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Do What You Are

Do What You Are

Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type
by Paul D. Tieger 1992 416 pages
3.78
5k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Personality Type is Key to Career Fulfillment

The right job enhances your life.

Beyond Skills and Interests. While abilities, interests, and values are important, they don't paint the whole picture. Personality type adds crucial dimensions, such as how much social interaction you need, the kind of information you naturally notice, how you make decisions, and your preference for structure versus spontaneity.

Handedness Analogy. Just as using your preferred hand feels natural and effortless, aligning your work with your personality type allows you to operate from a position of strength. Trying to force yourself into a role that doesn't suit your type is like writing with your non-dominant hand – possible, but draining and less skillful.

The Sixteen Types. The book introduces a system based on Carl Jung's work, refined by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, identifying sixteen distinct personality types. Each type has unique strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, making certain work environments and tasks more fulfilling than others.

2. The "Fourmula" for Career Satisfaction: A Holistic Approach

As a general rule, the more aspects of your personality you match to your work, the more satisfied you’ll be on the job.

Beyond the "Big Three". Traditional career counseling focuses on abilities, interests, and values. This book introduces a more comprehensive "Fourmula" that includes temperament, dominant functions, extraversion/introversion, and type development.

The Four Components:

  • Temperament: Your core values and motivations (Traditionalist, Experiencer, Idealist, Conceptualizer).
  • Dominant Function: Your strongest mental process (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, Feeling).
  • Extraversion/Introversion: How you direct your energy (outward or inward).
  • Type Development: Your stage in integrating your personality preferences.

A Personalized Approach. By understanding these four components, you can identify work that aligns with your natural strengths and preferences, leading to greater job satisfaction and a more fulfilling career.

3. Temperament Reveals Your Core Values

Usually Extraverts are interested in many things, but not necessarily at a very deep level. Introverts have fewer interests, but they pursue them in much greater depth.

Four Basic Natures. Throughout history, observers have identified four distinct temperaments: Traditionalists (SJs), Experiencers (SPs), Idealists (NFs), and Conceptualizers (NTs). Each temperament shares core values and motivations that influence career choices.

Temperament and Type. Each of the sixteen personality types falls into one of these four temperament categories, based on their preferred functions (Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, Feeling) and attitudes (Judging, Perceiving).

The Right Fit. Understanding your temperament can help you identify work environments and tasks that align with your core values, leading to greater job satisfaction and a sense of purpose.

4. Harness Your Dominant and Auxiliary Functions

The secret of career satisfaction lies in doing what you enjoy most.

The Hierarchy of Functions. Each personality type has a hierarchy of four functions: dominant, auxiliary, tertiary, and inferior. The dominant function is your strongest mental process, while the auxiliary function supports and balances it.

Operating from Strength. To maximize career satisfaction, it's crucial to identify and leverage your dominant and auxiliary functions. This means seeking work that allows you to use your natural strengths and minimize your exposure to your weaker functions.

The Four Functions:

  • Sensing: Gathering data through the five senses.
  • Intuition: Perceiving patterns, relationships, and possibilities.
  • Thinking: Making decisions based on logic and analysis.
  • Feeling: Making decisions based on personal values and empathy.

5. Extraversion/Introversion Influences Function Use

If you don’t know what an Extravert is thinking… you haven’t been listening, because he or she will tell you. If you don’t know what an Introvert is thinking… you haven’t asked, or, in some cases, you haven’t waited long enough for an answer.

Outer vs. Inner World. Extraverts direct their dominant function outward, engaging with the external world. Introverts, on the other hand, direct their dominant function inward, focusing on their internal world of thoughts and ideas.

The Typogram. The book uses a "Typogram" to illustrate how each type uses their dominant and auxiliary functions. Extraverts have their dominant function in the foreground, while Introverts have it in the background.

Maximizing Effectiveness. To achieve maximum satisfaction and effectiveness, it's essential to use your dominant function in your preferred world. This means Extraverts should seek work that allows them to engage with others, while Introverts should prioritize work that allows for independent thought and reflection.

6. Type Development: A Lifelong Journey

Each one of us has a distinct personality, like an innate blueprint that stays with us for life.

Beyond the Blueprint. While your personality type remains constant throughout your life, you can develop and integrate your weaker functions over time. This process, known as type development, can lead to greater personal growth and career satisfaction.

Stages of Development:

  • Childhood: Strengthening the dominant function.
  • Adolescence: Developing the auxiliary function.
  • Mid-life: Integrating the tertiary function.
  • Later Life: Accessing the inferior function.

The Mid-life Reevaluation. Mid-life often marks a turning point, as individuals seek to integrate their less-developed functions and find new meaning in their work and personal lives.

