Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

Last week, I fell in love with David Keirsey. This week, I'm in love with Sir Ken Robinson. This talk is from Feb 2006. Why haven't I seen it before? What an awesome person with an awesome vision for the future of education! He speaks my heart. This is what I've been trying to say for the past ten years, but did not have the right words...

In his hilarious TED speech, he touched my heart in places that were longing to be touched. I thought I was fighting a lonely and ineffective battle. But here's someone who is actually well respected and trying to make a difference. Bravo, Sir Robinson! (The video is 19 minutes but well worth it. Learn something, will ya?) :-)



One thing he said, though... When he was talking about women being better equipped to multi-task... I don't think that's a man/woman thing. I tend to think it's an S/N thing or SJ/NP thing. I am definitely not a multi-tasker, but my husband is. Any thoughts on this?

You can also listen to his lecture he gave in June 2008 at the award ceremony where he was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal by the UK's RSA (the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).

Breanne Potter's "You Might Be a..." Series

NEWS FLASH: Breanne has finished her 8-part preference series over at her blog. Yay!!!

She has graciously allowed me to have some input into her recent project from my ENTP perspective. It was soooo much more fun than I had anticipated. I have asked her to be a regular MBTI advisor here on my blog, holding periodic Q&A sessions with questions from my readers. It's just an idea in the works, and I hope it pans out.

So... if you have your very own MBTI question that you always wanted to ask an expert (but didn't know where to find one), save it for an upcoming "Bre-Day," which I hope to have here maybe once a month. Whadaya think?

Ethical Principals and Concepts

In response to Richard Wade's post from yesterday, I thought I'd provide some information that would be helpful for the readers who have not gone through the MBTI introductory workshop or those who have forgotten some of the information. I make sure I go over the ethical issues several times during the course of the workshop. There are always a few participants who are unable to grasp the concept and end up misinforming others they talk to. But I try to do my best to make sure they understand the ethical issues.

The following information is right out of the Leader's Resource Guide that I use, published by CPP :

The MBTI Tool is a self-report instrument. It reflects individuals' perceptions of themselves, not the opinions of someone else.
The Tool is nonjudgmental. Because each of the 16 personality types has particular assets and contributions to make to society, most people feel it enhances their self-undesrtanding and even gives their self-esteem a boost. In contrast, some psychological instruments leave people feeling deficient in some way or that there is a right and a wrong way to be.
The tool indicates preferences. There are no correct or incorrect answers. Instead, each answer casts votes for the way the user is energized, takes in information, makes decisions, or approaches life.
The MBTI tool sorts. Most instruments measure how much of a trait one has. The MBTI tool helps people sort into one of two equally attractive preference options. High preference clarity indexes do not imply strength or excellence in the use of a particular preference; rather, they indicate that a person was clear in his or her choice of that preference.
The tool is well researched. Myers observed people for more than 20 years before developing Form A. By the time Form M was released in 1998, thousands of dissertations and research studies had been completed. Over 7,000 bibliographic entries exist at the Center for A;;lications of Psychological Type, a repository of research about the MBTI instrument.
The tool dealswith everyday behavior of normal people. All of the eight preferences and 16 types are equally valuable ways to be.

Key Type Concepts:

Type is innate. People are born with their preferences.
Type can be influenced. Family dynamics, socialization, education, and other factors can influence people to act outside of their preferences.
Type is observable.
Type is not a box.
Type is not an excuse.
Type indicates preferences, not skills.
Type is a journey. People should learn to work with all of their preferences as they strive to reach maturity.

Guest Post: Not My Type

The following is a guest post by Richard Wade:

“I would have hired him but then I learned that he’s a Baptist.” [or substitute Catholic or Lutheran or Jew or Muslim or atheist or Sikh, etc.]

_______

“Yeah blogging is fun but you have to be careful because unless they put up a picture you can’t tell if they’re… you know, Caucasian.” [or substitute African or Latino or Asian or Middle Eastern, etc.]

_______

“Who’s that? He’s cute.”

“Oh him. Yeah, but he’s a Sagittarius. [or substitute Aries or Libra or Scorpio etc.]

Oh, darn. That would never work out. Forget it.”

_______

“I’m having a great time.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“So what’s your MBTI type?

“I’m an ESTP.” [or substitute ISFJ, or ENFP, or ISTJ, etc.]

“Oh……..”

“Something wrong?”

“No, I uh, just realized I’m late for an appointment. Gotta go, bye.”

