Monday, May 28, 2012

Interesting Weekend with my Personality

Good Morning. For those of you in the US -- Happy Memorial Day. Let us try not to forget all those who who made the sacrifices so that our country can be what it is today.

I had an interesting weekend. I learned a lot about my personality. Which I already knew, but then had confirmed when it slammed me in the face.

Friday I had to drive my mother into Virginia so she could spend 5 days with my brother and his wife. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they drive. She taught me how to drive, way back when, in a cemetary (no traffic). Very slow, methodical, patient. 30 years later, however, she's a road rage maniac. And because of the holiday there were state troopers everywhere. In and out of traffic, 10 mph over the speed limit, riding right up to the back of a semi and then darting out to pass them. I guess she was in a hurry to get there. I really can't blame her, after dealing with my father the last few months she needed a vacation. But with her driving, I was a nervous wreck, which I'm normally not.

Anyway, on the way home, I took my time, (much to the disappointment of The Monster), found a small open pocket of lane and stayed there. I had no need to spurt in and out of traffic dodging the lunatics or the big-rigs. I remained calm.

Fast forward to Friday night. My crit partner and I had been talking about book trailers, and as neither of us had ever made one, I found some simple directions, shared them with her, and decided to take a look. Well, that look turned into 5 hours in front of the Windows Movie Maker. I made a book trailer which you can find here. As with the traffic that afternoon, I just cruised at my own speed, made my choices and slowly but surely came to a final destination.

Then came Saturday. Now, having spent the spring bitching about doing yard work at my mother's house, I finally decided it was time that I do my own. After all we're putting this house on the market, and to say I've neglected the outside of my domicile is an understatement. It needs a lot of help (like the kind with 3 guys and big machinery). Anyway, I went outside thinking I could just plow through most of it and get it ALL done in a couple of hours. HA! One thing led to another, then to another, and then another (because nothing is ever easy at my house). However, I did manage to get 85% of it finished to my satisfaction. Then I gave the dogs a bath. I felt very good about all I had accomplished, but by 2:00 I had to lay down with a couple of Tylenol. Because in my zeal to get things done, I had broken myself AGAIN.

Sunday morning I finally had a chance to get back on the blogs and roam around for a little bit before tackling another house project. I found this article at Writer Unboxed which I thought might be interesting.
What Authors Seem to Forget about Marketing, Especially Those Who Dislike It. At the end of the article is a simplied version of the Meyers Briggs Personality Test (which I took and highly recommend). I found out I am a

Your Jungian Myers Briggs Personality Type:


ISFJ
( Introversion, Sensing, Feeling, Judgment )

Quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations. Thorough, painstaking, and accurate. Loyal, considerate, notice and remember specifics about people who are important to them, concerned with how others feel. Strive to create an orderly and harmonious environment at work and at home.

I guess it's nice to have my personality confirmed by an impartial computer program.


Tell me -- Have you ever taken this test? Did it tell you something you didn't already know about yourself? 

17 comments:

Stina said...

I have taken the test. I think my results were similar to yours, Anne. I've never really done anything with the results.

Have an awesome holiday Monday. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Impartial computer program - funny. Never taken the test. Maybe one day.
I'll have to go look at your book trailer - that's cool!
And I would've been driving like a maniac as well. Well, not really maniacal, just really fast.

Linda G. said...

I like your book trailer. :)

I have to start thinking about doing something like that myself.

Anne Gallagher said...

Stina -- Yes, it's nice to know what the results are, but what's the purpose of the test exactly? So what, some computer program tells you what you already know. I can step on the scale and get the same results. Have a great weekend.

Alex -- You know, driving to get there is one thing, but it was Memorial Day Weekend and there were like cops everywhere. I didn't need for my 71 year old mother to get stopped with my daughter in the back seat.

Anne Gallagher said...

Linda -- Thanks. It was just a little first time something I did just for fun. I'm sure there are so many more out there that are just spectacular. Now that I have the gist of how to do them, it will be easier next time.