7. The Traditionalist (SJ) - Value Structure and Service

Traditionalists are the most traditional of the four temperaments.

Guardians of Tradition. Traditionalists (SJs) value law and order, security, propriety, rules, and conformity. They are driven by a strong motivation to serve society's needs and respect authority.

Strengths: Practical, organized, thorough, systematic, and detail-oriented. They excel at guarding, monitoring, and regulating.

Potential Weaknesses: Not particularly interested in theories or abstractions, and the future doesn’t attract their attention as much as the present. They sometimes make decisions too quickly.

Ideal Careers: Thriving in structured environments with clear expectations, Traditionalists often excel in roles such as administrators, managers, accountants, and law enforcement officers.

8. The Experiencer (SP) - Thrive on Action and Impulse

They live for action, impulse, and the present moment.

Seizing the Moment. Experiencers (SPs) are adventurous, adaptable, easygoing, and pragmatic. They value freedom and spontaneity and are drawn to action-oriented roles.

Strengths: Resourceful, flexible, courageous, and skilled at recognizing and seizing opportunities. They excel at troubleshooting and improvising.

Potential Weaknesses: Impulsive, unpredictable, and may struggle with long-term planning and commitment. They can be easily bored and may lack follow-through.

Ideal Careers: Experiencers often thrive in roles that offer autonomy, variety, and action, such as entrepreneurs, athletes, performers, and first responders.

9. The Idealist (NF) - Seek Meaning and Connection

They are the most spiritually philosophical of the four temperaments.

Driven by Values. Idealists (NFs) are passionate, empathetic, and driven by a strong sense of purpose. They seek meaning and connection in their work and are often drawn to helping others grow and develop.

Strengths: Excellent communicators, motivators, and conflict resolvers. They are skilled at bringing out the best in others and creating harmonious relationships.

Potential Weaknesses: Overly idealistic, sensitive to criticism, and may struggle with practical details and logical analysis.

Ideal Careers: Idealists often excel in roles that involve helping others, such as counselors, teachers, social workers, and religious leaders.

10. The Conceptualizer (NT) - Driven by Competence and Innovation

ENTJs are great leaders and decision makers.

Architects of Change. Conceptualizers (NTs) are intellectual, analytical, and driven by a strong need for competence. They are visionary leaders who enjoy solving complex problems and creating innovative solutions.

Strengths: Logical, strategic, and skilled at identifying flaws and designing improvements. They are independent thinkers who value knowledge and truth.

Potential Weaknesses: Can be critical, insensitive, and impatient with others. They may struggle with emotions and may overlook practical details.

Ideal Careers: Conceptualizers often thrive in leadership positions in fields such as science, technology, law, and business, where they can use their intellect and vision to drive innovation and achieve ambitious goals.

Last updated:

FAQ

What's Do What You Are about?

  • Career Satisfaction Focus: Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger is a guide to finding fulfilling careers by aligning them with your personality type. It emphasizes the importance of matching your career with your innate strengths and preferences.
  • Personality Type System: The book uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to categorize individuals into 16 personality types, helping readers understand their unique traits and how these influence career satisfaction.
  • Practical Tools Provided: It offers practical tools and exercises to help readers identify their personality type and explore suitable career options, empowering them to make informed career choices.

Why should I read Do What You Are?

  • Personalized Career Guidance: Unlike generic career advice, this book provides insights based on your personality type, helping you understand which career paths align with your natural inclinations and strengths.
  • Proven Success: Since its first publication in 1992, it has helped over a million people find satisfying careers, with many reporting significant improvements in job satisfaction and productivity.
  • Adaptability to Change: The book addresses the evolving job market and provides strategies for navigating career changes, making it relevant for both new graduates and those looking to switch careers.

What are the key takeaways of Do What You Are?

  • Understanding Personality Types: Recognizing your personality type is crucial for making informed career choices. The book outlines how each type has unique strengths and preferences that can guide career satisfaction.
  • Career Satisfaction Ingredients: It emphasizes four key ingredients for career satisfaction: meaningful work, a supportive environment, opportunities for growth, and alignment with personal values.
  • Practical Application: The book provides actionable steps, including self-assessment exercises and job search strategies, encouraging readers to actively engage in their career development process.

What is the "Fourmula" for Career Satisfaction in Do What You Are?

  • Four Key Components: The "Fourmula" consists of understanding your temperament, hierarchy of functions, how you extravert or introvert your functions, and where you are in your type development.
  • Temperament and Functions: Individuals are categorized into four temperaments: Traditionalists (SJs), Experiencers (SPs), Idealists (NFs), and Conceptualizers (NTs), each influencing career choices.
  • Type Development: Type development is a lifelong process where individuals can strengthen their weaker functions, allowing for greater adaptability and satisfaction in various career paths.