I have witnessed variations of the first three conversations countless times and if you haven’t yet, eventually you will either be a witness, a participant or a victim of the prejudicial treatment that sadly often comes with categorizing people into groups and types. People who are insecure or immature feel anxiety when meeting strangers, and they are very tempted to grasp at anything that promises to tell them ahead of time information about others before they have to go through the risk and effort of actually getting to know the others. Although assuming that all sorts of traits go with categories of people is usually absurd and unfair, many people think they have an early warning radar system so they can avoid people they think would be “unsuitable” for employment, friendships or relationships.

It’s obvious that the person who is pre-judged suffers, but it is less obvious that the person who does that pre-judging suffers also. They are just as cheated out of gaining friends and allies that they otherwise could have had.

The opposite assumption can be just as destructive. People sometimes put themselves into positions of vulnerability without sufficient knowledge just because they are with someone who fits a category they think is “okay.”

The fourth conversation involving MBTI types might seem far-fetched but it carries the same potential for poorly informed and immature people to misuse it as a social filter, a category sorter for making quick judgments about others at a distance. As Linda has explained to me, this is a gross misuse of its intended purpose. The point is not to help divide people with diverse types but to help their diversity to interact better and enrich each other.

The sixteen MBTI types briefly described by the Myers & Briggs Foundation are not intended to contain the unique complexity of any individual personality. I agree with most of the description of my tested type, but hey wait a minute, over there are parts of me that are well described in some other very different types as well. I want some of that written in my little cameo profile also. Underneath those loosely defined and overlapping types are real people with an infinite number of subtle variables that flavor and color the qualities implied by those four capital letters, whichever they may be.

The point I’m making is this: Never assume that someone will be either more suitable or less suitable for you associating with them because of what type they are. Avoid the temptation to “peg” them positively or negatively ahead of time. You have to get to know them and that takes time, effort, risk and maturity. You certainly would want them to give you a fair chance, so be sure that you’re practicing that fairness on your end.

Despite the fact that my personal principles demand that I treat others fairly, I sometimes catch myself making assumptions about others based on some category long before I have gotten to know them. I have to challenge my pre-judging and remind myself to take each individual as an individual.

This does not mean that we must never make decisions about the suitability of others. Using judgment is not the same as passing judgment. It all has to do with whether or not we have gathered enough information to make a fair judgment. Admittedly, there are no hard lines around how much information is enough to be fair, but a single fact about a person’s membership in a category is not likely to be enough.

Is there anyone reading this who would be willing to acknowledge that they have used types to pre-judge others in the past? Has anyone experienced being on the receiving end of such treatment?

Richard Wade

Introducing Chuck Hillig

He (Chuck Hillig) said "Yes!" Yay!! Although he doesn't know how often he will find the time to share his thoughts with us here, I'm happy to have him however sporadic. Chuck has just finished recording the audio book version of his book "Seeds for the Soul."

Here is Chuck:

Some time ago, my friend Linda asked me if I’d be willing to make periodic contributions to her blog. After thinking about it for a few days or so, I discovered that I really couldn’t come up with a good reason to say “no.” As part of the deal, though, Linda asked me to initially write a short introduction about myself, and so here are some of the highlights: I’m a retired, unmarried and still-licensed psychotherapist who lived earlier in southern California for 37 years. After backpacking alone through 16 countries in SE Asia in 2006, I bought a home in Lake of the Woods near Fredericksburg. Some of the backstory: Although I was born, raised and educated in Chicago as a Catholic (the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Dominicans, and the Jesuits), I discovered in my mid-20’s that I was resonating spiritually more with eastern philosophies. In 1970, I became a devotee of Raman Maharshi and have gone on to write five easy-to-understand books on eastern thought, specifically non-dualism. Besides English, my writings have been translated and published in German, Dutch, Hungarian, Russian, French and (in 2009) Italian. They’re available through Sentient Publications in Boulder, CO, or through www.amazon.com. For more information about what I've been into (and up to), I invite you to visit my website at: www.chuckhillig.com or simply Google “Chuck Hillig.”

We don't always see eye to eye on spiritual matters, but I am always awed by his insightful thoughts.

There is a quote in his book "Looking for God - Seeing the Whole in One" which I love:

An Enlightened Man: He acts, yet is not bound by his actions. He reaps the fruits of past actions yet is unaffected by them. He has a body but does not identify himself with it. He rests within it like a carriage. He appears to be an individual, yet he is present in all things everywhere. If people provide him with comfort and luxuries, he enjoys them and plays with them like a child. He bears no outward marks of a holy man. He remains quite unattached to the things of this world. ~ Shankara

I believe that enlightenment has no religious boundaries and does not discriminate.

