The 16 Myers-Briggs Personality Types
S = Sensing Types - SJ & SP N = iNtuitive Types - NF & NT
TRADITIONALISTS (SJ) EXPERIENCERS (SP) IDEALISTS (NF) CONCEPTUALISTS (NT)
analytical gif Drivers Gif
amiables.gif Expressives GIF

HOME
What Do The Letters Mean?
Mating

ESTP

"The Promoters"

Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving

General

ESTPs are spontaneous, active folks. Like the other SPs, ESTPs get great satisfaction from acting on their impulses. Activities involving great power, speed, thrill and risk are attractive to the ESTP. Chronic stifling of these impulses makes the ESTP feel "dead inside." Gamesmanship is the calling card of the ESTP. Persons of this type have a natural drive to best the competition. Some of the most successful salespersons are ESTPs. P.T. Barnum ("Never give a sucker an even break") illustrates the unscrupulous contingent of this type.

ESTP's are men and women of action. When someone of this personality is present, things begin to happen. The lights come on, the music plays, the game begins. And a game it is for the ESTP, the outstanding entrepreneur, the international diplomat, the conciliator, the excellent negotiator. Of this extraverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving type, if only one adjective could be used to describe ESTP's "resourceful" would be an apt choice.

Life is never dull around ESTP's. Their attractive, friendly style has a theatrical flourish which makes even the most routine, mundane event seem exciting. ESTP'susually know the location of the best restaurants, and headwaiters are liley to call them by name. ESTP's are socially sophisticated, suave and urbane and are the master manipulators of the external environment.

Almost unconsciously the ESTP looks for nonverbal, nearly subliminal cues as to what makes her quarry "tick." Once she knows, she waits for just the right time to trump the unsuspecting victim's ace and glory in her conquest. Oddly enough, the ESTP seems to admire and respect anyone who can beat her at her own game. ESTP's are uncanny at observing people's motivations, sometimes hypersensitive to minimal nonverbal cues which other types might miss. And they ar the masters at using these observations to "sell" the "client". The eye of th ESTP is ever on the eye of the beholder, and all actions are directed towards this audience. Witty, clever, and fun, ESTP's seem to possess an unusual amount of empathy, when in fact this is not the case; rather, theya re so acutely aware of the minimal signals from others, that they are usually several jumps ahead in anticipation of another's position. And ESTP's can use information gained to the ends they have in mind- apparently with nerves of steel, engaging in what seems to others to be suicidal brinksmanship. Other types may find this exhausting, but ESPT's arer exhilarated by working close to the edge of disaster. ESTP's are ruthless pragmatists and often offer the ends as justification of whatever means they see as necessary- regrettable, perhapes, but necessary. Usually, however, ESTP's do not care to justify actions, but prefer instead to go on with the next action.





ESTP's are outstanding as initiators of enterprises that bring people together to negotiate. They make invaluable itinerate administrators who can pull turbulent companies or institutions out of the red very quickly, and with style ! They can sell an idea or project in a way no other type can, but won't follow through on the tedious adminstrative details of a project. This characteristic often causes ESTP's to be unappreciate for the extraordinary talents they have, for people lose sight of the idea contributed and focus on the details left undone, becoming critical of the ESTP's weaknesses rather than appreciating their strength. Few enterprises which are institutionally based use ESTP's as they should be used. WHen they strike out on their own, however, they do not always succeed, for their unwillingness to bother with follow-up details may cause an otherwise excellent project to fail. ESTP's need to sure they have someone who will take care of follow-up if at all possible.

ESTP's live in the immediate moment and as mates lend excitement-and unpredictablity-to the relationship. The ESTP mate is usually extremely attentive in public and smooth in social rituals. They carry on amusing repartee, and laughter surrounds them as they recount fromt heir endless supply of clever jokes and stories. Charm radiates from ESTP's. Nothing is too good for their friends, although family responsibilities may, at times, be given second priority. The ESTP's mate may in time come to feel like an object-the female a chattel and the male a negotiable commodity. Deep commitments do not always occur in the lives of the ESTP's, although they are always popular and know many, many people by name. Relationships are usually conditional, and the condition is the consideration of what the ESTP has to gain from the relationship. Anything gained, however is shared freely and generously with the mate. The unexpectd gift, the impulsive trip to Paris, the extravagant surprise at Christmas-all thise an ESTP brings to a mate. Fun, excitement, laughter, and that element of unpredictability are characteristic of their relationship. The ESTP's have a low tolerance for anxiety and are apt to avoid or leave situations that are sonsistently filled with interpersonal tensions. The ESTP's are usually somewhat of a mystery to their mates and to others. Few people comprehend this unique personality. ESTP's themselves understand well the maxim, "He who travels fastes, travels alone." Still, ESTP's are not likely to be lonely for long. ESTP's meet life with a hearty appetite for the good things of the world, searching out excitement, perhaps as a warrior, an athlete, an adventurer, or as a professional gambler, but always seeking the thrill of courting Lady Luck in one fashion or another. A them of seeking excitement through taking of risks runs through the lives of ESTP's.

"If I was any better, I couldn't stand it!" To an ESTP, admission of weakness feels like failure. He admires strength in himself and in others.

"Shock effect" is a favored technique of this type to get the attention of his audience. ESTPs love to be at center stage, demonstrating feats of wonder and daring.

These are the ultimate realists. Extraverted Sensors are at one with objects and experiences now, in the only living, pulsing moment that ever really exists. The Sensor is compelled to see, touch, taste, smell and feel all that moves, wafts, tingles, tinkles, scintillates, vibrates or resonates. Some ESTPs are keenly discriminating; only those elements of singular quality and experience will suffice. Others revel in earthiness. If baseness can elicit shock from more squeamish observers, so much the better.