How does Do What You Are help with identifying my personality type?

  • Self-Assessment Exercises: The book includes exercises that guide readers through identifying their personality type based on preferences and behaviors, clarifying which traits resonate most with them.
  • Continuum Scales: It uses continuum scales for each personality dimension (e.g., Extraversion vs. Introversion) to help readers pinpoint their preferences and derive a four-letter personality code.
  • Verification Process: After identifying a potential type, readers are encouraged to verify it by reading detailed profiles of each personality type, ensuring accurate understanding of their unique characteristics.

What are the sixteen personality types described in Do What You Are?

  • Types Overview: The book outlines 16 personality types based on combinations of four dimensions: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving.
  • Type Profiles: Each type is accompanied by a profile describing its strengths, weaknesses, and potential career paths, helping readers understand how their type can inform career choices.
  • Examples of Types: For instance, ENFJs are "people-lovers" thriving in roles that allow connection with others, while ISTJs are "serious, responsible, and sensible," excelling in structured environments.

What are some common career paths for each personality type in Do What You Are?

  • Tailored Career Suggestions: The book provides a list of popular occupations for each personality type, highlighting roles that align with their strengths and preferences.
  • Growth Potential: It indicates which careers are expected to grow in demand, helping readers make informed decisions about their future in a rapidly changing job market.
  • Diverse Options: Emphasizes that individuals of all types can find satisfaction in various fields, as long as they align their work with their personality traits and values.

How does Do What You Are address career changes?

  • Navigating Transitions: The book acknowledges that many people will change careers multiple times and provides strategies for making these transitions smoother.
  • Identifying Transferable Skills: It guides readers in recognizing transferable skills and how these can apply to new career paths, boosting confidence in exploring different opportunities.
  • Supportive Environment: Stresses the importance of seeking supportive environments during career changes, such as networking, mentorship, or professional development.

What are the potential pitfalls for each personality type in Do What You Are?

  • Awareness of Weaknesses: The book outlines common pitfalls associated with each personality type, helping readers recognize potential blind spots.
  • Strategies for Improvement: Provides strategies for overcoming challenges, empowering readers to develop their weaker functions and improve overall effectiveness.
  • Personal Reflection: Encourages reflection on past experiences and how personality traits have influenced decisions, key to personal and professional growth.

What are the best quotes from Do What You Are and what do they mean?

  • "The secret of career satisfaction lies in doing what you enjoy most.": Emphasizes aligning your career with passions and interests for true fulfillment.
  • "There is no one 'ideal job' to which everyone should aspire.": Highlights the individuality of career paths and the necessity of finding a job that suits unique traits.
  • "By unlocking the secrets of your personality type, you can find a truly fulfilling job.": Encapsulates the book's core message that understanding your personality can lead to better career choices.

How can I customize my job search based on my personality type using Do What You Are?

  • Leverage Strengths: Identify strengths and tailor job search strategies accordingly, such as focusing on networking for extroverts or targeted outreach for introverts.
  • Set Clear Goals: Establish clear career goals based on personal values and interests, creating a list of criteria for the ideal job to guide the search.
  • Utilize Resources: Use various resources, like informational interviews and online platforms, to gather information about potential careers and uncover hidden opportunities.

How does Do What You Are suggest developing my career over time?

  • Continuous Learning: Encourages pursuing ongoing education and professional development to open new doors and enhance career prospects.
  • Networking and Mentorship: Building a strong professional network and seeking mentorship are key strategies for career growth, with tips on effective connection.
  • Setting Long-Term Goals: Advises setting both short-term and long-term career goals, maintaining focus and direction in the career journey.

Review Summary

3.78 out of 5
Average of 5k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Do What You Are receives mixed reviews. Many find it helpful for understanding personality types and career choices, praising its insights into Myers-Briggs types and job recommendations. Readers appreciate the book's guidance in self-discovery and career planning. However, some criticize its reliance on personality typing as oversimplified or unscientific. Critics argue it may be too restrictive in career suggestions. Overall, readers find it a useful starting point for career exploration, especially for young adults or those considering career changes, though not a definitive solution.

Your rating:
4.34
42 ratings

About the Author

Paul D. Tieger is a renowned expert in personality type and career counseling. He authored "Do What You Are," which revolutionized career guidance worldwide. Tieger has written five books on personality types and is considered the leading authority in this field. His work has helped over a million people find career satisfaction and success. "Do What You Are" consistently ranks as one of the most popular career books on Amazon.com. Tieger's approach to career counseling, based on personality types, has been widely adopted by professionals in the field. His expertise has made him a influential figure in helping individuals align their careers with their personalities for greater job satisfaction.

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