While I was searching for a picture to post with this, I found this German link (I think it's German), wherein Chuck is interviewed in what appears to be German about his book "Enlightenment for Beginners" (so it appears - I can't read German). Isn't that cool?

I look forward to his future posts here.

MBTI Faux Pas?

I think I might have committed an MBTI faux pas. I've been talking about David Keirsey and his books and products here on my MBTI blog. Hmmm...

I am a huge fan of David Keirsey. His website is where I first became interested in the type theory. I was under the impression that Keirsey's organization was synonymous with MBTI, or at least affiliated somehow. I was wrong.


The MBTI(r) is a separate entity from KTS-II(r) MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and KTS stands for Keirsey Temperament Sorter. They both deal with Myers' and Briggs' work. They both use Carl Jung's theory of psychological type. They both seem to be sound instruments. I don't know enough about the KTS to know the real differences between the two. Upon browsing the website, it seems that the Keirsey's programs are more focused on organizational development. The MBTI(r) and companies like CPP seem to offer more products that I'm interested in, dealing with relationships in general.

It seems that in the business world, everything is about the "brand" and the bottom line.

I spent all day today designing a brochure for my new business. I was wracking my brain trying to come up with ideas to get people to spend more money... to show them the value in what I offer. I was working on my "brand" as well. Is my focus turning toward money?

Where is that fine line? How can I run a business with a heart and not lose my vision? Am I fooling myself in trying to resist the temptation of the wonderful world of "show me the money?"

Four Temperaments and the Land of Oz

In Chapter 2 of Please Understand Me II, David Keirsey compares the four temperaments to the characters in The Wizard of Oz as follows:

Once upon a time, in the land of Oz, four individuals set out on a strange and dangerous journey. Each of them was lacking something vital to his or her nature, and each wanted to find the great Oz and ask him for his help.

Lion was lacking courage. Although a powerful, magnificent beast, he had grown cowardly and lost his self-respect, and he wanted the Wizard to give him back his nerve. "As long as I know myself to be a coward I shall be unhappy," he said.

Dorothy was afraid she had lost her way home. "Toto," she said to her little dog, "I don't think we're in Kansas any more." Though never really lost at all, Dorothy felt stranded and alone, and she wanted Oz to return her to the security of her Aunt and Uncle's farm. "There's no place like home," she said.

Tin Woodman believed he had no heart. As tender and sensitive as he was, he felt stiffened with rust and unable to love, and he wanted Oz to help him feel a warm, loving heart beating in his chest. "No one can love who has no heart," he said.

Scarecrow thought he had no brain. Although the most ingenious of the four, he considered himself witless and worthless, and he wanted Oz to make him smart. "Brains are the only things worth having in this world," he said.

Arm-in-arm, these four very different characters set off to the Emerald City to seek the Wizard's help.

Keirsey divides the 16 MBTI personality types into four temperament groups: NF, NT, SJ, and SP.

Those of you who are familiar with these temperaments, can you tell which character fits in with which temperament?

Future Leaders of America

I am excited to introduce a team of teen authors who will be hosting "Teen Tuesday" on my blog. I will reserve every Tuesday for them to share their thoughts, opinions, dreams, and plans to shape our tomorrow. They have so much to say on various subjects, including current events, music, arts, literature, and the teen culture. They will also share their creativity and their ability to have fun.

I want them to use this space to be free to be who they are with no reservations or fears. They are the future leaders of America. Feel free to encourage them, ask questions, or even engage them in a healthy debate. Don't be surprised to find that they can out-think you. :-)

I can't wait until Tuesday!!!

Teen authors, Be sure to indicate what your MBTI type is! :-)


(UPDATE: THE TEENS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THEIR OWN BLOG, MINDBLINK II)

Not Ashamed to Love

It's no secret. I am a "born again" Christian. Wait! Don't leave! I'm not here to force my spiritual beliefs on you. Anyone who knows me well also knows that I have a soft spot for atheists. Actually, I want to have respect for people even (and especially) when they have differing views than myself regarding...just about everything. I see everyone as my teachers. They all teach me something I may not already know.

There is such a controversy and turmoil surrounding religious beliefs all over the world. And words like "born-again" and "atheist" make so many people cringe. My rebellious nature wanted to explore and find out for myself who these "atheists" were that are said to be so awful. About nine months ago, I began by joining in on their discussions on a blog called the Friendly Atheist and getting to know them. REALLY know them. Genuinely know them.

There is a quote by Henry David Thoreau which I love:

"Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?"

That is the purpose in everything I do these days... to be able to see other perspectives... and to teach others to see them as well.

