use it too) which is based on 3 scientifically valid psychometric assessments, Genetic Energetics, Hypnosis and whole slew of other great stuff to help women wanting to become entrepreneurs define an ideal online business. The course isn’t ready yet, but since we are all talking about Assessments, I figured this would be a good group to present this too.
The course is FREE to my beta testers. All I ask is for a testimonial IF and ONLY IF the course is useful. I am planning to launch in December. Will beta test in September. I am giving this away to the first 250 people who sign up with the intention they will give me honest feedback. After that the course will cost $2000.
Lots of cudos goes out to Emilie. I have credited her in the sales pages. Her Renaissance business is a beautiful accompaniment to my business. The two work together nicely.
All the best,
Aimee
Hi Emilie,
Such an interesting post. I sent you an email a few days ago, but was inspired to comment here. I’m also an INFJ and have yet to meet another one. I test very strongly as one since I have taken the test multiple times with no change in outcome.
I’m also a Scorpio, which a lot of people have said is an odd combination. I don’t think we should rely too much on labels (especially as multipotentialites, who are, by definition, difficult to pin down) but they can provide a good framework and insight into ourselves. Great post, it’s interesting to find out how different people can be even within such a specific community.
Thank you!
Sarah, while you seemed to have posted this quite some time ago, I too am an INFJ/Scorpio. I have tested my Enneagram and tested as a 2; however, I was a very close 4 right behind that.
I think that while I have a lot of “Scorpio traits,” I have tried to utilize the best of those traits, and try very hard to work on controlling the “uglier” ones.
Hi! I’m INFJ-T, enneatype 4, taurus, Relator
Restorative
Individualization
Learner
Activator
and I’ll add I’m Vata-Pitta (Ayurveda), indigo child 🙂
Me too Michelle ? Love to chat with you
Sorry, Michela ?
I’m an ENFJ! I think it seems likely that there’s frequently some overlap, but always exceptions.
Astrology has been thoroughly debunked, however, so I have a hard time thinking that certain “signs” have anything to do with anything else. My mother and I are both Libra, but we are complete opposites, and I personify very few characteristically “Libra” traits. 😉
I am surprised that many multipotentialites say they are J types in Myers–Briggs. The last letter is actually one of the most misunderstood letters. In a nutshell, a Judger has an abstract mind so they usually are externally very organized to make up for the lack of internal structure. Perceives have structured thoughts so they don’t really need organization. This is why many people don’t get their type correctly: for example, they have logical and methodical brains so they think they are a J, because the description says Judgers are organized. But that organized mind just means they are in fact Percievers. Anyway, I would think most multipotentialites are Percievers because Ps are known to be more adaptable and comfortable with change while Judgers don’t do well in rapidly changing environments.
Yessss. That might explain why I struggled with that one on testing.
Nobody who has seen my desk (or my garage or the barn or…) would tell me I’m J…
As for astrology: completely arbitrary. The alignment of stars at the time of your birth never had anything to do with your personality. I hope no one actually uses astrology to describe themselves.
ENTJ through and through. Equally a 5 and a 7 on the Enneagram. Hardly surprising that all those traits that make you a multipotentialite are also conflicting. That’s half the fun.
I too an an Aquarian, with Pisces rising, which means that Aquarian has been my nature but as I evolve, I am longing, leaning toward a Pisces nature. No air in my chart!?? ! Whenever I take those kinds of tests, two things tend to happen; The answer to the question the way I would answer is not there. And, I am never one type, by two or more. I am not one-dimensional. I question everything all the time. I think truth is an evolving thing, so I wouldn’t get caught up in defending it to the death. I am suspicious of people with great certainty.
My point is labels are limits… And haven’t served me all that well. I felt terrible for so long about not “solidifying” for everyone. But I see now how I have served so many when they have gotten stuck or trapped by their own thinking or perceptions.
I score differently on the personality tests depending on how I am feeling about life the day I take it. I grew up in the nomadic military dependent lifestyle, we moved a freakin’ lot. I believe myself malleable to any given situation because of that. I am good at identifying patterns because that makes it easier to see where you can fit in. I believe that may also be the root of my curiosity about everything. Even if you know just a little about something you can have common ground with someone when you first meet them. But I guess my point is, I don’t think we as multipods, are confined to the four-letter spectrum, I think we encompass a bit of all the letters.
