GET GIL'S DNA ACTIVATION FOR JOY FOR FREE WHEN YOU JOIN US!
Beyond the MBTI: Why No Personality Test Can Define You
If you’ve worked in the corporate world, sat in an academic program, or joined a career coaching workshop, chances are you’ve taken the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) or some other personality profiling test.
I’ve taken them too. And sure—they’re interesting. The results often feel pretty accurate as a description of my personality type. But here’s the thing: I’ve never really used them for much. They make for nice reading, and then they go into a drawer, forgotten.
The Limits of Profiling
Don’t get me wrong—I have no wish to disparage the thousands of hours of research that went into designing these tests. They have rigor and value.
But here’s the problem: trying to fit a whole human being into one of 16, 20, or even 56 categories doesn’t do justice to the uniqueness and splendor of who they really are.
There aren’t just 16 types of people. There are as many types of people as there are people.
The Infinite Variations of People (Souls)
For me, every person I meet is gifted and different in ways that conventional profiling tools simply can’t capture, and definitely don't do enough justice to.
Same Profile, Different Paths
Personality tests like MBTI suggest that two people with the same type will act in similar ways. But in real life, the expression can be wildly different.
Take the MBTI INTJ (the “Mastermind”), often labeled as decisive and efficient. One INTJ might be brilliant at kickstarting projects and inspiring teams. Another might shine at implementing ideas and making sure things get done. Same profile—different flavor of genius.
Or look at the INTP (the “Logician”), known as the unconventional thinker type (Einstein and reportedly Elon Musk). Some INTPs channel their brilliance into building wealth. Some INTPs channel their brilliance into building wealth. Others are more laid-back, content to run thought-experiments in universities or on their couch. Some are ambitious visionaries, while others are quietly unconventional.
We see this everywhere today:
ENFP (the “Campaigner”): one becomes a social media creator building a massive following, while another pours their energy into activism and grassroots organizing.
ISTJ (the “Inspector”): one thrives as a meticulous accountant, the other as a disciplined fitness coach applying the same precision to bodies instead of spreadsheets.
ENTJ (the “Commander”): one heads a Fortune 500 company, another builds a startup in their garage—both driven, but in completely different arenas.
INFJ (the “Advocate”): one becomes a therapist helping people navigate their inner worlds, while another channels their insight into writing novels that reshape how readers see themselves.
The same profile might give you a broad sketch—but the lived reality is that each person brings their own mix of energy, direction, and soul purpose to the table.
Check Out: 1-Hour Private Session with Gil
Tackle what's weighing on you—whether it's one issue or several. Walk away feeling completely different, with a clear plan to shift your life.
What Really Matters
What profiling systems don’t show you are the things that truly shape your path:
What you actually enjoy
What gives you energy
Where you tend to stumble
Whether you’re drawn toward spiritual or material things
How you uniquely inspire and support others
The direction you’re growing in over time—not just where you stand today
This is the deeper layer of who you are. The layer no standardized test can capture.
What You’re Really Looking For
So yes—tools like MBTI can give you a description that feels relatable. They can be fun, and sometimes affirming.
But they won’t tell you the whole truth of what makes life worth living for you. They won’t show you how to truly flourish, or how to blast open the possibilities of your soul—not just today but tomorrow and beyond.
And that, I suspect, is what most people are really seeking when they take a profiling test: not just a category, but a roadmap to their deeper self.
Share this article:
MEET GIL SIM
Life Purpose Coach
Gil helps black sheep — the misfits, oddballs and visionaries — find direction in their lives, unlock their greatness, and step up to create the next level of human civilization.
popular
categories
LET'S DIVE DEEP, GROUND, AND FLY!
follow me @coachjenna
Gil Sim.
Feeling lost? JOY is your most reliable guide.
Download Gil's DNA Activation for JOY when you join our mailing list. Unsubscribe anytime.
© GIL SIM 2026
© GIL SIM 2026┃ PRIVACY POLICY ┃TERMS