We are not that different. We are all unique in our own way, and yet we are all the same. If we just stop for a moment to look without the clouded lens... and listen, really listen, beyond the noise and the chatter, then we can see and hear a whole new perspective that we had not seen or heard before. And it is not right or wrong as we had thought... it is only a view from a different angle.

As far as the spiritual part goes, if you know what you know to be true for you... then what can possibly change that? Will respecting and loving each other change that?

The reason I am writing these thoughts here is because it is my passion to share what I have learned about people. It is my passion to learn and share the perspectives that are different from my own.

I want to learn about the different beliefs. I want to learn about the different cultures. I want to learn about the different lifestyles. I want to learn about the different personalities. I want to find out what and how others think. I want to learn what makes each of us unique and still fit into the big picture like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I believe that realizing and accepting our differences can teach us that we are also very similar, and... everything is connected. I tried to illustrate that in my video, but it's only one person's view. I know I am but one small insignificant note in the symphony of humanity.

The reason for my involvement with the MBTI stems from that.

Too Much Fun?

Is there such a thing as too much fun? I almost feel guilty calling this "work." Yesterday was the third lesson of my four-week MBTI workshop at my church. (Group #2)

I have to say... it is absolutely true what they say. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become, and the better presentation you will end up with. Including the two at my church, I have now done four group presentations.

Staying true to my ENTP preference, I changed up my lesson plan again. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: "Same" is a four-letter word in my book. :-)

I tried a different exercise with the group than what I normally do. It was a gamble, as many of them prefer Introversion. I split the group into teams of two to three and asked them to come up with something, anything, that they can teach to the rest of the group. They were panicked and confused about what was expected at first. Most of them were reluctant and hesitant to get started. But as I gave them some examples and lots (LOTS) of encouragement, they dove into their projects.

The first group, two ISFJs (reading tutors), taught us how to use the Wilson Language Program. It was fun and very interesting.

The next group, INFJ and INFP/J (Introverts, mind you), taught us how to flare our nostrils and the many practical uses for such a skill. They had all of us in stitches.

The third group, ENFP and INFP, got up and said they had so many ideas that they could not decide. They still had not made a decision and left it up to us to choose from four different options. Of course, we chose the "Robot Dance." Along with some techno music playing from a cell phone, we learned how to move like a robot... Hilarious!

The next group, three ENFJs (one of them a landscaper), taught us how to plant a tree the correct way. It was very informative with a nice illustration on the presentation board.

The last group, ENTP, ISTP, and ES/NTJ (assigned together just because they were the oddball types of the group), taught us how to fold a paper airplane. Surprisingly, the only Introvert of the group did most of the talking. Hmmm....

(That reminds me of an awesome TED video on origami you can check out.)

We were laughing, dancing, and flying paper airplanes all over the classroom. A room-full of grown-ups acting like a bunch of third-graders. It turned out so much better than I could have imagined or expected. My only regret is that I did not have my camera with me. :-(

I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun. And to think... this is my "job." (Well, okay, the job doesn't pay all that well yet, but how can you resist?)

NOTE: Can you see a correlation between the types and what/how they chose to teach?

Batman Unmasked

Okay. Here's the deal...

I was up at 1:00 am and wanted to finish catching up on some work, so I drank a 5-Hour Energy drink to help me stay alert for another hour or so, thinking nothing of it. And here I am, at 5:00 am, still working my little fingers and not feeling sleepy yet. This is not good... Let this be a warning to you: Do not... I repeat, DO NOT, underestimate the word "5-Hour."

That said, let me just plug the following upcoming show for all the Batman fans out there:

Don't miss the History Channel's Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Night on Monday, 8/11/2008, at 9:00am and 3:00pm (EST).

You can find a guest post on The MBTI Blog written by Debra Sanborn.

Note: The image is by the talented Neil Davies from the Single Serving Jack blog. He has a bit of an obsession with the Joker.

Presenting "E" and "N"

After I wrote the guest post for the "P" (Perceiving) preference over at Breanne's blog, she suggested that we continue with the rest of the preference pairs. She assigned the "E" (Extravert) and the "N" (iNtuitive) to me, and I accepted the challenge with honor. :-) She will be writing about the "I" (Introvert) and the "S" (Sensing) and posting them on her blog soon.

