Hey ENFPs! Channel your energy and imagination to inspire greatness wherever you go.

This course includes four days of video sessions and email-based course materials. You can purchase this course for anytime, on-demand access. The cost is $195.

Sign up now.

The ENFP is the type that has the widest range of strengths, and ENFPs can imagine themselves accomplishing a wider range of feats than any other type.

If you get different results each time you take a personality test, you are probably an ENFP. Why is this? Because you are so good at seeing possibilities that it doesn’t make sense that there would be one answer to what you like and what you are capable of doing. An ENFP assumes that everyone gets a wide range of scores, but in fact, it’s only ENFPs (and mentally unstable people) who get a wide range of scores.

A problem for an ENFP is that the wide range of possibilities is intoxicating, but committing to one of those possibilities is like volunteering to be a caged animal. So an ENFP’s biggest challenge in life is to stick with something. ENFPs have a big capacity for vision which means ENFPs expect to accomplish grand things in life.

This course will help you reconcile your need for freedom with your need for accomplishment.

This course also will help ENFPs balance their incredible ability to do everything with the unlikelihood that they will finish any of it.

It’s hard to surprise me on a coaching call. The people who surprise me the most are ENFPs. They have the coolest jobs, they have the most unlikely career paths, and they have the most unpredictable range of topics they want to discuss.

For most of my career, I was surrounded by Js and I had very little experience with Ps. In entry-level jobs, you have to get a lot done, and Js are the types to turn to when it comes to super-duper productivity, so the business world is full of them

As my career started to focus on bigger ideas, I came into contact with more Ps, because they ask so many big questions and see so many possibilities.

At first I gravitated to the ENTPs. They have tons of ideas, which Js like, because we can implement the ideas. And the ENTPs are great at office politics, so people often mistake themselves for getting along with ENTPs at work (when really the ENTP is just manipulating the Js, but that’s for another post.)

What I found is that ENFPs were far more likable than ENTPs, and in fact, the ENFPs had vision but also have a likability that seems to prevail in any situation you put them in.

If the ENTPs manipulate people do to great things, the ENFPs inspire people to do great things. ENFPs change the world by connecting with people in a way that makes them over-perform. ENFPs see possibility for greatness where no one else sees it.

It does not surprise me that the only time we’ve had fireworks at the farm was when an ENFP came to visit, and inspired my kids to work together instead of trying to set each other on fire.

At work ENFPs create energized, cooperative teams. Once I understood this, I started watching management teams closely. Where there are ENTPs there’s an intensely competitive environment of office politics. Where there are ENFPs, the company is reaching high enough to attempt seemingly impossible feats.

This course will help ENFPs place themselves in positive, productive environments that will allow them to thrive. The best life for you will incorporate your phenomenal intuition and mysteriously unflagging belief in yourself. Here’s a path for how to get that:

Day One: Be your true, authentic self even when people doubt you
This session will show ENFPs how to manage an incredible idea flow by channelling it to inspire rather than suppressing it to fit in. You’ll learn how to use action items so you don’t get bogged down in details of execution. And you’ll learn how to trust yourself when you know in your gut that you’re right.

Accomplishment comes from focus, but burnout comes from too much focus. An ENFP needs to be an expert on finding the right amount of focus for their boundless abilities. This session will give you a road map you can use in most circumstances to gauge how to commit to something without feeling trapped.

ENFPs are inspirational and clairvoyant and chameleon-like to the point that everyone likes them. But ENFPs often have no idea how to turn these people skills into visible accomplishments. It’s easy to underestimate an ENFP for this reason. This session will give you tactics for insuring that you’re able to convey your value quickly to people who matter — be it in the personal or professional realm — as you are one of the rare types that can thrive in both.

Day Two: Find a career that allows you to inspire change in the world
You’ll learn how to use your remarkable ability to get along with anyone in order to open opportunities that are usually reserved for more mainstream people.  Your consensus-building abilities make you a special addition to any group even if you are different from everyone else, so this session will help you find the situations and organizations that will place the highest value on these skills.

You have a million projects in your head, but there is one, overarching project that you need to take care of: yourself. Where do you want to be? What feels right to you? What situations make your most comfortable? Most creative? Most connected? This session will show you how to craft a career that allows you to be the best possible version of you: free, focused, fantastic. The best job for you will give permission to let your ideas flow while everyone feverishly takes notes. Your job will be, invariably, a way to bring the best out of not only yourself but those around you as well.

