What are we doing tonight, Brain?

The other day, I took the Myer Briggs personality test. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life, and while I'm leaning toward psychology, I honestly didn't have an answer when the lady over at the college asked me what I was interested in. I sort of stuttered out, "uhm? I dunno..." because I honestly couldn't see myself doing anything other than what I'm doing now. I know I have to find a better paying career, because one day I might need the money--and a couple years lead time is always good.

You should plan these things out, lol.

So she referred me (for free! It was the free that got me) to the people over at the skills assessment center. And I figured, okay--this is one time I shouldn't try to work the test. I've always been good at "tweaking" tests to reflect what I want out of them. So there I sat, in a little cubicle in the depths of this college, with kids younger than mine running around like the world would come to an end if they didn't deliberate on each and every question. I mean--c'mon, the instructions say go with your gut. So I blew through the test in ten minutes, and said--yeah, like this is going to help me.

It was supposed to take over an hour. Anything that takes less than fifteen minutes can't be much good. Like those "take this quiz" tests to see what kind of rainbow you are.

...the sad part was that I noticed, okay--I don't like people, plants, animals, being in a position of authority, telling people what to do, selling things, being in groups, working on teams, and just about everything, which hung me out to dry and left me flapping. And I started wondering why I was bothering with college at all. I didn't like it the first time, and I started it again as medicine to ward off future illness.

So, in a fit of maudlin self pity, I told my oldest kid about the test, and he told me about the Guardian personality type. Turns out he's an "inspector", which is one of the Myer-Briggs sub-groupings. Introverts, according to MB, are a small percentage of the population, and while my kid talked, I nodded.

Damn, I thought. That sounds like me. So he encouraged me to look the test up online and retake it, because of course--being college, the people at the center wanted me to come in so they could "explain it" to me.

Turns out I'm not a Guardian. I'm a Rational. And not just a Rational, I'm a Mastermind. So I of course said, "what are we going to do tonight, Brain? Snarf!!" Right before I read the descriptions.

*sigh*

I'm a mastermind.

The test hit my core personality on the nose, and ouch! it hurts. So without further ado--this is me.

All Rationals are good at planning operations, but Masterminds are head and shoulders above all the rest in contingency planning. Complex operations involve many steps or stages, one following another in a necessary progression, and Masterminds are naturally able to grasp how each one leads to the next, and to prepare alternatives for difficulties that are likely to arise any step of the way. Trying to anticipate every contingency, Masterminds never set off on their current project without a Plan A firmly in mind, but they are always prepared to switch to Plan B or C or D if need be.


Masterminds are rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population, and they are rarely encountered outside their office, factory, school, or laboratory.


...which makes me want a laboratory, damnit.

so...take the test. I know you want to, and tell me what you are...

right here