So I hereby present you with the "E" and the "N":

YOU MIGHT BE AN "E" (Extravert)…

• If you start to say something and cannot figure out where the thought is going, you might be an E.
• If your “I” partner gets frustrated with you because you keep interrupting him in the middle of his statement, you might be an E.
• If pregnant pauses in a conversation make you extremely uncomfortable, you might be an E.
• If everyone recognizes who you are by your loud laughter, you might be an E.
• If you find yourself revealing personal information to people who you’ve just met, you might be an E.
• If you find yourself with the most turns at the Karaoke mic, you might be an E.
• If you’re fond of the phrase “the more the merrier,” you might be an E.
• If you enjoy making eye-contact with complete strangers at the store, etc., and making them smile back, then you might be an E.
• When your partner keeps nudging you and whispering “keep your voice down,” you might be an E.
• If you call to order Chinese take-out and identify yourself as “Hi, it’s me!” you might be an E.

YOU MIGHT BE AN “N” (iNTuitive)…

• If you often start an argument with “What exactly did you mean by that?” you might be an N.
• If you can find a way to use the MBTI in every single part of your life, you might be an N.
• If you can write a Haiku about a fly in your soup, you might be an N.
• If you think time is relative and “late” is just a state of mind, you might be an N. (This is especially true if you are also a P.)
• If you get ripped off by a vendor and you are awed by the brilliance of their marketing strategy, you might be an N.
• If you can easily finish the sentence – “If I were a ____, I would…” you might be an N.
• If you can find a reason to feel sorry for Saddam Hussein, you might be an N.
• If you can see the potential in everyone you meet, you might be an N.
• If you have a “theory” for just about any subject you talk about, you might be an N.
• If you despise routine and you think “same” is a four-letter word that should never be used, you might be an N.

And lastly but not leastly…

• If your “spidey senses are tingling” as you read this, you might be an N. ;-)

You can soon find Breanne's complete preference pairs series at The MBTI Blog.

UPDATE: She has posted our collaborated "You might be an N" list... Fantastique! (That word just came to mind when I wanted to say "Fantastic" in a different language; and after looking it up [come now... read the whole article], it turns out to be the most awesome and appropriate "N" word!!!!!)

Read more >> Options >>

New Direction

I have been doing a lot of thinking about my vision and the direction in which I want to take my new adventure. Everything I have been working toward for the past four years is finally showing signs of life.

It’s time to breathe. It’s time to live. It’s time to give. It’s time to act. It’s time to begin what has been brewing in my mind.

A thought that came to me as I was working on a recent video project was “Everything is connected…”

MBTI is a new passion of mine. I have a very high regard for what it can do as a tool for self-awareness and the awareness of others. However, I don’t want it to become all-consuming, wherein my vision gets blurred.

My number one desire is in bringing people together and sharing more knowledge and understanding. MBTI is a big part, but not all, of what I do. If financial gain comes as a result of it, so be it. If not, my vision will still be intact. I will still be in my corner of the world leaning hard toward the light.

I am taking this blog in a new direction. I suddenly got the idea as I was asking Richard Wade to be a guest author. He said yes! I will be honored for him to stop by whenever he can. I plan on recruiting a few more surprise authors for this blog.

The following is a quick preview of who may be joining us in the future (please say yes, Chuck!):

A friend, Chuck Hillig, from his amazing book, Seeds for the Soul:

"Unless you develop true intimacy with what’s real, then you’ll always be struggling with both your fears and your desires.

But your heart can’t be truly intimate with either fear or desire.

Your heart can only be truly intimate with who you really are."

Comments

Oops! I just noticed that my "comments" setting was set to "registered users only." I have changed it to "anyone," so all of my readers (all two of you) can now comment without jumping through hoops (I hope). :-)

David Keirsey in Please Understand Me II

I am in love with David Keirsey. In his book, Please Understand Me II, which is a revised version of Please Understand Me, he begins as follows:

If you do not want what I want, please try not to tell me that my want is wrong.

Or if my beliefs are different from yours, at least pause before you set out to correct them.

Or if my emotion seems less or more intense than yours, given the same circumstances, try not to ask me to feel other than I do.

Or if I act, or fail to act, in the manner of your design for action, please let me be.

I do not, for the moment at least, ask you to understand me. That will come only when you are willing to give up trying to change me into a copy of you.

If you will allow me any of my own wants, or emotions, or beliefs, or actions, then you open yourself to the possibility that some day these ways of min might not seem so wrong, and might finally appear as right – for me. To put up with me is the first step to understanding me.

Not that you embrace my ways as right for you, but that you are no longer irritated or disappointed with me for my seeming waywardness. And one day, perhaps, in trying to understand me, you might come to prize my differences, and, far from seeking to change me, might preserve and even cherish those differences.

I may be your spouse, your parent, your offspring, your friend, your colleague. But whatever our relation, this I know: You and I are fundamentally different and both of us have to march to our own drummer.

I am in awe of how much he speaks my heart…

Zits as ESTP?