Day Three: Make a plan to put your big ideas into action
You will be happiest if you’re surrounded by people, which means you’re great at building a network for yourself. You’re probably great at helping other people, but this session will show you how to also help yourself. And your network of friends, family and business associates is a great place to start.

Find your unique, ENFP balance. Balance your need to be free and spontaneous with the demands of a family, which are inherently constraining. This same balance is important in the workplace because you have to balance being part of a team with the need for freedom to work how and when you want.

In this session you’ll learn to seek out people who trust you to make good decisions even if those decisions look unconventional. Those closest to you may grow a little weary of your boundless energy, but consider that they just don’t get it. This session will teach you how to exercise your own off switch so you can guide your life by trusting your gut.

Day Four: Ask me anything!
I do this session for every course, and I already know that the most wide-ranging, off-the-wall questions come from the ENFPs. So this will be a night to remember.

Sign up now!

63 replies
  1. Christina
    Christina says:

    I’m an INFP! And I’ve always been drawn to ENFPs (but I’m definitely an introvert). Would this course be applicable for me as well? Is there a major difference between an ENFP and INFP other than the introverted/extroverted thing?

      • Penelope Trunk
        Penelope Trunk says:

        Yes, I agree. There are too many differences. For example, no one needs more alone time than an INFP. The need for alone time shades every single decision and INFP makes.

        Hold tight…there will be an INFP course soon!

        Penelope

        • Marie-INFP
          Marie-INFP says:

          Yes, please! This just made my day that the INFP’s are next. And at that alone time comment, my head exploded from the truth of this, which I hope you’ll address with strategy on how to combat.

          • Christina
            Christina says:

            I’ve never thought about that before but it’s true, I do love my alone time. After having to do group work at work I run off to my desk to decompress a little. I can’t wait for the INFP seminar! Plus I never meet other INFPs (that I know of; although my best friend is an INFJ and I also find myself drawn to ENFPs.)

        • Erin
          Erin says:

          Fantastic! I love learning more about INFP. I always test as INFP, but I feel much grouchier than almost all the INFP descriptions I read. That and my love of the arts but total lack of skill in any of them makes me doubt my type, but no other type really seems to fit me either. The connect on alone time…spot on. And I’ve never seen that pointed out by anyone else. I will absolute have to sign up for the seminar.

          • Jennifa
            Jennifa says:

            Erin,
            I believe I am INFP and am quite grouchy. It has become my calling card at work and people poke fun at me about it. Something I am happy to play along with.

            Many MBTI websites are overly positive in my opinion, maybe to be PC. But hearing the straight dope makes it simpler to then deal with it. Don’t you think?

    • Becca
      Becca says:

      My bf is an INTJ and it’s such a weird match. After I typed him, I saw that it was thought ENFP-INTJ was an ideal match and sometimes I shake my head because while I love him to pieces, most days I want to kill him. Probably doesn’t help he’s British as well which just compounds his INTJ qualities.

      • Andrew
        Andrew says:

        I think it was an easy match, both INTJs and ENFPs would get bored. Personal growth is exciting to both types and both value a lot of freedom.

        Also, ENFPs tend to be one of the most introverted types of all the extroverts. In my experience, ENFPs don’t “draining” on my introvert batteries the same way an ESFJ (for example) does.

        • Andrew
          Andrew says:

          Ugh so many typos in that comment. Too much editing without proofreading. Deep personal shame.

          • Tommi
            Tommi says:

            Andrew, in a blog about ENFP:s it’s cool if an INTJ is so enthusiastic he forgets the perfection :)

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      I’ve been thinking about that. It’s a huge opportunity, isn’t it? Also I have read a lot about how people choose mates based on the distance between eyes (we choose to match our own). So I was thinking of having all the single female ENFPs and all the single male INTJs send in their eye spacing measurements and I match them based on that. It’d be a great experiment.

      Penelope

  2. Alice
    Alice says:

    Hey Penelope,

    I score something different on the test every dang time. However, I couldn’t possibly be an ENFP… right?

    Question: Is it possible to be a Grammar Nazi and an ENFP? If there is a typo, I see it immediately and cringe. It causes me near physical pain…

    The world is a stupid place, but I love it anyway…

    • John
      John says:

      I score different each time as well, and the ENFP type seems to describe me quite well. I am also a grammar nazi, so maybe it is a characteristic of ENFPs. As a plant manager I found I did not have to order people to do things. Just ask, and explain and they would accomplish the most extraordinary things. But I need someone to finish the tasks I start. This article helped me immensely.

