ENTPs are highly inventive types whose enthusiasms lead them into a variety of activies, vocational and avocational. Their inventiveness is attributable to their rich iNtuition (N), which gives them a world of endless possibilities, which, when combined
with their objective decision-making facillity (T) and directed outwardly (E), converts
everything to ideas and schemes.
Thrill of the chase
Like most Extraverted-Perceivers, they are more excited about pursuing a new idea
than about following through on an existing one, which can be a cause for frustration and anxiety -- both for themselves and for those around them. To the ENTP, all the
world is a chessboard whose pieces must be moved in such a way -- by the ENTP --
that all the players will get the best and the most out of life. Constantly bombarding themselves and others with ideas, ENTPs burst with an excitement that, at best, leads
to tackling one exciting challenge after another and, at worst, to an endless
series of delayed or unfulfilled dreams.
Looking into the future
The ENTP is a "big picture" person who finds it challenging to
see how many ways there are for fitting the various pieces of the whole
together. In fact, it is their ability to see the big picture that
enables them to generate so many creative alternatives for just about
any system -- whether that "system" is a family, a vacation, a
record collection, or a major corporation. They know that any system, no
matter how successful, can always be made better or more effective. Such
perceptions can at times make them seem almost psychic about future
developments in a variety of disciplines. Clearly, these qualities make
them well suited for a variety of entrepreneurial adventures.
Go for it all
ENTPs are high rollers and risk-takers with their own resources and
others'. Like other Extraverted-Perceivers, when they win, they win big,
and when they lose, they lose their shirts. As a result, life for an
ENTP (and for those around them) can be a roller-coaster event with
great highs, thrills, scares, occasional stops -- and lots of unexpected
jerks and turns.
Female ENTPs
All Thinking-type women swim upstream in society, and this can be especially problematic for ENTP women. When the ENTP's objectivity presents itself in an
enthusiastic, witty competitive, argumentative woman, she is not likely to endear
herself to most men. The ENTP female frequently has a struggle with traditional female "scripts" that call for a given behavior at a given time. It is the nature of all ENTPs to test the limits of any system or person, especially traditional ones.
More ENTP gender stuff
Most iNtuitive-Thinkers learn by discussing and challenging, and this is
especially true for ENTPs. They get pleasure and intellectual
stimulation from arguing both sides of a subject, or from doing
something unusual or unexpected just to get a reaction. ENTP women can
be fun to be around, but their competitive, testing nature can be
intimidating and tiring. Interestingly enough, all these same qualities
can be seen as positive in ENTP males, although they, too, can become
tiring, particularly to those of a different type.
Relationships
In relationships with an ENTP, one can expect to be challenged -- usually by
whatever comes along that is new, different, or on the cutting edge. Just coping with
an ENTP can be stimulating, a fact attested to by ENTPs themselves ("I find myself
very interesting -- but tiring").
As parents
The ENTP sees the parenting relationship as one more opportunity for the
growth and development of everyone involved. The ENTP's house may be
crowded with the latest books, gadgets, fads, or all of the above.
Children will be introduced to all of these things, which are used to
challenge them -- something far more important than neatness, schedule,
and order. The ENTP's parenting model is "Stretch thyself",
and successful parenting involves whatever helps the child to achieve
this goal. Most ENTP parents generate more ideas and possibilities per
day than their children will ever be able to complete. This in itself
can be tiring and, to a child of a different type, very frustrating. It
was probably an NT parent, most particulary an ENTP parent, who first
said, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Helping the child
to realize and expand the self is the ENTP's most basic principle of
child-rearing.This quest may be made at the expense of hugs, kisses,
and expressions of affection, although for the ENTP the process itself
is the ultimate expression of love.
Living style
This focus on challenge, extremes, pursuit of ideas, and independent thinking characterizes all aspects of the ENTP's living style. The result can be a variety of
kinds of instability. There may be big financial swings, as well as a lot of physical disarray and disorganization. When intellectual sparring and "doing your own thing"
take precedence over completing yesterday's tasks -- cleaning the house, the office,
the yard, or whatever -- the result can sometimes be chaos. Generally, the ENTP's
home is an open haven to all, especially to those who are interested in
whatever current scheme is unfolding and those who, like the ENTP, thrive on the intellectual stimulation of one-upmanship -- whether they are one-upping or being
one-upped.
Creativity
Being allowed to dream up and pursue possibilities without any
follow-through or accountability is the ultimate form of relaxation for the ENTP.It is also probably the greatest source of ENTP creativity. To give free rein to
the imagination, instead of getting bogged down in the sticky details or dull routines
that may be part and parcel of the idea, allow ENTPs' creativity to flourish. They find
not only stimulation and growth in the process, but relaxation too. Stress comes from being tied down by too many details.
Growing up
Like their adult counterparts, ENTP children are often whirlwinds. Lots of
friends, laughter, projects, and ideas fill their waking hours. Each new day is a
new opportunity to design systems, challenge friends, and scheme. A single request
by a parent -- "to take out the garbage", for example -- can lead an ENTP child to
spend hours if not days designing some sort of invention that will get the garbage
from the kitchen to the backyard without human intervention. The design might demand
calling friends, experimenting, or any number of other possibilities -- all of which
will be more exciting than actually completing the chore.
Learning
This is exactly the way an ENTP approaches learning. It is a group exchange of ideas, arguments, challenges, and projects. ENTPs would rather learn by "getting involved" than by being lectured to. In true entrepreneurial spirit, if
their involvement results in something that can be used, shared, and marketed (a new garbage-removal system), so much the better. Teaching that encourages such exchanges
and opportunites is exciting to an ENTP.That which is
routine, redundant, rigid, or overly detailed is boring. Assignments may be
completed late (or early) and may be done sloppily. If dull or unchallenging in their
original form, the ENTP student may even change or reconstruct assignments in the
name of "learning". This typically ENTP behavior may be frustrating to students and teachers of different types and may result in a no-win situation -- for the teacher,
because he or she loses the ENTP's respect and attention, and for the ENTP student,
who may do poorly in school.
Family
Like most other things, family rituals and events are seen as opportunities to
exchange ideas. ENTPs never miss such opportunities. Though not always given
to appropiate behavior, the ENTP is always an active participant in all such
family moments. Sometimes late, sometimes underprepared, they will still be there
and will more than likely engage whoever is present so that the time spent together
will be fun, maybe competitive, and certainly memorable.
Work
Work that allows the ENTP to be challenged and stimulated will be
highly attractive. Work that binds an ENTP to standard operating procedures will
be ultimately frustrating and, quite possibly, stress-inducing. Computer science,
financial investment counseling, college teaching, and other theoretical pursuits are
highly attractive to ENTPs.
Later in life
Later life might bring to ENTPs the opportunity to slow down some and not only "smell
the daisies", but bring to fruition some long-shelved projects and hobbies. Pausing
for introspection, appreciating what their senses are telling them, and respecting
some of the more tender and emotional moments of life, will all have special appeal
at this time.
Famous ENTPs
Famous likely ENTPs include Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners
(who regularly came home with some new scheme to make them rich or their
lives easier), The Odd Couple's Oscar Madison (whose chaotic
life-style undermined his obvious talent), and W. C. Durant, founder of
General Motors (whose restless inventiveness and entrepreneurial skills
turned a single car-company into a conglomerate).
