If you are "down", "out", or "on the way there", you are
in need of the companionship of an ESTP. If you really want
to be cheered, you won't be "down" for long. Outgoing, witty, charming
and cheerful - these are the hallmarks of the ESTP. Extremely close
behind are the characteristics of generosity and fun-loving. When
they walk into a room, the sun begins to shine!
Among the most socially sophisticated, ESTPs are at home in
the spotlight. Their ease with people and in front of people is the
envy of other extraverts and introverts alike. Their resourcefulness
leads them to be able to handle most awkward situations. They truly
are so charming that it is difficult to shun them, remain angry with them
or to forget them. Even kids absolutely adore them!
They are able to weather some very "heavy-duty" personal "hits"!
How? Like most ESs, they "go with the flow". VERY optimistic
even when the clouds are fairly dark over head, they are able to maintain
a positive attitude that "things are going to get better". Most times,
after having been in their company for some time very well spent, others
are surprised to hear some time later that things were not going very well
for the ESTP.
Extraordinarily open-minded, they are thus enabled to befriend,
accept and be truly comfortable with many who would discomfit others.
To be in their presence is to know true and open acceptance - they are
able to separate behaviour from the person in such a way as to not "throw
the baby out with the bath water".
Lest you gain the impression that ESTPs are perfect, let's take
a reality check here. Are they perfect? Well, if you are not
the one who is eye-ball to eye-ball with the ESTP but are waiting for them,
you had better move on if you have another appointment. What's the
problem here? Well, while ESTPs are giving undivided attention to
the one who IS eye-ball to eye-ball - warm, interested, cheerful and unhurried
attention, the one waiting is left "cooling their heels", chafing at the
bit at being "stood up" or overlooked again! And the ESTP isn't even
bothered. Why? Because they are so generous, outgoing and even-handed
that they aren't "bent out of shape" if the roles were to be reversed!
And another thing. They are again so objectively accepting
of others, that they are clearly able to see all points of view and are
also able and willing to articulate that fact - which is maddening to someone
who would rather be agreed with or is looking from a friend for support
for their already carved-out stance. Trouble is, most ESTPs are generally
friends of or friendly towards the other people, too.
Clever, very diplomatic and brilliantly resourceful, master
at "reading" non-verbal behaviours, they are able to do and to say "the
hard thing". They are the ones who are brought in to do the "heavy-lifting"
of downsizing, reformulating policy, making presentations to "higher-ups",
deal objectively with all the emotional stuff.
As with other ESs, novelty is intriguing and stimulating...new
experiences, foods, people, ideas make life exciting. ESTPs enjoy
laughter, talking, playing. They, too, are fun-loving, with non-judgmental
natures but are not likely to be abused as they are objective and not subjective,
prefer thinking to emotion and are more apt to prefer reality over the
abstract. Their heads are not in the clouds. They can take
a lot, but when they are done...they are done.
The ESTPs enjoy people which makes them fun to be with and they
are generally good conversationalists with a wide range of interests.
Children love them and they make super parents who are less
disciplinarian than are SJs - being able to "play" at the child's level
and to really know what it "feels like" to be a child...for, in a strange
way, ESTPs have many attributes of the child, which include being accepting,
open-minded, outgoing, interested in learning and able to drop the old
and move on to the new.
Again, as with the ESFPs, ESTPs don't like to be asked to deal
with the abstract. They, too, much prefer what they can see,
touch, taste, smell and hear: hands-on experiencing. Intuition
and visualizing are not strong points and it is difficult for them to "imagine".
They much prefer concrete examples to help them to understand.
Sports, concerts, people-things are pleasing for ESTPs like
spontaneity and activity. Spontaneity makes them feel "alive".
Games in which they can "win" appeal to them also - particularly those
which involve skill, acitivity, spontaneity and resourcefulness.
This same approach goes with them into the business arena, too,
which is not always appreciated. ESTPs prefer to wait until "the
last moment' to prepare that report, to check on supplies, to "get ready".
Yeh, they are procrastinators, but with a purpose, even an unconscious
one: they really love the pressure of last minute deadlines, for
their resourcefulness is called to the fore and they just love "landing-on-their-feet"
when just
hours before not much had been done at all - much to the amazement
of team members or family members or friends. Well, amazing to some,
but VERY discomfiting and alarming to others who prefer the more orderly,
timely and fore-planned approach [schedules]. But this is their
way and it generally works for them.
ESTPs can become depressed if they feel they have failed.
They don't like to.
Likeable and liking to like, somewhat non-comformists but not
"in-your-face" rebellious, accepting and cheerful, easy-going and enjoying,
intelligent and resourceful, engaging and friendly, ESTPs are more than
welcome additions in life's arena of hard knocks. They bring a warmth
and delight that is rare to our midsts and we are all gladdened and encouraged
by their cheerful presence.