  3. Janna
    Janna says:

    I love the matchmaker idea! I am an ENFP female, 30 years old, and I’m most attracted to INTJ and INFJ guys. I think I am pulled almost exclusively to this type. Is there something to the claims of compatibility here, or just an urban legend?

    Also, I think it’s possible to be an ENFP with sensitivity and bouts of shyness. I need people and have the intense ENFP energy, but I also need to curl up with a book sometimes. Hence testing INFP, ENFJ or INFJ sometimes!

    • Jay Cross
      Jay Cross says:

      INTJ here.

      The best way I’ve heard this explained is that there is a strong “personality infrastructure” between INTJs and ENFPs.

      In other words: any *particular relationship* between an INTJ and an ENFP is as likely as not to result in failure…

      But within a fairly large *population* of these pairings, MORE such couples will probably be successful than couples within similar-sized populations of other MBTI types.

      Of course, this would need to be tested, but when people swear by the borderline-magical compatibility of these two types, I am pretty sure this is the underlying intuition.

    • YesMyKidsAreSocialized
      YesMyKidsAreSocialized says:

      I am an INTJ and my husband is an ENFP. So there may be something there.

      But, there always seems to be unnecessary drama going on, in my view, in our relationship. Where he sees me as a robot, I see him as overly passionate about everything. I save passion for a very few things that I really care about. For him, every perceived slight is a like knife wound.

      He is also someone who inspires and rallies coworkers and was just promoted into another management role where he works. I ask him how he can accomplish so much with very little time in places. His response is that it is his secret, but really, it’s people skills, but not just that, it’s making people feel good about themselves as well.

      But the best thing about him is his ability to make me laugh, I think most ENFP’s and INFP’s have an uncanny ability to bring humor to others’ lives. They are my favorite people to hang out with. I also appreciate other INTJ’s and INTP’s because there is a nuance of non-verbal interaction that very few people get.

    • Becca
      Becca says:

      I’m an ENFP and I’ve gotten more and more shy over the years. I hate it. I feel trapped in a cage. Because when I do get opportunities to comfortably socialize and be in high energy environments, I’m so wired and high and feel like myself.

      I love my INTJ bf but sometimes I wish he were more extroverted!

  4. Becca
    Becca says:

    I am through the roof excited for this. I’m 29 and aimless, trying to pick a direction in the next 2-3 months, and this is exactly what I need right now!

  5. Mable Leong
    Mable Leong says:

    Hey Penelope,

    Will I still be able to sign up for the course even I am located in Malaysia right now?

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      Yes, you should still sign up! Time zones don’t matter for the written materials – you can read them whenever you want. And the live videos are also recorded. So you can watch them when it’s convenient for you and you can participate in the courses by emailing me directly as opposed to using the chat function during the live webinar. Lots of people participate in the course from way outside my time zone.

      Penelope

  6. Joyce
    Joyce says:

    Hi, Penelope! My mother is an ENFP. She is the first person to question me on the validity of MBTI and would always tell me that you can’t limit a person based on their personality.

    She graduated valedictorian of her elementary school and high school. She joined the military and retired as an officer in her forties.

    Now she is in her sixties and is part of a national executive board of a religious organization. Even though she wants to resign some of her positions, she is always elected as president or officer in any organization that she joins.

    Your description of ENFPs is accurate for her. She’s always a leader in her family, work, and causes.

    I am INFP and guess my brothers are INTJ and INTP. My father who just passed away this year is also an ENFP like my mother.

    I want to sign up for the course for her, but she might be busy on those days. She might even say that she’s retired so she doesn’t need it anyway. How can your course help a senior citizen ENFP? Thank you!

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      The big reason to take a course like this is to understand yourself better or to understand how the people around you perceive you. If she’s interested in that, she will like the course.

      As an aside, I would have loved to watch you and your siblings dealt with having two ENFP parents when you were all introverts.

      Penelope

      • Joyce
        Joyce says:

        We siblings had to be well-rounded. We had to be physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually mature. My parents always told us to mingle with people and get into sports. Even though my parents never threatened us and always supported us, we always felt the pressure to succeed. So our family has an INTJ doctor, an INFP lawyer, and an INTP historian.

