Your personality is unique – you may have similar characteristics to friends or family members, but like fingerprints, no two personalities are identical.

So, how does this impact your career choices?

Are you destined to work in a particular industry like health and wellness because of certain traits? Or with the right tools and information, is it possible to bio-hack your own career trajectory?

WHAT EFFECT DOES PERSONALITY TYPE HAVE ON YOUR CAREER?

Extroverts tend to be social creatures who enjoy networking, teamwork, and collaboration. Introverts, on the other hand, can find social situations draining on their energy levels and often prefer working alone, with minimal distractions.

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Four Tendencies, takes it a step further and identifies four personalities– obliger, questioner, rebel, and upholder¹. She believes these tendencies shape all aspects of your behavior and explain why you do, and don’t do, certain things.

Maybe you’ve taken one of the more common personality tests – Myers Briggs or The Color Code – and keep a note of “who you are” on your desk as a reminder.

Or perhaps you’ve found yourself justifying certain decisions – skipping a networking event that would be beneficial to your brand, for example, exclaiming, “I’m an introvert, it’s not my scene!”

It’s human nature to be naturally drawn to organization, routine, and order so it makes sense to “lean” into your assigned personality box. For the most part, it can be a good thing. Wherever you fall is likely your strongest skill set and where you thrive. It’s a place where you feel confident and strong, but it’s comfortable.

COMFORT FEELS GOOD BUT…

At ITN, we like to think outside the box. In fact, we’re big fans of questioning the status quo of just about anything that’s related to your health and career.

Comfort feels good – like a cozy sweater on a chilly day – but you do not grow in comfortable spaces. You must step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to experience things beyond assigned parameters, metaphorical or not.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM A LITTLE BALANCE

In the same way you balance your dietary habits with a variety of healthy options, you can also balance your work with a selection of “traits” from different personality types. The way you handle work, stress, and life will thank you for it!

Try it out and see how it feels. If you’re an extrovert and thrive in social situations, get quiet with yourself and look inwards. You may be surprised by what you uncover about your goals and the direction you want to go by simply being still.

Alternatively, if you’re a questioner type who enjoys uncovering every stone of research before a big decision is made, consider balancing this with some rebel personality traits which tend to be riskier.

Combining different characteristics can set you apart and show that you’re not afraid to take initiative or try something different.

MAYBE DEEP BENEATH YOUR PERSONALITY IS A STORY YOU’RE TELLING YOURSELF

Have you ever thought that maybe it’s not even your true personality that’s determining your future, but rather a story that you keep telling yourself?

“Money is for other people but not me.”

“I’m not worthy of being promoted.”

“I’m going to fail so why should I even try?”

These stories often make us feel stuck, frustrated, and anxious.

As a result, they hold us back from the success we want and deserve.

So, if you’re beginning to wonder if your success has plateaued or if you’re ever going to find a career that lights you up, chances are you need to rewrite your story.

Discover the stuck story that’s holding you back so you can finally break poor habits, transform old beliefs, and finally get unstuck so you can create a life, career, and relationships so good you’re only jealous of yourself.

It’s time you embrace the uncomfortable and challenge the status quo today! We know it can be scary, but understand that there is an entire community here to support you.

What traits do you think your personality would benefit from? Share below!

1. The Four Tendencies