Hi!
I`m from Russia, so sorry for my english 🙂
I think, multipotentialites not belong to certain groups. I am ISFJ, my friend is ESFJ and multipotentialite too. multipotentialites are diffrent! DNA are different, and their never-ending number.
Also some people think, that division of people by type of Myers-Briggs too hard, and there are types that do not fit into this scheme.
It would be all too easy, if multipotentialites were the same
Male, INFP, Enn 4, Capricorn, Firehorse (Chinese), Gay,
I’m an INFP, Enneagram 4w5, taurus, multipod.
I think any type can be a multipod… but i would have a tendency to think that MAYBE proportionally, there is more intuitives (N types) multipods. It’s just an hypothesis though.
To know more about the Myers-Briggs personalities, i really recommend the Personality Hacker podcast and website. It’s really top quality content, and mostly focus on iNtuition and iNtuitive types.
INTJ
I am an INTJ who sometimes scores as an INFJ. High HSP. Enneagram is 5w4. Western astrological sign is Cancer with Aries rising and Moon in Libra. Eastern astrological sign is Fire Monkey born in the hour of the Rat. Some consistency there but a whole lot of opposites as well. Perhaps the multipotentialite tendency arises out of the tension of opposites?
I’m the same as Pamela above in that whenever I take personality tests, two things tend to happen – the answer to the question I would give is not there, and I am rarely one type.
I’m also an INFJ! I had a notion that NFJ’s would bring a large population to the multipotentialite community due to the world of ideas in our heads! When I watched your TED Talk, Emilie, I sort of guessed that you were as well. There definitely seems to be a connection here between Diplomatic personalities (NF’s) and multipotentiality. We want to bring the ideas in our heads into the world through various means, which often don’t overlap with those provided to us by the real world.
In any case, I don’t really think these categories matter a whole bunch, but they’re interesting to know and play around with.
I am an INFP – we multipotentialites definitely often rely on our intuition.
I’m an INFJ and a Sagittarius.
For being such a unicorn Myers Briggs (supposedly like 1.5% of the population), I seem to gravitate toward this type and am friends with many. We all seem to have the multipotentialite trait, too.
Recent tests put me in the ENFJ or ENTJ. The Enneagram thing was new to me. I got type 5, 3 & 1. Scorpio; Rooster; The Cure wrote the soundtrack to my life;Clara for Doctor Who companion, etc. These are fun tests, and I like finding out if I can learn something about myself, but my personality is always in flux. Until my 20s, there’s no way I would have gotten Extrovert. I was very introverted. My life experiences changed my personality. It would be interesting to see if personalities change more or less with multi pods. I’ve been listening to this Invisibilia Podcast that challenges the assumption of how stable our personality types are.
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/24/481859662/invisibilia-is-your-personality-fixed-or-can-you-change-who-you-are?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160624
I’m also an INFJ.
I’m too a four, a HSP and an INFJ. And I see myself as a multipotentialite. Cool!
Hey there!
I’m an INTP, sometimes INTJ, and unsure about the rest of the personality tests. For interest I’m a Libra, probably one of the first I have seen through the list of comments, though I really dont think when we are born can have any significant bearing on our personality inclination.
I consider myself a multipotentialite though I’m not a creative. For the most of my working life I am in the finance industry, but shifting between different functions to the current credit management. I seem to thrive when you throw me with new scopes of work and tight deadlines… uncanny ability to adapt. Oh and I was project managing in a startup hotel, doing all sorts of functions. It was by far the most challenging and interesting work I have ever done, and one of few that I actually look forward to turn up at work. Within 7 years of my working life, I have been in 5 companies. I’m a “serial jobhopper” termed by HR professionals. But seriously, to pass the 1 yr mark in any job is difficult becos I will be extremely bored by then.
Aside from work, I play the acoustic guitar in church on weekend services. For two years I learnt and play the drums (reasonably well) becos there was a need for drummers. Recently I got started on making functional items using leather, a craft that I’m honing, and one of the many interests that I have~
Hope I add to your datapoint! Haha…
This is the problem we face when we try to use labels to categorize people. It creates division and misunderstanding especially when we treat these labels as absolutes rather as simply tools to make sense of things. This is what psychology and much of Western science is so notorious about: it tries to divide things as if the only way to understand them is through treating them as separate pieces of a puzzle. But psychologists have began to criticize this and the very validities of “types.” Instead, a growing number of proponents are suggesting that human personality thrive in a spectrum that is not constant nor absolute. This is what I believe in because it makes sense. We change a lot and there is danger in caging ourselves in labels, types or categories even if that label is multipotentialite.