        I always wonder if lawyering is a job that I should do in the long term. I love reading, listening, and helping people. Writing is all right. I hate speaking up and fighting people. I just do what I have to do.

  7. Mark W.
    Mark W. says:

    I think the first photo at the top of this post is one of the best I’ve seen on this blog.

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      What? Chris you are an ENTJ. Are you kidding me? I can’t even tell if this is a joke. You are SO an ENTJ. You probably adapt to deal with kids and work and married life, etc so you push yourself to develop ENFP skills not because you are an ENFP but because you’re an over achiever ENTJ.

      Penelope

  8. sporttygurl
    sporttygurl says:

    aw… my husband is an INTJ and he was the one who sent me the link to this website.
    I did not believe in personality tests because I get a different result all the time. Well, surprised to know that the fact that I get a different personality all the time is a type of personality. =)

  9. Ken
    Ken says:

    Penelope, I love these MBTI series you are doing! Do you plan on having a webinar for all 16 types? I am an INFP and would jump on the opportunity to attend the webinar dedicated to INFPs :-)

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      I love the series, too! And I never would have thought of doing this if you guys had not asked for it so often in the comments, so thank you.

      I will definitely do all sixteen types, but I’m still trying to figure out what to do for ISTPs and ISTJs. I’m not sure they would ever believe in personality type enough to take a course about it.

      Hm. Maybe Melissa and I will do a course on how to date ISTPs and ISTJs since those are the types of our significant others….

      Penelope

      • Ashlee DePhillippo
        Ashlee DePhillippo says:

        As an ENFP married to a ISTJ I agree with your “how to date idea” with a “how to be married to …” component as well. :)

      • Dale
        Dale says:

        As an ISTJ, I would be interested (although the S is marginal (4 where 50 is totally). Web versions have even said I was INTJ.

      • Erin
        Erin says:

        My best friend is an ISTJ. I can’t guarantee if she’d go as far as taking a course or seminar, but she definitely believes in type. I know confirming her type gave her a lot of insight and peace of mind that her quirks were common to other people.

  10. Lorinda
    Lorinda says:

    Oh, I’m from Australia :( It will be 10am over here during work time/meetings.
    Will there be any recorded sessions?

  11. heather yan
    heather yan says:

    Penelope I’m a huge fan of yours and I’m a huge believer of MBTI. I’m an ESFJ – I’ve noticed that there isn’t a lot of language on ESFJ’s on your site but I’d love to learn more about your insights on this personality type.

    As you know, we’re really people-oriented and a career where we’re our focus is helping people (nurses, counseling, etc.) is best. I am in business (previously worked in consulting but now I work in marketing for my summer internship after finishing my first year at an MBA program). I am struggling a bit because I find that I’m really not good at office politics and I can take things personally / am sensitive. I feel jaded by the fact that business is all about profit and I don’t feel like I’m directly helping people as much. Would love your thoughts on us ESFJ’s

    • Jennifa
      Jennifa says:

      You can put ESFJ in the search box on the home page.

      …should probably read Blueprint for a Womans life very carefully.

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      Off the top of my head, ESFJs should not get an MBA. The only time an MBA helps you is to climb to the top of a corporate ladder. Which is almost 100% politics. So you would never want to do that. Otherwise, and MBA doesn’t help. In fact, it often hurts you because if you want to apply to jobs that require outstanding people skills and job that directly help people, the first question would be why did you get an MBA? Getting a degree you don’t need makes your resume look unfocused and it looks like you don’t understand how to manage yourself. So in the case of an ESFJ an MBA is a hinderance toward using your natural skill set in the workplace.

      Penelope

  12. Amy
    Amy says:

    Is it possible to get multiple answers on personality tests and NOT be ENFP? I ask because anything that requires me to be empathetic makes me incredibly uncomfortable, so I’m pretty skeptical I could have an F in my type.

    I take the test frequently hoping it suddenly gives me an answer that makes sense. I usually self assess with ENTP, but your test gives me ENTJ, which sounds crazy to me. I don’t mind being in charge, but someone usually has to assign it to me. I also got INFP once when I was young, and ENFP once or twice.

    Honestly, I find the test questions difficult because I always want to ask at least 2 clarifying questions before I can answer, which is probably a clear indicator on its own. I remember being physically angry at the test the first time I took it because I thought the questions were too ridiculously vague to answer (and it was on carbon copy so erasing was pretty irritating).