This was brought to me by one of the participants in my workshop: Does it depict Zits as ESTP? What do you think?

The Way I Am

This may be out of my T (thinking) preference [yes, it can happen], but I think it definitely is within my N (iNtuition) preference. I posted this song on another blog a few weeks ago: It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside because it reminds me of MBTI. :-)

The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson)

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine if you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.

A Day in the Life of a "P"

I have a P (perceiving) preference. Very clear. No question.

The following is a perfect example of what happens when I let my P-ness go unrestricted. I occasionally allow myself to have days like this and let the "P" go wild. Remember Risky Business?... "Sometimes, you just gotta say..." :-)

A detailed account of a day in the life of me:

I am in the process of setting up shop (my desk) in the guest room, since I've decided I'm spending way too much time at my desk to be stuck in the basement. As I was making great progress organizing my "stuff" scattered in four different places in the house, I suddenly realized that my office chair is not at all comfortable for sitting in it for longer than two hours at a time. I remembered being impressed with a chair at Costco the other day, so I dropped what I was doing and headed out on my mission.

While I was there, on the spur of the moment, I started looking at printers and decided to pick up a new (fast) printer so I don't have to keep running to Staples (although I've made friends there) to make prints and copies for my clients. [My current printer is slower than _______ (insert your own slow word here)].

Then as I walked by the next isle, I saw a mop that weighs less than 3 pounds and cleans the floor with "steam and no chemicals" "quick and easy". Brilliant!! Anything that will make the chores easier... and on top of that, NO CHEMICALS! (I'm a tree hugger at heart.) I immediately put one in the cart.

As I was checking out, I muttered under my breath, "I ban myself from this place for at least three months..."

I came home and unloaded, temporarily placing the box containing the mop on the kitchen floor. I proceeded to continue working on organizing my new office and saw the picture I had leaned against a wall earlier which I wanted to hang. I headed for the garage for a hammer; and on my way out through the kitchen, I saw my new Steam Mop in the middle of the floor. I suddenly got the urge to mop the kitchen floor... (A new toy, etc.) I opened up the box, quickly assembled the mop, and Voila! It works! What will they think of next? I was half way through mopping the floor when the phone rang. I went to go answer it in the music room and remembered I had to finish getting my scattered books out of there.

While I was throwing the rest of my MBTI materials into a box, I found a song sheet (from my voice lessons) that somehow got mixed in with my work stuff. I remembered that I really need to practice, as my voice teacher didn't seem too pleased last time I was there. While I was singing, my husband came home, and it was time to start dinner.

After eating dinner, I showed him my new mop which will keep my kitchen floor nice and clean "because it's so easy to use," my new printer which will save me so much time and money "in lieu of going to Staples," and my new chair which was a bargain for how nice it is and "approved by the American Chiropractic Association!" He patiently listened with a raised eyebrow. Coming up with evidence to justify my "P" behavior to my husband's ISTJ preference often requires great creativity and skill, mind you. ;-)

"Come and see what I have done with the office so far," I proudly announced; and as we walked into the room, I remembered I was on my way to get a hammer...

________________________
Image: Romance-Fire

MBTI-isms

Ever since I have been studying the MBTI, just about every conversation I have with my 16-year-old daughter involves type watching. Today, we came up with some MBTI-isms:

1. If your results show ESTJ preferences and find yourself rebellious and non-conforming, you should also look at ENTJ.

2. If your results show NT preferences and find yourself overwhelmed by too much studying/learning, you should also look at SP.

3. I's like to finish their statements without interruption; E's like to finish each other's sentences.

4. Both J's and P's can be spontaneous, J's just have a clear direction where their spontaneity will take them.

5. Along that same line, both J's and P's know how to have fun. The only difference is we want to follow the J's. We just like to watch the P's. (oh, wait... I'm a P...)

The Fear Overtaketh

I've been spending a lot of time over at CPP ICON Success site in the last few days, and I have to admit... I'm thoroughly intimidated.

I have come to the conclusion that it takes a certain type of an overachiever to keep up with the blogging world. "Am I up to par with these folks?" is the question that keeps swirling around in my head. Ever since Mike Shur, the administrator of the site, wrote an extremely encouraging post about me a few days ago, I feel myself pushing harder for... um... what exactly am I pushing for?

I've decided it's time to re-evaluate my vision and my goal.

Question #1: What is my main objective as an MBTI Practitioner?