I got INFJ, The description was very flattering, especially since there are a lot of legends with that type – John Snow, Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, Aragon.. how tempting to attach my ego to such a thing, but it’s only a test.
I am an ISTJ, a 9 on the Enneagram with smatterings of 1, 5, 6 and 7, I am S (Perfectionist) on the DiSC type and on another profile I came up as a practical, flexible, analytical introvert. Introvert and perfectionist show up on almost every personality type test I’ve done. In whatever role I’ve held I’ve had to learn to adapt and compromise in order to function effectively however my preferences still guide much of what I do and how I behave.
This type of profiling helps me understand some of what I am as well as how I need to adapt when working/communicating with different people but they don’t define me.
Passionate, curious, sometimes frightening Leo here, and I’m also INSJ. Of course, that changes as we gain more life experience, but that’s where I was the last time I looked. No, there is no “template” for us. That is part of what makes us who we are, more interesting than most, and really frustrating to live with if you’ve got the wrong partner. Marriage 3 was the best 😉
I’m an INFJ, and an Aquarius. Have always been intrigued by the Enneagram, will have to finally give that a go!
I find it interesting that you have met a number of INFJ multipots as INFJ is supposed to be quite rare. I test as INFJ as well. But when I do personality testing, I often find myself saying I used to do/believe X, but not anymore, indicating changes in behaviours at least, if not in personality to some degree. I think star signs alone are pointless without a whole natal chart to start mapping the complexity of tendencies.
I test enneagram type 1, which has links to 4 and 7 (be more or less like 4s and 7s to balance) But the real question may be just how ‘puttylike’ are these tests!? I do take them with a little grain of salt. I have also read that if you re-test on MB 6 months to a year later, there’s a fair chance you’ll end up in another group! I find these tests more useful in admitting to myself areas of strength and weakness that I can make use of.
I am an INTP and my enneagram results remain inconclusive…in the most inconclusive way. Lol I scored 6 points for both Types 1 and 5, 5 points for Types 4 and 7, 4 points for Types 3 and 8 and 3 points for Types 6 and 9. So…irdk
In the words of Gloria Gaynor ‘ I AM WHAT I AM AND WHAT I AM NEEDS NO EXPLAINING’
(Singing, not shouting).
Boxes are for things not people.
Multipod, Aries, INTJ here. I used to be an INFJ for a very long time until recently that I graduated from architecture school. I guess having to do analysis and finding solutions all the time forced the T in me to come up instead of the F. This is a very interesting post indeed, I rarely find any INTJ and INFJ in real life but I’m surprised by the number here.
My Enneagram is 3, I’ve never taken HSP test, but all other things are kinda pointing my personality out in a way of a criminal mastermind(LOL), since I happen to be a goal-oriented, bold, introvert who likes challenges and solving problems, which seems suits being a multipod.
I’m an ENFP multipotentialite. I would hazard a guess that most multipotentialites are N (intuitive) and not S (sensate) on the Myers Briggs (and a quick glance at the above comments does not show S types). S people tend to be very practical, rather than conceptual, and happier to settle into one practical career. I doubt they would think about an ‘overarching theme’ in their interests because they do not tend to think thematically.
ENFP
Guardian/Idealist
Leo
In the wrong job
ISFP , Enneagram Type 4.
ENTP here. My Enneagram was inconclusive: I am all over the map, and it felt more like astrology than a type indicator to me. As a fan of Myers Briggs, I’m fascinated to see so many introverts in the multipotentialite world (at least, in the world of replies to Emilie’s blog!)
I had to Google HSP, and realized I had heard of highly sensitive people, but I’m not sure I’m in that category (definitely not in the SPS – sensory processing sensitivity – arena; I tend to barrel along physically while I’m deep in thought, following mental bunny trails and not aware of sounds or smells or other external things until I bump into them!)