DL Hammons said...

I took the Meyers Briggs Personality test for the team building camp I recently attended and it basically confirmed everything I already surmised. My personality traits are much like yours as well, and I'm comfortable with that.

Glad you enjoyed most of your weekend!

February Grace said...

Ah, the Guardian Protector- I know the type well, several close people in my husband's family share that type with you- no wonder I've always taken to you so easily :~)

I'm an INFJ myself- Idealist Counselor- and I LIVE for this temperament theory stuff. I am partial to Keirsey's test- I have never known it to be wrong but I have seen an Artisan or two attempt to throw it to come out looking like Guardians (there are even articles online on how to do that so potential employers who make you take the test- as my husband's did- think you're more naturally responsible than you are. Lovely.)

Anyway, I could go on all day about that stuff, I'll just say I enjoyed the book trailer and I am so sorry to hear about your being 'broke' again. Please get better soon, there is only one of you and we can't do without you.

Will answer your email soon as I find the words- in the meanwhile- thank you so much for everything.

xoxo
bru

Rula Sinara said...

You've been busy! I have taken that test and I think our results were similar if not the same (it has been awhile). I think people like knowing someone out there understands who they really are inside...even if that someone is a name behind a test :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Don -- It's no wonder we're friends then. Us creative introverts need to stick together.

Bru -- As for being broken again, nothing a couple of Tylenol and a nap can't fix. I'll be better in a couple days. Don't worry about the email. You know where I am.

Rula -- Busy busy busy. Gotta keep going. I find it interesting employers would make you take the test. I mean, I can see why, but my results don't show the "whole" of me or my "work" ethic so I think the results would be skewed somewhat. Thanks for stopping by.

Lynn Proctor said...

sorry you hurt yourself again--this test sounds very interesting

Judy said...

We meet halfway. I'm a INTJ
( Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judgment ) Our bookends match, but not our innards. :-)

Kittie Howard said...

We have much in common, Anne. BTW, I would've been terrified on that ride, too. And bravo for getting so much done in the yard!

Al said...

To answer your Question on my blog.
Yes we have Tornadoes in Oz, we traditionally call them Willi Willis.
However, two things make them much less dangerous. First our drier climate means most of them are much smaller than than most of those in the US. Also we have so much empty space in Oz (less than 10% of the US population density) that they usually miss anything of great importance.

Anne Gallagher said...

Lynn -- Thanks. I've been up and running again, albeit slowly. The test is interesting but I'm not sure what purpose it serves other than to confirm what I already knew.

Jduy -- I suppose there are so many combinations we all have a little bit of each in us whether they show up on a computer test or not.

Kitty -- I get to take the ride again tomorrow to pick her up. As for the yard, it's never ending, but at least the biggest mess is taken care of.

Al -- I know this is a stupid thing to say, but it's like you live on the other side of the world, in a place so surreal I can't even imagine it.

Kittie Howard said...

Anne, I saw your comment about moving from the North to the South and felt a pang as i know exactly what you're talking about. I'm Southern born and raised but have lost much of my peaches accent because of travels. (Hub was in the military. We traveled.) I've had comments hurled at me (because of the accent thing). Please know that there's a certain type of person in the South who can't survive outside a mentality that craves attention. Ignore these people. They are trouble, big trouble. In certain parts of the South, my Virginia license plates are considered 'Yankee plates." These people will not change, regardless of education or income. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Liza said...

My sister and I taught ourselves how to drive a stick-shift in a cemetery. You are the only other person I've known who learned in one. Oh...and I came out as an ISFJ too...although I don't consider myself accurate, I try to be. It drives me crazy that I'm not. Maybe I'm getting credit for good intentions.

Liza said...

See what I mean? I meant to tell you how much I love your trailer, and I forgot to put it in. The music and the images are PERFECT for the storyline. Well done. It amazes me that you've never done that before.