How to increase your income with your personality

There is a relationship between our personalities and the average income earned. People who are described as extroverts, driven, ambitious, and dominant do earn more money than those who are described as sensitive, compassionate, and gentle.

Based on a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) research, Extraverts, Thinkers, and Judgers can earn much more than Introverts, Feelers, and Perceivers.

The importance of the relationship between personalities and incomes should not be underestimated.

We can use this valuable information to acquire skills and experience that can give us a better chance of maximising our incomes. It will help us understand the personal qualities needed for earning more money.

While I am not asking you to become an extroverted person, we can be acquiring the personality traits of an extroverted person so that we can increase our income potential.

If an extroverted person likes to meet people, then we should be networking with other people too. It does not stop an introverted person from attending networking events. They may need to take a bit more effort. But it is not impossible.

Without getting sucked into debates about the merits of personality testing, I have opted to use the MBTI tool. It’s a tool that has given me relevant information for my future planning.

I totally accept that we cannot pigeonhole humans as we are complex creatures. But there is no such thing as a perfect personality assessment tool either.

It really boils down to using a personality tool that you are most comfortable with. This tool should give you insights into the information you require to plan for your future. Remember that they are just tools.

What is perhaps more important is how you can use your self-awareness and self-knowledge to improve your financial well-being.

Those who know their personality type can capitalise on their strengths. At the same time, they can take the opportunity to overcome their weaknesses to become better people.

Do consider taking an MBTI test here.

When you know your personality type, you can evaluate and plan the best path possible for maximising or increasing your income.

Knowing our preferences and choosing the right response

The key to knowing our personalities is to understand our preferences. What are our natural tendencies? What are your natural talents?

Let me illustrate how preferences can influence our decisions and outcomes.

For most people, it is more comfortable to use our right hand for writing.

It certainly does not stop us from using our left hand to write. It’s just our preference.

When we are forced to write with our left hand, we will naturally hate it, especially in the beginning.

But if I say to you that you will make more money when you do write with your left hand, are you going to change your writing hands from right to left? Or at least try?

My answer is obvious.

There are different responses we can choose from:

(1) Do nothing and continue sulking and hating the current situation you are in.

(2) Look at the situation positively as an opportunity to learn a new skill to transform ourselves. Everything that seems negative is learning.

(3) Take positive steps to change your current situation into something you prefer doing (i.e., change jobs).

16 Personality types, 8 personality traits

MBTI has 16 personality types that are made out of eight core personality traits. Combining the core personality traits into four letters will help provide context and meaning to the seemingly random variation in our personalities.

Here is a quick breakdown of the eight personality traits and their characteristics.

Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)

Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world?

Extraverted individuals prefer group activities. They get energised by social interaction and involvement in events and activities.

These individuals tend to be more enthusiastic and excited around people. They like to energise other people.

As an extravert, they like taking action and making things happen.

The following statements generally apply to extroverts:

I am seen as “outgoing” or as a “people person.”

I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.

I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.

I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time to think it over.

Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

Introverted individuals prefer solitary activities. They get exhausted by social interaction.

Instead, they like getting their energy from dealing with ideas, pictures, and memories. These individuals often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people that they feel comfortable with.

The following statements generally apply to introverts:

I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”

I feel comfortable being alone and like things that I can do on my own.

I prefer to know just a few people well.

I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.

I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)

Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning?

Sensing individuals are highly practical, pragmatic, and down-to-earth. They tend to have strong habits. They focus on what is actual, present, and real. Experience speaks louder than words.

These individuals like facts and remember important details like what they see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

The following statements generally apply to sensing individuals:

I remember events as snapshots of what actually happened.

I solve problems by working through facts until I understand the problem.

I am pragmatic and look to the “bottom line.”

I start with facts and then form a big picture.

I trust experience first and trust words and symbols less.

Sometimes I pay so much attention to facts, either present or past, that I miss new possibilities.

Intuitive individuals are very imaginative, open-minded, and curious. They pay the most attention to impressions or the meaning and patterns of information than as actual facts or details of what happened.

These individuals prefer novelty over stability. They focus on hidden meanings and future possibilities, working with symbols or abstract theories.

As such, they would rather learn by thinking a problem through than by hands-on experience. Focusing on new things and what might be possible, they think more about the future than the past.