As others have mentioned, labeling can be helpful or harmful; I have been reading a lot of psychology texts lately, and am learning about how much our childhood affects our adult lives. No matter what type I am, I’m seeing how much my personality was shaped (and misshapen) by early events.
Multipotentialite, ISTJ, Enneagram 5w6, Libra with Capricorn moon & Sagittarius ascendant, HSP, Aspie.
I’m an ENFP, and am a huge fan of my friend’s startup in the personality/team building space http://empatico.ca/. I try to not be prescriptive with any definition of the self, in the sense of foisting that upon others, because when I do my MB testing, I fluctuate between three different outcomes…depends on the day, apparently. We’re all complex and multi layered…
On Instagram, I noticed my fellow HSps in esoteric circles would include in their bio Myers Brigg, zodiac symbols for sun/moon/rising etc. It felt like an instant shortcut to understanding because they were speaking my language. An astrological sun sign is only one piece of the pie. It’s why someone might be an Aries, look like Leo but communicate like Taurus. In tarot groups, there is a very high % of INFJs. I’m a triple Leo, INFJ Empath. I use my intuitive skills and toolbox of tarot, astro/numerology to consult in a niche pet industry and cat lovers. It’s a sideline since I wear many hats!
INTP, Type 2 (with Type 5 a close runner-up), Aries (Libra rising)
I don’t like to pigeonhole myself either, but some descriptions are just too accurate. So apart from multipotentialite, I can safely identify myself as HSP and INFJ/INTJ, the latter depending on the situation. Never done Enneagram (will look that up some time, for yes, I rather like personality tests ;-), and don’t see much sense in astrology, but for those who want to make statistics of it, I’m a capricorn.
It makes sense that multipotentialites skew heavily towards the intuitive “N” types on Myers-Briggs. I definitely see INFP’s, INFJ’s, INTP’s, ENTP’s and ENFP’s that are polymaths/potentialities the most frequently in my work (I’m a personality type consultant, among 50 other things. 😉 )
I think that all humans are multipotentialites, its not like were robots programmed to fulfill only one task. In a world where were encouraged to fit into one specialty it is not surprising that the majority of people don’t encourage multipotentiality nor think that they are indeed one. I don’t think MPs fit into particular categories like a file drawer, all people are MPs. It is like Elder Scrolls or any other adventure game with a class system, you don’t just know how to wield one-handed swords nor two-handed swords, but you also know how to cook, fire arrows, create potions, whatever skills you set out to become proficient in. How could you be of any use if you’re an adventurer who ONLY knows how to wield a sword? This game called Life calls human beings to be proficient in a number of skills, otherwise men wouldn’t be men, women wouldn’t be women, kings wouldn’t be kings, and so on. Honestly I think part of being human means being a multipotentialite. Now that I’m writing this the word “multipotentialite” means to me one who manifests being, human “being”, to be, to be able to do something. Humans were designed to do many things, not just one thing, which is why I can’t settle for focusing on only one thing for my whole life. Besides, I want to be a game designer and being a game designer means being knowledgeable of subjects such as physics, philosophy, psychology, humanities, music, etc.
I’m an Enneagram 1, a Pisces, born in the year of the Earth Horse, and my Meyers-Briggs seems to change every time I take it, so I can never remember what I get most often. (just went and took a test now, got INFJ)
I love seeing the Enneagram come up – it focuses on underlying motivation rather than behavior, which I find vastly more consistent and helpful. Yay Enneagram!
It’s funny that you said INFJ’s like personality tests. I take them ALL THE TIME… I had never heard of the Enneagram test though. I came out as Top Three Types are 5, 1 and 4.
I think part of the Multipotentialite concept is that we are a constant mix of things… no two alike.
This was a great article, thanks Em!
Darrell Wolfe
Story Teller | INFJ | Intellection | Learner | Ideation | Achiever | Input | Multipotentialite
Leo, and I’ve shifted so much from the myer-briggs so much. Got INFJ, 15-18, INTP, then INTJ, then INTP again.. (Growth through life, learning hard lessons, being more careful with myself, etc.) I feel like it shifts depending on the mood I’m in with the test, and what my life has been like around that time. Though, it should be stated if I remember correctly, Myer-Briggs (big 16) has always been meant to be ‘in the moment’, and under Duress types can change to their polar opposites, or shift in entirely different ways. Oddly enough I find it amusing that my scores when broken down on a recent test found an odd.. Balance almost XD Almost entirely down the middle except the teeter tottering P-J.
