An unusually useful TED talk, especially for for INTPs

[Tannhauser]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZdcB6bjI8

 

[Inquisitor]

There are couple of nuggets of wisdom, but, it's mostly self-promoting bs...

Guessing she's an ENTP...

The one thing she is right about though is that some innovation does happen at the intersection of different fields. But that's only when you put specialists together, not one person who knows little about any of the fields in question. (Those are called consultants btw, and they talk a big game but generally don't know much, unless they are specialists themselves) The "multipotentialite" brings nothing to the conversation. But this kind of crap appeals to the young b/c loads of people have trouble narrowing down their interests. In reality, though, real fulfillment only comes from becoming the "go-to" person in a domain that suits your personality.

Being a serial entrepreneur, like this Wapnick, in different industries is a specialization in and of itself. In all cases, you're basically doing the same thing every time. Entrepreneurs are just as much specialists as lawyers, engineers, and scientists. Society needs new companies and new ventures, and those people fill that role.

Alternatively, one person can specialize in two fields, but it's much harder to do. For example a "soft science" and STEM field. Or statistician turned software engineer. Physician-scientist is probably one of the best-known examples, and there are very few of those with good reason. It takes 8 years just to get the MD, PhD, and then you also have to do a residency for another 3-7 years. Few people are willing to spend 11-15 years just on their post-college education before they start earning money. It really takes a certain kind of person to pull that off.

The world really doesn't need more multipotentialites...we are all multidimensional beings with many desires, interests, and needs.

As far as career advice goes, hers is shit. If you want to have fulfillment in your career, especially in this time of slowing growth and increasing regulation and global competition, you need to specialize, specialize, specialize. Get really, really good in one discipline. And if you want to be a super-star, having two fields of expertise, like I wrote about above, will go a long way in that regard. This actually is a better fit for INTPs, who enjoy studying and learning anyway, although maybe not jumping through loads of hoops...

 

[Tannhauser]

To some extent, one should have a speciality, I agree, and one should work hard at one's skills in that speciality. But I have to say that at some level, it becomes obvious that some people are simply made for specialisation while others are better at synthesising a broader range of ideas, and are less good at the esoteric technicalities of specific subjects. I have done a degree in math now, for example. It is quite clear to me now that I will never be exceptionally good at any specific area of it. I am much more motivated by (and much more skilled at, I would say) applying it in creative ways on a broad range of problems.

 

[Inquisitor]

To some extent, one should have a speciality, I agree, and one should work hard at one's skills in that speciality. But I have to say that at some level, it becomes obvious that some people are simply made for specialisation while others are better at synthesising a broader range of ideas, and are less good at the esoteric technicalities of specific subjects. I have done a degree in math now, for example. It is quite clear to me now that I will never be exceptionally good at any specific area of it. I am much more motivated by (and much more skilled at, I would say) applying it in creative ways on a broad range of problems.

Getting a PhD in math does not mean you will be restricted to studying one area of math your whole life. You can if you want, but you can also branch out into many different things. Math can be very creative in and of itself w/o being combined with other fields (physics, comp sci, econ, etc.).

 

[Sixup]

For once I agree with Inquisitor.

 

[Analyzer]

Guessing she's ENFP. ENTP's don't FEEL the need to proselytize people about being multidimensional. She seems to have a certain level of self-importance and concentrated ambition which is common in Fi-Te users. Also check out the hipster aesthetics.

 

[QuickTwist]

This is a great subject for a sunday afternoon.

 

[Inquisitor]

Guessing she's ENFP. ENTP's don't FEEL the need to proselytize people about being multidimensional. She seems to have a certain level of self-importance and concentrated ambition which is common in Fi-Te users. Also check out the hipster aesthetics.

Possibly ENFP, but she's currently trying to capitalize on this idea of "multipotentialites" with her startup Puttylike. She also went to law school. ENTPs are twice as highly represented in law as ENFPs.

Here's what she says on a blog post about the MBTI:

I don’t feel like I fit particularly well into just one of any of those profiles either. At least not at all times. I think maybe you’re too interesting to be told what you’re about (maybe a lot of multipods are). But that also means that it’s up to you.

Could be either one honestly. She is quirky though.

 

[Sixup]

I've seen her before in the self-help blogosphere. Rubs me the wrong way.

 

[Tannhauser]

I thought about the case of Da Vinci, who is often described as a polymath. It is true he had a wide range of interests, but without doubt his speciality was painting. One can for example read he was interested in mathematics and architecture. Interestingly, he was not very good in any of these.

Compared to the technological drawings by architects such as Bonaccorso Ghiberti or Giuliano da Sangallo, Leonardo's seem tentative, although they clearly reflect a desire to understand the mechanisms and their function...

[Leonardo] was apparently inquisitive but inconstant in his studies (judging from the fact that at forty he was not proficient in either Latin or simple mathematics)...​

--quotes from "Leonardo Da Vinci: the complete paintings", Marani​

Moral of the story: have a speciality but don't be ashamed of being interested in a lot of stuff

 

[Intolerable]

The one factor that tends to get overlooked all the time is that you WILL get tired of what you are doing someday.

It may not happen right away but eventually it happens. I prefer dual specialist. Having the ability to bounce between two highly creative fields is heaven for an INTP. Especially in the science and psychology fields. They are infantile yet and so have many years of growth potential.

I chose computer software and Art in college. I don't think I would go back on that. I still don't particularly dislike either and time flies. That tells me I'm content by any measure.

 

[WALKYRIA]

I already knew all this, and have seen this weird little female explaning her views.
But we all know that NPs require multiple things at the same time and can't stand to have one job only; what's new here?

 

[Aposiopesis]

Possibly ENFP, but she's currently trying to capitalize on this idea of "multipotentialites" with her startup Puttylike. She also went to law school. ENTPs are twice as highly represented in law as ENFPs.

Here's what she says on a blog post about the MBTI:



Could be either one honestly. She is quirky though.

Present it to her in terms of the functions, their order, and what they mean/how they describe how we tend to 'work' rather than laying out an entire profile of a person summarized in 4 letters. ENFP and ENTP are quite more different than a 'one letter difference'. If she 'gets' it (even if she refuses to be categorized), she's probably ENTP. If not, she's probably ENFP.

ENFP:

Auxiliary Fi and Tertiary Te

ENTP:

Auxiliary Ti and Tertiary Fe

The Ti and Te should be quite easy to distinguish for an NT, and the Fi aux vs Fe tertiary should also be pretty easy to nail down.

Remember: MBTI is a system.

My guess from briefly looking over her material and writing is a clever ENFP. Her apparent (and ironic) goal to organize and categorize these aimless "multipotentialites" in a 'fun' way reeks of (a decently developed) tertiary Te.

Also

Your pal and fellow multipotentialite,
Emilie

My experience with ENTPs is that random other people you've categorized as being one of you (and why would you do that to begin with?) are not "your pals." While you may seem fun and quirky to them, to them you are useful tools. I don't think an ENTP would so naturally think this way as to sell themself as 'your pal' in their signature. Wanting to feel like everybody's buddy is some Fi bullshit.

 

[Inquisitor]

I don't care enough to ask her what her type is. I'm not even sure she is an Ne-dom. Seems likely from what I've read, but certainly not guaranteed.

In any case, her advice is bullshit and to be disregarded.

 

[Brontosaurie]

Y'all kid. ENFJ as fuck!