It has never been about the money with me. If there was no money to be made, I would still do it. I love it that much. However, the sad fact is that people generally do not appreciate what they don't pay good money for. Free or minimal fee usually translates to "no need for commitment." Why is that? And not only that, my ISTJ husband would like to see some sort of a positive cash flow, however miniscule it may be. He basically lost his wife to MBTI in the recent months; and a slight financial gain would make the pain more bearable, I'm sure.

I would like everyone I consult/work with/help (whatever the lingo is) to learn how to maximize their gifts and begin to live their lives fully. I strongly believe that having an outlet to express/use our unique talents and be appreciated for them is vital in getting the full enjoyment out of life. We were created to create. We were created to BE and DO what we're good at, no? People often tell me, "Not everyone has that luxury." But I believe success automatically follows people who are passionate about what they do, not the other way around. Call me a dreamer.

Question #2: What should my focus be with the MBTI?

I've only conducted two real workshops (currenly on my third one), but I already know that I want to take it further than just the basic "What's my type?" stuff.

Will it be with career counseling? Should I concentrate on team-building? Marriage and family counseling appeal to me as well. I don't even know what I'm qualified to do, or how far I can go with this. I would also love to investigate the possibility of cross-cultural work. I have a good friend who is a retired high school counselor and a part-time MBTI practitioner in South Korea. But he doesn't speak much English, and I'm not good with Korean business lingo. hmmm... ideas explode in my head like fireworks...

Will everything just fall into place if I just relax and slow down my pace? But how can I, when I see people like Breanne and Mike, who seem almost superhuman to me.

Question #3: What if I don't succeed? What if everyone finds out that I'm not as competent as they (and I) thought I was?

AHHHHHHHHH! THE HORROR!

It's a scary world out there...

Tips on Blogging

My friend Matt recently posted the following tips on successful blogging:

1. Have a strong theme to focus on

Be it a topic (economics, TV show, politics, my life, repairing microwaves, etc.) or location (My house, my street, my town, my city, etc.). This will allow you to build up an audience of like-minded people.

2. Post about three/four major posts per week

Any less and your blog probably won't build up a loyal readership, any more and discussions on a particular post will get lost.

3. Try to post every day

Even if it's just a few lines about something unrelated to your main theme.

4. Make it conversational

The advantage of blogs is that they can be more of a conversation between the writer and their readers than more mainstream media, so make your writing personable (maybe include a few lines about your day, or an anacdote, or even what's going on around you while you're writing).

5. Reply to people in the comment threads

You don't have to reply to everyone, but try to particpate at least once in each comment thread.

Trying to keep up with three blogs in this way is not at all easy... :-(

My Life as a Klutz

Okay... This is embarrassing.

I started another MBTI workshop at my church this past Sunday. After getting a total of maybe 10 hours of sleep since Thursday (because of my Korean/American couples workshop...but I'll write about that later), it was a miracle that I was even able to remember my name.

Before we got started, I made a strong (very strong) pot of coffee and jumped right in. I usually have a music stand in front of me where I put my presentation notes, and I sit on a stool behind it off to the side of the screen where I show the power point.

The introduction went very well. I was looking confident and sounding very...well, on top of things. I was thinking, "This is going great! I'm getting pretty good at this..."

Then it happened. I suddenly got a cramp in my toe. You know, the kind where one toe gets all twisted and disfigured and won't line up nicely with the rest of the toes? So I discreetly moved my knee up and down to try and relieve the discomfort. In the process, I bumped the music stand, shaking the coffee cup that I had placed on the lip of the stand. Some coffee spilled out and disappeared under the binder. I thought to myself, "No one saw that. I'll just clean it up later," and I continued with my presentation.

About a minute later, I felt a trickle on my left knee. Obviously, more coffee had spilled out of the cup than I had thought. Everyone's gaze went from the screen to the rapidly growing dark spot on my white pant leg. I had no choice but to stop, swallow my pride, and ask for someone to get me some napkins.

I got over the humiliation pretty quickly, and I finished the remainder of the session with the huge, wet, dark-brown spot on my leg. I can safely say that there will never be a threat of arrogance with me, because things like this happen quite often.

I once had a serious and intelligent (so I thought) discussion with an extremely good-looking guitar teacher when I was looking to sign my daughter up for guitar lessons, and, upon getting in the car to head home, I discovered that my fly had been unzipped the whole time. Needless to say, we found another teacher. But I still get that sinking feeling in my stomach when I think about it. Can you imagine the discipline it took for him not to look down at my crotch and also keep a straight face? Ugh!