As for Ennagram, I’m tired at the moment but I’m type 1. Pretty sure I’ve shifted around that too, but it’s been ages since I took it.
I am an INFJ. To reply to another person in the comments, some J’s are externally organized because they know their internal sphere is so scattered. It’s a survival mechanism. I have learned to love my planner.
I am a HSP, Technicolor existence, Sensory overload is a daily challenge
I am a Enneagram Type 1w2 – This is a new one for me, have to do more reading. 🙂 I think part of my type oneness comes from my birth order, first born overachiever, but that also can line up with the INFJ reality.
I find it interesting to look at these things especially in families where people get a similar environment to grow in but come out sooo different! Lots of multi’s in my family(five brothers and parents), all are musicians while also having other day jobs, entrepreneur, aircraft mechanic, car mechanic, bartender/event coordinator, Special Ed teacher, Elderly care, Stay at home dad (also loves to build things), and one of my brothers jobs is secret and he can’t tell us about his work in dangerous countries.
I try to use these types of things to inform my existence but never control it. Love the multiness of my existence.
The only MBTI correlation I’ve seen is the N-type. In surveys among Multipotentialites in the PuttyTribe and Scanners on Facebook, a very high 80% to low 90% of self-reported scores have an N in the type. All the other ones seems to be less strong, though F edges out T a little and P edges out J. There’s an even split for I and E.
On the Enneagram, I come out type 7, with 1, 3, and 5 tied for second.
If Multipods all took the Strengthsfinder test, my feeling is that an abnormally high percentage of us would have one of Input, Learning, and Context or combination.
Couldn’t see there’d be any correlation with Astrological signs — that makes no sense to me (but, I’m an INTP 😉 — besides, I’ve never felt any alignment with any astrological typing, Western, Chinese, Celtic, etc.).
I do not identify with being HSP. Others might say I have a lot of HSP traits, but I reject this label.
Already yesterday, or the day before, I wrote that this is all ‘scientific bollocks’, and it truly astonishes me how many of you so called ‘multipotentialites’ take this nonsense seriously. Of course, these tests are great fun (I guess…), but nothing more than that.
INTP here, and since having being interested in MBTI some years ago, I am pretty sure the correlation could be, as some others suggested, with the iNtuition part. In the INTP and INFP, Ne (that is, extraverted intuition), does a great deal in fostering the need for novelty, the search for new possibilities, ways of doing things or putting things together. In the INFJ and INTJ is Ni (introverted intuition) that assembles internal data in an intuitive way, looking at things from different perspectives, looking for correlations and links.
So it seems to me that the theory back up quite easily the claim that multipods are driven by the intuitive force of possibilities.
Yes, I think this makes sense.
I am INFJ – Enneagram 7 – Taurus. I don’t know about the other “tags” I’ve seen in the comments, but I’ll do some research.. it might be helpful for my circle of family and friends who still can’t figure me out. ?
I am ESFP – – Enneagram 7
Definitely is a miss interpretation to compare Enneagram type and being multipotentialte. they are different subjects 🙂
Interesting! It seems that the thing most multipods have in common is their strong intuition!
I’m an INFJ (but bordering on INTJ) and enneagram type 5w4 (bordering on 4w5). Also I’m an HSP. Just for statistics 😉
I’m an INFJ and a Gemini. So happy to have found a tribe.
I think there is a correlation between Openness (as in Big 5) and being multipotentialite, which correlates with Intuition in MBTI/Socionics/Keirsey.
Intuitives, especially Extroverted Intuition types, are more open to new ideas and information, and are constantly seeking it. (especially ENTP, ENFP, INTP AND INFP)
Because these types value AND are strong in Ne (Extroverted Intuition), this makes them constantly looking for new things and ideas to realize themselves/to apply/learn/gain understanding/etc.
I also believe that every multipotentialite has different ways they use those abilities. (example. Whereas an XNTP is interested in knowledge for understanding and inventing structures/systems, XNFP are more interested in the relation/human part of this)
Hi Emilie,
Thank you for this rich topic!
I landed on your blog after discovering the TEDx talk.
Great discovery to me…
Here’s a complete “career” description of ENFP profile on MBTI test.
