Probably I would make a fantastic goat herder
September 1, 2013 1:14 PM Subscribe
I'm seeking input on ways to make a living. Difficulty: I am dreamy, quiet, intuitive, and non-process-oriented.
Are you dreamy and quiet and have found a job that you are good at, or at least competent at, and that doesn't drain you?
If you believe in things like the Myers-Briggs typology, I am an INFP to the core. Another good way to describe myself would be to invoke David Sedaris's description of his sister: "You could tell Gretchen anything in strict confidence, knowing that five minutes later she would recall nothing but the play of shadows on your face."
Sadly, my personality type seems to be directly at odds with earning an income. I'm terrible about paying attention to office politics or to details or processes that are not inherently fascinating to me. I'm also of the "throw the spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" school of problem solving, which is not always the greatest way to get things done.
To quote Ani DiFranco, "Art is why I get up in the morning," but it doesn't pay the bills. Are there any jobs out there where my qualities would be an asset rather than a liability? I'm not kidding (hah!) that I would probably make a great goat-herder. It doesn't seem all that realistic, though.
Are you dreamy and quiet and have found a job that you are good at, or at least competent at, and that doesn't drain you?
If you believe in things like the Myers-Briggs typology, I am an INFP to the core. Another good way to describe myself would be to invoke David Sedaris's description of his sister: "You could tell Gretchen anything in strict confidence, knowing that five minutes later she would recall nothing but the play of shadows on your face."
Sadly, my personality type seems to be directly at odds with earning an income. I'm terrible about paying attention to office politics or to details or processes that are not inherently fascinating to me. I'm also of the "throw the spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" school of problem solving, which is not always the greatest way to get things done.
To quote Ani DiFranco, "Art is why I get up in the morning," but it doesn't pay the bills. Are there any jobs out there where my qualities would be an asset rather than a liability? I'm not kidding (hah!) that I would probably make a great goat-herder. It doesn't seem all that realistic, though.
I've met a ton of infp secondary school teachers who were really talented and dedicated to teaching. There is a role for someone who is quietly fascinated with a topic and willing to share that with others. There is a lot more work in teaching that is tedious and boring like grading work, pointless meetings, and admin stuff, but it's hard to totally escape that. Some of the best teachers I ever had we sort of dreamy and introverted and not real process-oriented, but very into their subject areas and happy to share (and constantly got in trouble for forgetting to fill out forms or turn in grades on time.)
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:42 PM on September 1, 2013
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:42 PM on September 1, 2013
Yeah. I do editorial and web stuff for a nonprofit. My co-workers are non-crazy, I have to pay extremely minimal attention to office politics, and I can go a whole day sometimes without saying more than a few words to another person. Getting here was a long, weird path, though.
But I've also worked jobs that seemed like they would not fit me at all. Some were awesome. Some sucked, but less because they didn't fit my personality and more because they were run by bad managers.
Do yourself a favor and don't narrow your options. You aren't actually required by your personality to be bad at [thing]. You are not prevented by your personality from being really terrific at [other thing]. You are much, much more than your psych profile.
posted by rtha at 3:23 PM on September 1, 2013 [6 favorites]
But I've also worked jobs that seemed like they would not fit me at all. Some were awesome. Some sucked, but less because they didn't fit my personality and more because they were run by bad managers.
Do yourself a favor and don't narrow your options. You aren't actually required by your personality to be bad at [thing]. You are not prevented by your personality from being really terrific at [other thing]. You are much, much more than your psych profile.
posted by rtha at 3:23 PM on September 1, 2013 [6 favorites]
Consider massage therapy! School is agonizingly process-oriented, memorization focused, and hectic, but once your hands know what to do and you're out in the field, it's great. Not too much noise, most people don't mind if you are quiet (it helps them sleep!), wonderful calm environment in many spas, and people are very happy to see you.
Cons: physically demanding, some places expect you to sell their products, and the industry can be challenging if you need the security of a guaranteed paycheque. Plus, there are always one or two clients that are... well, it's a customer service position and don't forget that.
posted by windykites at 3:42 PM on September 1, 2013
Cons: physically demanding, some places expect you to sell their products, and the industry can be challenging if you need the security of a guaranteed paycheque. Plus, there are always one or two clients that are... well, it's a customer service position and don't forget that.
posted by windykites at 3:42 PM on September 1, 2013
I'm INFP and get paid pretty well programming games. I don't pay attention to office politics and while my office does like changing processes and so on, that stuff can mostly be ignored. At the end of the day, I build new features and solve strange problems (generally by throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks - works great as far as I can tell.) I daydream and I think that helps me with this job.
If you are interested, programming is just a skill you can practice and seems to be in high enough demand.
Good luck!
posted by uncreative at 4:45 PM on September 1, 2013
If you are interested, programming is just a skill you can practice and seems to be in high enough demand.