    I’d love to take one of these courses once I feel more confident about which type I am. I’m leaning towards ENTP after reading “The Art of SpeedReading People.”

  13. Tom
    Tom says:

    I’m not an ENFP; I’m an INFJ in Penelope’s current INFJ course. And I just wanted to
    comment to tell anyone who’s on the fence about enrolling in the course: grab it — it’s so worth it.

    Yes, it’s useful to have your type deconstructed for you. But it’s AMAZING to learn how you can get the most out of your interactions with other types.

    It’s like getting the cheat codes to the rest of your life. Don’t miss out.

  14. Anon
    Anon says:

    I like the idea of this, but I feel like the only thing I need help w/ is dealing with the NTJs in my life: I have them north, south, east and west of me, so to speak. I think the recommended pairing of ENFP/INTJ is a total crock, a bad joke. I feel like NTJs are prone to abusing ENFPs. ENFP just wants to get along, and NTJ just wants to be right, or at least obeyed.

    • Anon
      Anon says:

      (Not to suggest that I have all my ducks in a row! Only that no other relationships in my life sap my energy and befuddle my imagination like the one I mentioned.)

  15. Randi
    Randi says:

    As an enfp, I don’t know that I can commit that far in advance and have so many questions that I’d like to ask. Like is it difficult for other ENFP parents to be bound by the routine and the “mom” identity? How can I be less obnoxious to my INFJ partner? Pretty much any answers that would soften the bounces of my ping ponging life.

  16. Shai
    Shai says:

    Hi everyone. 27 year old ENFP male here. Stumbled onto this page via Facebook. Penelope, I enjoy what you have written here! All us ENFPs need to take this course!

    I’d like to share a lil excerpt from this here text (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979868459/?tag=ptrunk-20). ENFP reminders for personal growth:

    – Find and stay with what creates inspiring moments for you.

    – Give people you encounter a second evaluation – to perceive what you missed the first time.

    – Keep up with friends.

    – It’s okay to need inspiration for yourself.

    – Check your perceptions of others.

    – In a conflict, talk about yourself too.

    – Have a work environment where you can be involved in numerous projects and flow creatively.

    – Find times to let up on the need for constant change.

    – Words are only words, so be honest about whether actions match intentions.

    – Don’t let who you think you are get in the way of who you can be.

    – A good direction in life is to make something totally novel a new tradition.

    – Trust that you can safely be yourself when people get close.

    – Be sure you like who you’re with.

    – Practice patience with those who complain but do nothing about it.

    – In any situation, try to always recognize at least three interpretations grounded in common sense.

    – Good empathetic connections require compassion.

    – Consider that thinking ‘everything is in the mind’ may just be wishful thinking.

    Thanks for reading. Hope these reminders are helpful. Looking forward to the course :-)

  17. Bernie
    Bernie says:

    Hi
    I used to come out as ENTP but ENFP sounds more like me and I came out in one test as ENFP. I have moved from corporate life to working for myself and it is HARD. Can ENFPs ever be applied enough to get a project finished??

    I want to sign up but can I pay in two installments perhaps?

  18. Dennis
    Dennis says:

    Four “days” of video? Does this mean four videos each with several hour (4 or 6hrs) of lecture?

  19. Catherine
    Catherine says:

    One of the most successful people I know is an ENFP. His ability to think outside the box and pursue projects with an intense passion got him to where he is today. Definitely an inspirational guy!

    • Penelope Trunk
      Penelope Trunk says:

      If you are listening to the recorded session you can email questions directly to me and I’ll answer them.

      Penelope

  20. Sharon Rose
    Sharon Rose says:

    Hi Penelope,

    This is marvellous information. I am an ENFP, married to an ENTP, so guess who gets to be the peacemaker and diplomat. I have become kind of isolated, as a home schooling Mom, since moving to a small town.

    Without a flow of ideas and energy from others, it has become a challenge to maintain that ENFP belief in myself. I get out into nature a lot, which helps. I have also taken up some new creative pursuits, which has been fun but not socially productive.

    From your description, I recognize the challenge of being in a more socially conservative environment after escaping the city. I have toggled between urban and rural life a lot, and never found a good balance. I didn’t realize there was a connection to being an ENFP.

    My little sojourn in the country has been personally restorative, but tracking myself back into this new world feels overwhelming now. Being without a social circle is draining.

    Will this course help me to start over from scratch, without any established networks, or circle of friends?

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