It seems quite accurate to me ( I’m somewhere between ENFP and INFP).
Looks like a good match with your multipotentialist definition , isnt’it ?
https://www.16personalities.com/enfp-careers
All the best to you
Lara (from France)
I’m an ENFP too! (or between ENFP and ENFJ) The link was very interesting! But I think not all multipotentialites are ENFPs. Are all ENFPs multipotentialites? And what would be the personality descriptions of a multipotentialite of a different personality type? Very interesting!
INFJ Leo 7(numerology) Chinese Water Ox Enneagram inconclusive yet got type 2 with 2w3 4w5 5w4
Definitely a multipotentialist
I also wonder if HSPs (along with many INFJs I know) highly correlate to childhood trauma (like many people) and an overloaded/overworked limbic system/vagus nerve? Neurofeedback is a formidable pain-free, drug-free therapy to remedy anxiety, hyper vigilance et al. I learned about it from reading Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps The Score – the most fascinating book on neuroscience you’ll ever read. It changed my life.
I’m an ESTP, an Aquarius, not sure about HSP but Mensa tested for high IQ (not that it matters), Enneagram inconclusive.
I don’t think multipotentialites are inherently one part of anything, unless some typology specifically states there is a type of people who get energy out of doing multiple things at once..
I have no idea of all those tests. I think I am a Multipotentialite simply because of my too vast interests, my curiosity and constant want of learning new things, and my impossibility to be in some place forever.
I have a cold and fever right now too and it’s 92 degrees in NYC. 🙁
ENFP, 2w3, Gemini sun, Cancer moon, numerology 3, definitely an HSP, have always excelled academically (except for math lol/scares me to death) Fits me perfectly…I think. When I found this information, everything made sense. Lol 🙂
I am an INFP, 4w5, Scorpio. I’m also a triplet (female while the other two are male). My brothers are ENTP type 7 and ISTJ type 1. We are each so different like night and day.
Hey Rebecca – I’m an INFP and 4w5, too 🙂 And a gemini.
INFP Cancer
I think eveyone are curious lifelong learners, though maybe we have more curiosity and tend to never give up on learning or lose interest in learning. I definitely don’t think multipotentialites are a specific type of personality. No matter what type you are, you can also be curious (or not) and there is always what to learn in the types of fields that would interest you according to your personality type.
ENFJ, TYPE 7, PRICES…..
I’m really wondering as stated earlier if personality types affect the type of multipotentialite you are…
And how does ADHD play a role in this?
No. In my opinion, all of these are just small tools for our self-knowledge
humans can not be put in a bunch.
To iterate on what Andrew said on June 28th, 2016, a break out by mention of Meyers-Briggs types. Because, data:
– ENFJ: 16
– INFJ: 60
– ENFP: 33
– INFP: 30
– ENTP: 10
– INTP: 21
– ENTJ: 2
– INTJ: 28
– ESFJ: 0
– ISFJ: 1
– ESFP: 4
– ISFP: 2
– ESTP: 1
– ISTP: 1
– ESTJ: 0
– ISTJ: 3
Numbers don’t lie, but they can be misinterpreted. But it does look like Emilie attracts mostly intuitives, which are underrepresented in the population at large (27% vs sensors at 73%). For the record, I test as an INTP.
Thanks for the breakdown, Whitney!
I’m a capricorn, 5, INFJ.
So very interesting almost all multipots are intuitive types 🙂
(Astrology and enn apparently don’t work 🙂 )
I came here not only because I found out I’m a multipot. I was very curious about your mbti, i guessed you are an INFJ because of your speech/presentation (don’t know how to call it, not native English speaker).
MBTI is my last “obsession”.
I know this thread is quite old but I’m ESTP, Libra.
Study medicine for 5 years, then graduated from business school, I went to live in South Africa for a year and was extremely happy learning all about the animals there.
I’ll write more about my journey in another topic xD.
I’m an INFP, type 4, Gemini.
I am fascinated by these trends. For what it’s worth, whilst I try to be careful not to be so firm/self-limiting with ‘labels’, I have noticed that a lot of ‘NFs’ (and INFs, in particular), identify as being ‘highly sensitive’ / highly intuitive/empathetic.
I also suspect that there are ‘lots’ of INFs in this community (INFPs and INFJs).