Good luck!
posted by uncreative at 4:45 PM on September 1, 2013
Not goat herding, but have you considered dog-walking? I am like you and spend my days walking in nature with waggy tailed friends. It doesn't pay much but I know people who make a living at it.
posted by The otter lady at 6:44 PM on September 1, 2013
posted by The otter lady at 6:44 PM on September 1, 2013
This is me too - I'm right in between INFP and INTP. I have found such a job, but like others have commented I've had plenty of good and bad jobs before it, and this was a stroke of luck. I've developed the skills of being extremely meticulous and having a great tolerance for boredom, both of which are very useful. My job is tedious, so mostly I'm allowed to operate in/on my own little planet. FWIW, no one field or job is free of 'office politics' or 'crazy' bosses/coworkers. I work in an office and my department right now is healthy, well-managed, and I'm free to ignore the politics - but my boss also dislikes playing games and my job has a certain amount of 'can't argue: legislatively obligated to do what I say' to it. Lucky, since I too, am terrible at the politics stuff.
The problem with books like Do What You Are is that What You Are isn't always an option/hiring. I think this book told me to be an Architect or Librarian... which requires GradSchool, if not a second bachelors, and neither are hiring many people right now. So yeah - not practical. Break it down into what SKILLS you have + what's available/hiring/accessible.
That said, I have turned down nanny jobs because the parents were crazy, I worked on an organic farm where the owners yelled and were passive aggressive (and other farms that were great!), and I know plenty of artists/professors/etc. that I both would and would NOT want to work for. Heck, there are other departments at my current job I wouldn't do well or be happy in!
Goat herding is no joke. My favorite jobs have been working on 10-12 acre organic farms owned by great people who are skilled managers. It doesn't pay heaps, but I love being outside, love being tired at the end of the day, the seasonality, the rhythm to each day, and having my thoughts to myself and my creative and mental energy intact at the end of the day. As long as your hands keep moving and you pay attention around tractors - you can pretty much daydream all you want. That's a dealbreaker though: you must be willing and able to work hard, quickly, and well - you'll need to focus at first until you're good enough to daydream while you do it. I definitely worked with people who could not do this.
I also enjoyed nannying for a very awesome laid-back family, but again - this is hit or miss and can be rife with politics and weird relationships.
Try joining WWOOF, and see if there's somewhere you can volunteer for a week/weekends (or ask around at your local farmers market). If that goes well, check the ATTRA internship listings for paid internships. =) (They'll list goat dairies too....)
(I worked on a flower farm at one point, and believe me - you could not wipe the grin off my face! It's the only period of time where people described me as "smiley" lol.)
Memail if you have questions about my current job, or about farming.
posted by jrobin276 at 11:10 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
The problem with books like Do What You Are is that What You Are isn't always an option/hiring. I think this book told me to be an Architect or Librarian... which requires GradSchool, if not a second bachelors, and neither are hiring many people right now. So yeah - not practical. Break it down into what SKILLS you have + what's available/hiring/accessible.
That said, I have turned down nanny jobs because the parents were crazy, I worked on an organic farm where the owners yelled and were passive aggressive (and other farms that were great!), and I know plenty of artists/professors/etc. that I both would and would NOT want to work for. Heck, there are other departments at my current job I wouldn't do well or be happy in!
Goat herding is no joke. My favorite jobs have been working on 10-12 acre organic farms owned by great people who are skilled managers. It doesn't pay heaps, but I love being outside, love being tired at the end of the day, the seasonality, the rhythm to each day, and having my thoughts to myself and my creative and mental energy intact at the end of the day. As long as your hands keep moving and you pay attention around tractors - you can pretty much daydream all you want. That's a dealbreaker though: you must be willing and able to work hard, quickly, and well - you'll need to focus at first until you're good enough to daydream while you do it. I definitely worked with people who could not do this.
I also enjoyed nannying for a very awesome laid-back family, but again - this is hit or miss and can be rife with politics and weird relationships.
Try joining WWOOF, and see if there's somewhere you can volunteer for a week/weekends (or ask around at your local farmers market). If that goes well, check the ATTRA internship listings for paid internships. =) (They'll list goat dairies too....)
(I worked on a flower farm at one point, and believe me - you could not wipe the grin off my face! It's the only period of time where people described me as "smiley" lol.)
Memail if you have questions about my current job, or about farming.
posted by jrobin276 at 11:10 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]
In addition to farming consider being a gardener. I am not a gardener but I'd expect there to be plenty of scope for tasks that end up being meditative. I'd also expect it to be reasonably physical at times.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:25 AM on September 2, 2013
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:25 AM on September 2, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, all, for your thoughts! I am intrigued by several of these suggestions, and may possibly be memailing some of you.
posted by whistle pig at 7:14 AM on September 2, 2013
posted by whistle pig at 7:14 AM on September 2, 2013
I always, always test as INFP on those things, and the description always matches me pretty much perfectly (insert cautions about the Forer effect here; I do think however that the system has pretty good explanatory power for the differences in personality between me and those I know well enough to "type" or whose results have been shared with me).
