Short Descriptions:

       "Theme is promoting. Talents lie in persuading others and expediting to make things happen. Have an engaging, winning style that others are drawn to. Adept at picking up on minimal nonverbal cues. Anticipate the actions and reactions of others and thus win their confidence. Like the excitement and challenge of negotiating, selling, making deals, arbitrating, and in general, achieving the impossible. Thrive on action and the freedom to use all resources at hand to get desired outcomes."³

       "Good at on the spot problem solving. Do not worry-enjoy whatever comes along. Tend to like mechanical things and sports, with friends on the side. Adaptable, tolerant, generally conservative in values. Dislike long explanations. Are best with real things that can be worked, handled, taken apart, or put together." ⁴

       "ESTPs take their energy from the outer world of people and external events. They prefer dealing with facts, which they usually views objectively, and they makes decisions on a logical basis. Their life is flexible, consisting of a series of activities that interest their. They are action oriented problem solvers, and prefer to work with practical organizational issues. They can be impulsive, and likes taking part in trouble-shooting-type work. They can sometimes neglect follow-through, but will work best when there is a lot going on that needs organizing and solving.
       ESTPs are action oriented, pragmatic, outgoing, and realistic people. In situations that require resourcefulness, they use their quickness and flexibility to find the most efficient route to accomplishing whatever needs to be done. They are lively, entertaining, and fun. They like to be where the action is and participate fully in what is happening. Characteristically, they are direct with their comments and mince no words. They are at their best in situations that require an orientation to the present and a direct, no-nonsense, pragmatic approach."⁵

       "For ESTPs the dominant quality in their lives is their enthusiastic attention to the outer world of hands-on and real-life experiences. ESTPs are excited by continuous involvement in new activities and in the pursuit of new challenges. ESTPs tend to be logical and analytical in their approach to life, and they have an acute sense of how objects, events, and people in the world work. ESTPs are typically energetic and adaptable realists, who prefer to experience and accept life rather than to judge or organize it."⁶

       "ESTPs direct their energy towards the outer world of actions and spoken words. The solve problems, take action and actualize ideas and concepts - bringing them more to fruition. They are therefore action oriented problem solvers, and often prefer to work with practical organizational issues."⁷

       "The theme is promoting. They enjoy life in the fast lane and are masterful at moving things in their direction. Ride with the tide. Adaptable realists. Make the most of every situation. Highly observant of their surroundings."⁸

       "Gregarious, talkative, and energetic. Spontaneous, impulsive and love to laugh. Observant and aware of their environment. Curious, active, and quickly bored with inactivity. Tips for communicating with ESTP: Have fun! Keep things moving and don't get too serious. Offer the practical and pragmatic outcome of projects. Be specific and direct; don't take their jokes personally." ⁹

The Negative Side of ESTP

       "You often concentrate too much on others inability. This leads you to judge people without objectivity. You have difficulties to see real potential in people. When you are listening to people you concentrate more on your own concerns than other people problems. You hate responsibility for own mistakes. You often lack tact and diplomacy in relations with others. Sometimes you openly show impatience to others weaknesses. In the course of reaching your goals you often step on other people and do not concern yourself with their feelings. You also feel unconfident when others start questioning your behavior and ethics." ¹⁰

ESTP Under STRESS

       "Owing to their drive for excitement, ESTPs are often unaware of the long-term consequences of their actions. Not understanding the far reaching implications of their behaviors, ESTPs often find themselves at odds with friends, colleagues, and employers. A quick fix mentality and strong improvisational skills cannot always compensate for the long-term disappointments resulting from shortsighted planning. ESTPs are tough-minded and may appear insensitive when resourceful shortcuts fail to impress a taskmaster. They can quickly become defiant. Those unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of an ESTP's anger or retaliation may soon find that they have a tiger by the tail. If they lose the opportunity to act freely on their impulses, ESTPs abuse rules and regulations laid down by others in an attempt to regain a sense of excitement.
       If confinement continues, an ESTP's stress increases. They feel empty and hollow inside, as if dead to the world. Their first impulse is to seek revenge by mocking other people's values. They become increasingly anti-social and ridicule others with startling displays of disdainful behavior. By causing a scene, ESTPs rejuvenate their fading spirits and at the same time punish their oppressors. Like all SPs under stress, ESTPs get even by undoing the barriers to freedom, especially though gaining the trust and cooperation of others." ¹¹

       "Under great stress, ESTPs may have negative fantasies. They may imagine that others do not really care about them, then marshal and distort their Sensing data to provide themselves with the "evidence" of this neglect."¹²

Stress Management for ESTP (Feeding the Fourth)

       Do activities that require you to ask, "How can I use this to improve myself?How can I do this better?" in a subjective, emotionally connected manner, such as Hitch Your Wagon to a Star