Well after discovering I am not alone and can identify as a multipotentialite (thank you Emilie), I find I am alone again as an ISTP multipotentialite.
As an ISTP I use my external sensing (‘S’) to gather as much data as possible from the external world before making any decisions. Lots of research is involved. I rarely go by gut feel – I need information to feel comfortable in making a decision! I’m also very rational and logical. I like thinking through problems methodically (‘T’) using all the information I’ve gathered to come to the best solution possible. It does mean I can take forever to make a decision, but it is usually very well informed and weighs up a large number of factors… The ‘P’ reflects that I don’t like to plan too far ahead, tending to act more on the spur of the moment. Good for taking advantage of random opportunities (that is after doing a quick burst of research…).
My inner multipod has seen me in careers that have ranged between electronic engineering, landscape architecture/urban design, town planning and geographic information science. I have degrees/diplomas in the first three, and am working on a certificate in the fourth… Overall though, key threads have been an interest in fixing things, making things better, and the pursuit of quality. They’ve also explored the line between being more tech/engineer-ey and more creative – I’ve yet to find a role where I’ve been completely comfortable with the balance.
In all roles I’ve been initially very interested, I study, research gain employment, get competent in the field, then hit a brick wall. Through either loss of interest, inability to get good mentoring, or because I was being led towards something (usually promotions) that just didn’t appeal to me.
Over the years this has been greatly distressing, but now knowing that it’s part of a normal cycle for me that others have also experienced has been a great help in reframing how I view my actions.
Lately I’ve been hitting a wall due to my role throwing at me a combination of people who don’t share my value in quality, lack of opportunities to demonstrate best practice, and a lot of wasted work effort on my part. The thought of moving to another company doing the same role, even under better conditions is just not appealing to me. I feel I need a new direction or task, but at the same time I feel weary and don’t want the struggle of financial hardship as I skill up in a new career. Perhaps I just need a holiday…
Anyway it would have been nice to share experiences with other ISTPs but I guess there just aren’t many around…
Am i the only ISTP? 🙂
Hey, I am so glad that you wrote this post!
I am Type 4 (with a 5-Wing), Libra, INFP, and HSP.
INFJ, Cancer
On “ Are Multipotentialites a Particular Myers-Briggs/Astrological/Enneagram/etc. Type?”….
I only recently discovered the multipotentialite context…and it is an amazing insight! Before this, most of my life I always felt odd, different, and unusual among the majority of society. The Meyers Briggs Typology Index (MBTI) gave me some answers in the past, and my profile “INTJ”is often considered a “Jack of all trades” . So, for me, there is value and correlation between my MBTI typology and being a multipotentialite.
Hi Emilie, this article is a little dormant so may no longer be followed, however I’m so pleased that I found you and this site, thanks to my coaching mentor. I actually feel such relief and belonging, and now have a new lease on, well, everything! I am an ENFJ-A, Virgo cusp Libra. I’ve just completed my first Enneagram and I’m technically an 8w7 but actually have 6 types over 90%: 8 (98), 7 (97), 3 (97), 2 (94), 1 (94) and 4 (91). I cannot find anything on this on the web so wondering if you have any insight to offer? Cheers, Vanessa
Hi Vanessa! I’m a Virgo rising––hi! I actually did just publish an article about astrology and multipotentiality last week. In case you didn’t catch it: https://puttylike.com/the-astrology-of-your-many-passions/
Multipod, HSP, highly gifted and an INTP, libra…its not funny.
I think so.
My natal chart is full of mutable signs and I’m an ENFP. I also believe I’m a multipotentialite. Mutable energy, ENFP and multipotentiality seem very similar to me.
HSP, multipod, INFP, type 7, empath, “gregarious introvert” (my favorite label, as labels go)
Hi
I tested many times and made sure I was definitely an ENTJ.
As an HSP/INTJ/Type 5, and a certified astrologer, I have studied this conundrum for a few decades. While I have found some overlap here and there, there doesn’t seem to be any direct correlation of multipotentialities, one-to-one. There are elements that bleed over in all of the systems, but nothing definitive that I could point to to prove a point. As these personality systems (and I include astrology here) are pretty much grandfathered by Jung, I would say that there are also some overlaps between these systems and Jungian psychology. Oh, except Jung used astrology in psychology, he didn’t discover it. Cheers!