I'm a high school teacher. It's not the first career that jumps to mind when INFP is mentioned, due to the 'interacting with people all day' thing, and it would be pointless to not describe my job as draining. It is. I am *exhausted* by the end of a school week. It is also full of boring paperwork (which is at least accomplishing something, usually) and pointless hoops (that I disagree strongly about doing, and it really, really galls me when they're mandatory, ugh). However, teaching itself, the parts where I'm communicating with students about my subject and helping them to learn (my subject itself and how to learn in general, since many don't know already), as well as helping them to grow as people, is *awesome*. It's worth every bit of the energy it takes to do. And while my (very, very people-loving extravert) colleagues may not love me for how I prefer to eat lunch alone or skip the golfing outings or whatever (*shudders*), that really doesn't affect my ability to do my actual job, the one that I do really like and find worth doing.
FWIW, though, my favorite job EVER, the one I would have done forever if only it actually were full time and paid a living wage, was when I worked as a page at the local library. I put books away and shelf-walked to check that everything was in order and it was quiet and air conditioned during the summer and NO ONE talked to me (I was actually not allowed to answer patron questions, even though I'd know the answers perfectly well). Man, I LOVED that job. :)
posted by lysimache at 9:02 AM on September 2, 2013
I'm a high school teacher. It's not the first career that jumps to mind when INFP is mentioned, due to the 'interacting with people all day' thing, and it would be pointless to not describe my job as draining. It is. I am *exhausted* by the end of a school week. It is also full of boring paperwork (which is at least accomplishing something, usually) and pointless hoops (that I disagree strongly about doing, and it really, really galls me when they're mandatory, ugh). However, teaching itself, the parts where I'm communicating with students about my subject and helping them to learn (my subject itself and how to learn in general, since many don't know already), as well as helping them to grow as people, is *awesome*. It's worth every bit of the energy it takes to do. And while my (very, very people-loving extravert) colleagues may not love me for how I prefer to eat lunch alone or skip the golfing outings or whatever (*shudders*), that really doesn't affect my ability to do my actual job, the one that I do really like and find worth doing.
FWIW, though, my favorite job EVER, the one I would have done forever if only it actually were full time and paid a living wage, was when I worked as a page at the local library. I put books away and shelf-walked to check that everything was in order and it was quiet and air conditioned during the summer and NO ONE talked to me (I was actually not allowed to answer patron questions, even though I'd know the answers perfectly well). Man, I LOVED that job. :)
posted by lysimache at 9:02 AM on September 2, 2013
Great question! There are good ideas here. Good luck with your quest.
I incline toward your sensibilities, but I work a pressure job and have heartburn. However, with the goat-herder example, I feel like the floor has been opened to 'dream jobs,' whether actually experienced or not. Me being a realist and all (!), mine is a little more urban: attendant at the World's Slowest Parking Lot. With the right situation (wifi, high-performing HVAC, appropriate furntiture, uninterested boss, no cost-cutting corporate moves afoot, etc) I might emerge with a great American novel.
posted by LonnieK at 10:04 AM on September 2, 2013
I incline toward your sensibilities, but I work a pressure job and have heartburn. However, with the goat-herder example, I feel like the floor has been opened to 'dream jobs,' whether actually experienced or not. Me being a realist and all (!), mine is a little more urban: attendant at the World's Slowest Parking Lot. With the right situation (wifi, high-performing HVAC, appropriate furntiture, uninterested boss, no cost-cutting corporate moves afoot, etc) I might emerge with a great American novel.
posted by LonnieK at 10:04 AM on September 2, 2013
I'm an INFP, and my job title is business analyst. This job requires the ability to focus and to pay attention to details, so I'm not sure it would work for you. I spend a lot of my time talking one-on-one with users or stakeholders; a lot of time writing requirements (and answering questions about requirements); and some of my time in larger group (5 - 10 people) meetings. I like helping users/stakeholders to get a new or improved product and I find they are often really grateful when their ideas are implemented well. As for politics, I refuse to engage and that strategy has served me pretty well.
posted by tuesdayschild at 12:10 PM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by tuesdayschild at 12:10 PM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]
I am also an INFP, and I'm grappling with the same question as you. I'm currently working as an administrative assistant in a small office with about 10 people. Sometimes I find it hard to deal with all the social interacting, but there's a good deal of time spent answering emails on the computer and photocopying piles of paper (during which time I daydream a lot).
The office is a pretty green colour, there is a skylight, and plants, and lots of sunlight in there. I think this is the main reason I like the job; I basically sit in the sunlight all day.
I also teach piano. This is a perfect job because you only have to deal with one person at a time., and often it's kids, who are naturally easy to be around (for me).
So yeah, I suggest working with kids.
posted by winterportage at 2:57 PM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
The office is a pretty green colour, there is a skylight, and plants, and lots of sunlight in there. I think this is the main reason I like the job; I basically sit in the sunlight all day.
I also teach piano. This is a perfect job because you only have to deal with one person at a time., and often it's kids, who are naturally easy to be around (for me).
So yeah, I suggest working with kids.
posted by winterportage at 2:57 PM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
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For example, in the INFP section I recall a guy who discovered that he was really good at being a mediator and described how the job fit his abilities. For me, I know I've been mediating for people my whole entire life and it seems to be how I relate to them when I relate to people at all. Anyway, that's just one example of something "practical" that also requires "see what sticks" problem-solving.
posted by Danila at 1:28 PM on September 1, 2013 [3 favorites]