When an ESTJ marries an INFP...

An old photo taken in 2010 (before we knew that we'd be marrying complete opposites!). (Sam's explaining the health benefits of Klondike bars.) ... And if you really pay attention, Sam is already exhibiting true ESTJ characteristics, talking to a group of people, sitting relaxed...and I am true to INFP form, sitting tightened up, and getting more uncomfortable as more and more people are showing up for Labor Day festivities. 

I'll admit that Sam and I have been a bit obsessed with the Meyers Briggs Personality profiles lately. This isn't the first time that we've taken this personality test. Each time we take it we get the same results. Sam is an "ESTJ" and I am an "INFP". We've had all of our family members, friends, and employees take it too, and it's exciting to discover the results. [The only people that seem to disagree with their results are people that struggle to be honest with themselves (in general).] Overall most we know seem to agree with their profiles and enjoy learning more about them. 

Recently we had our newest group of employees take the assessment, and it has helped guide training and appointing various tasks with each as an individual. 

(ESTJ)

(INFP)

We know that the results of a personality assessment aren't reflective of the full reality of an individual, but there is some truth to the results. Actually, there is a lot of truth.

Upon finding out one another's profiles, life now makes more sense, and we understand one another more deeply. Sam, being an "ESTJ", sees the world in black and white and wants to see a task through before moving on to something else. I always struggled with this, wanting to interrupt him in the middle of something and share an idea, or have lunch, or end a work day to rearrange our living room or go shopping for plants. When he would reject my request I would get frustrated, but now I know to let him complete something before even asking. He's learned to break up processes into multiple parts and doesn't have to work to completion, instead he finds a good stopping point.

For Sam, learning that I am an "INFP" has pretty much reassured him that my millions of ideas, unfinished tasks, and random bursts of energy are just part of who I am, and will likely never go away. Secretly all "ESTJs" want the rest of the world to be just like them, but now he knows it's impossible so he's given up trying to "organize" me. I do try to be better about my unfinished tasks, especially knowing that it's something that makes working together more challenging. Now the big mystery is Ester... we're pretty certain she's an "E" (Extrovert) and the rest we will discover as she grows up.

Here is the breakdown of the eight different letters:

We're eager to hear from you! Have you already taken this assessment and what is your "label"? Any other ESTJs or INFPs out there? And even more specific, any of you married to the same combo as Sam and me? I've yet to meet another INFP, Sam knows a couple ESTJs...And overall what do you think of your results? 

Learn more about Katharine Briggs and Isabel Brigss Meyers... Meyers Briggs Type Indicator