I think I'm getting pretty good at falling on my face in public. I even have a going joke that I'll be starting a ministry named "The Fall-Down Ministry," where people get to come and watch me fall down, so they can go home feeling better about themselves. Yep... I have no pride left at this point. Being graceful has never been one of my stronger traits. Oh well... I still get the job done. :-)

Type and Culture

I have been fascinated by cultural differences in behaviors, as I, myself, am bi-cultural. I know first-hand that there are definite differences in the over-all cultural persona, for lack of a better word. I will be working with a group of couples in inter-cultural marriages (Korean wives with American husbands) this weekend, so I've been doing some research.

I found the following information in one of CPP's reference materials, "Type and Culture":

The booklet looks at two models of cultural differences:

1) GLOBE/Hofstede's Dimensions of Culture, based on information from the book, Culture, Leadership, and Organizations: The GLOBE Study of 62 Societies (2004) (Yikes!!.. $135 for the book??? I'll just take their word for it...)

2) Trompenaars' Seven Factors of Culture, based on information from the book, Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Global Business (1997)

You may be yawning by now, but bear with me...

The GLOBE/Hofstede's model deals with nine dimensions of culture (started out with five, but the added four more after additional research):

1) Power Distance - The extent to which a community accepts and endorses authority, power, differences, and status privileges

2) and 3) Collectivism - The extent to which a culture encourages and rewards collective distribution of resources and collective action.

4) Uncertainty Avoidance - The degree to which members of a culture seek orderliness, consistency, structure, formalized procedures, and laws to address situations that arise in their daily lives.

5) Assertiveness - The degree to which people are or are not encouraged to be assertive, aggressive, and tough in social relationships.

6) Gender Egalitarianism - The degree to which a society minimizes gender role differences while promoting gender equality.

7) Performance Orientation - The degree to which a culture judges individuals by their performance or achievement.

8) Future Orientation - The degree to which a culture encourages and rewards future-oriented behaviors such as planning and delaying gratification.

9) Humane Orientation - The extent to which a culture encourages individuals to be fair, altruistic, friendly, generous, caring, and kind to others.

Still there? Okay... now, here are the factors from the Trompenaars' Seven Factors of Culture:

1) Universalist vs. Particularist - Does the culture emphasize rules or relationships?

2) Individualist vs. Collectivist - Do people regard themselves primarily as individuals or primarily as part of a group?

3) Neutral vs. Affective - Do people conceal or express their emotions?

4) Specific vs. Diffuse - Do people become involved with or involve others?

5) Achievement vs. Ascription - By what criteria do people accord status?

6) Sequential vs. Synchronic - How does the culture approach time management?

7) Internal vs. External Control - What is the culture's relationship with nature?

Those are the studies that the MBTI people looked at. Based on the information given in the book, I came up with the following conclusions:

United States: ESTJ
United Kingdom: ESTJ
India: INFP
South Korea: ISFJ

and a wild guess (not enough data in the book) at European countries such as Italy, France, and Spain: ESFP

I also found this study of the way students from different cultural backgrounds use email to communicate with other students. Fascinating...

My New Toy

The Flip camera is the best invention of the recent past!! Yay!

Okay... please don't judge my video-making skills...**cringe**... but I'm rather pleased with the way my very first video project turned out. I only learned how to use the Windows Movie Maker two days ago (where have I been?). It's amazingly easy... ergo, my finished project below:

(IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING... I WILL REPOST LATER!!)

One correction... One of the interviewees said I became "certified," which is incorrect. I am a 'qualified' practitioner, but not certified. Semantics, perhaps... but being an ENTP, I have to make sure any and all information I give out is correct to the best of my knowledge. :-)

Type - Trait - Behavior

When we're speaking about personalities, there are three factors that come into play: 1) behaviors; 2) traits that cause those behaviors; and 3) type, which is the hard-wired preference in the way we perceive information and make decisions.

When I was leading my group through my first MBTI workshop, many people were confused about the differences. I designed some power point slides which I am posting below (without the awesome animation... but you get the gist):

Behaviors can be readily observed. We can discuss behavior without addressing trait or type.

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Traits cause behaviors. We must study behaviors in order to discuss trait. You can talk trait without discussing type.

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Type is inborn. Just like the preference for left or right-handedness, we always have a preferred function which we feel more comfortable using.

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Type cannot be validated without traits, and trait cannot be determined without behaviors. Type is the hard-wired preference that can be sorted; traits are universal in human nature in varying amounts and can be measured; and behaviors are observable and are the expression of type. However, through understanding and learning how to use our non-preferred functions when needed, we can become more balanced in learning, working, and communicating with other types at home, work/school, and play.

That is the way I understand it as of now. All those more knowledgeable and experienced... please feel free to correct me!

Well... I have to give myself E for Effort. :-)