The following statements generally apply to intuitive individuals:

I remember events by what I read “between the lines” about their meaning.

I solve problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities.

I am interested in doing things that are new and different.

I like to see the big picture, then to find out the facts.

I trust impressions, symbols, and metaphors more than what I actually experienced.

Sometimes I think so much about the new possibilities that I never look at how to make them a reality.

Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)

When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances?

Thinking individuals focus on objectivity and rationality, prioritising logic over emotions. They tend to hide their feelings and see efficiency as more important than cooperation.

When they make a decision, they would like to find the basic truth or principle to be applied, regardless of the specific situation involved. By trying to be impersonal, they won’t let their personal wishes, or other people’s wishes, influence them.

These individuals like to analyse the pros and cons and then be consistent and logical in deciding.

The following statements generally apply to thinkers:

I enjoy technical and scientific fields where logic is important.

I notice inconsistencies.

I look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything.

I make decisions with my head and want to be fair.

I believe telling the truth is more important than being tactful.

Sometimes I miss or don’t value the “people” part of a situation.

I can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring, or indifferent.

Feeling individuals are sensitive and emotionally expressive. They are more empathic and less competitive than Thinking types, focusing on social harmony and cooperation.

These individuals make the best decisions by weighing what people care about and the points-of-view of persons involved in a situation. They are concerned with values and what is best for the people involved. By establishing or maintain harmony in my relationships, they appear caring, warm, and tactful.

The following statements generally apply to feelers:

I have a people or communications orientation.

I am concerned with harmony and nervous when it is missing.

I look for what is important to others and express concern for others.

I make decisions with my heart and want to be compassionate.

I believe being tactful is more important than telling the “cold” truth.

Sometimes I miss seeing or communicating the “hard truth” of situations.

I am sometimes experienced by others as too idealistic, mushy, or indirect.

Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options?

Judging individuals are decisive, thorough and highly organised. They value clarity, predictability, and closure, preferring structure and planning to spontaneity.

These individuals prefer a planned or orderly way of life. They like to have things settled and organised. They feel more comfortable when decisions are made, bring life under control as much as possible.

The following statements generally apply to judging individuals:

I like to have things decided.

I appear to be task-oriented.

I like to make lists of things to do.

I like to get my work done before playing.

I plan work to avoid rushing just before a deadline.

Sometimes I focus so much on the goal that I miss new information.

Note: Do not confuse Judging with judgmental.

Perceiving individuals are very good at improvising and spotting opportunities. They tend to be flexible, spontaneous way of life, and relaxed non-conformists who prefer keeping their options open.

They like to understand and adapt to the world rather than organise it. Staying open to new experiences and information is something they prefer.

The following statements generally apply to perceiving individuals:

I like to stay open to respond to whatever happens.

I appear to be loose and casual. I like to keep plans to a minimum.

I like to approach work as play or mix work and play.

I work in bursts of energy.

I am stimulated by an approaching deadline.

Sometimes I stay open to new information so long I miss making decisions when they are needed.

Personalities can determine how much we earn

As mentioned earlier, the association between average income earned and personality type is striking.

Overall, Extraverts, Thinkers, and Judgers earned more than their counterparts.

Personality types that are often described as driven, ambitious, and dominant, specifically ENTJs and ESTJs, were in fact at the top of the earnings charts when it came to average income as shown in the diagram below.

In contrast, personality types that are often described as sensitive, compassionate, and gentle (i.e. INFP, ISFP) earned significantly less overall.

Have you ever wanted to earn more money? Here’s the secret

When it comes to earning extra cash without stretching yourself too far or feeling overwhelmed, a person’s unique personality type indicators could contain the secret behind how they can find income success.

Let me just say upfront that personality types should NEVER be used to put limits on people.

Rather, knowing our personality types can give us valuable information as to the improvement points needed for us to earn more money. It increases our likelihood of success.

Dedication, hard work, and commitment are qualities that ANY personality type should and can have.

Do note that no one personality type performs significantly better than other personality types in terms of performance.

The magic happens when people stop focusing on disparities and choose instead to appreciate each other’s innate skills and strengths, and personality traits.

So, let us now learn from ENTJs and ESTJs the personality traits required for a person wanting to earn more income.

By consciously developing and acquiring these personality traits, we will build a stronger capability to earn more money.