The ESTJ is the backbone of society. Many presidents and Supreme Court Justices have this personality type, and you wouldn’t be amiss to question whether this personality type could really be artistic and creative.
ESTJs are not naturally creative and artistic, but there are exceptions. ESTJs are sticklers for the rules and often take up leadership positions to ensure everyone obeys rules and regulations. However, some famous creative ESTJs include Frank Sinatra and Emma Watson.
Despite the rigid personality of ESTJs, there are some creatives among them. So, if you want to understand more about the artistic side of the ESTJ, read on!
Myers-Briggs Personality Types: Spotlight On ESTJ
ESTJ stands for Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging and forms part of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI was devised by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers based on Jungian theories on personality types.
Often called the Executive, the Supervisor, or the Commander, ESTJs are natural leaders. They are rigidly principled and want to ensure that everything is done the way it should be.
This personality type is the second most common type among men, making up 11% of all men. Only 6% of women embody this personality type. It is the fifth most common type in the population.
One word that comes to mind when thinking about the ESTJ is conventional. ESTJs believe in following cold hard evidence rather than guesswork and don’t have their head up in the clouds.
They are keen followers of rules, and their leadership tenures are often motivated by encouraging others to comply with rules and regulations. They have a patent interest in preserving the integrity of society. These traits are evidenced by the examples of famous ESTJs that follow.
Renowned ESTJs
Legendary ESTJs include people in politics, law, journalism, and activism. This includes George Washington, Sonia Sotomayor, Judge Judy, Diane Sawyer, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O’Connor, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Ella Baker.
In fiction, Robb Stark from Game of Thrones, Porthos from The Three Musketeers, Violet Crawley from Downton Abbey, Boromir from The Lord of the Rings, and Dwight Schrute from The Office are all examples of ESTJs.
Do ESTJs Like Art?
Although individual ESTJs might have an appreciation for art, they are ill-suited to the art profession as it generally doesn’t play to their strengths. Just because they can enjoy a pretty Gustav Klimt doesn’t mean they will become the next John Singer Sargent.
Characteristics Of ESTJs
Primed for organization and efficiency, ESTJs thrive in creating order out of chaos, whereas most artists combine chaos and innovation to create true masterpieces. ESTJs would not be comfortable in the turbulent world of an artist. Art is very often about breaking the rules and not upholding them.
ESTJs try to avoid emotions insofar as possible. This makes artistic professions difficult as art is the process of pouring one’s soul into your vocation.
They can also be very inflexible, which is no good for an artist as creators need to develop personally for their craft to flourish. This stubbornness can prevent them from thinking imaginatively and stop them from being open-minded.
Unvetted options are an anathema to the ESTJ, who prefers situations where they know what to do. This makes art a difficult career for the ESTJ, as art is about exploring what it means to be human.
Careers And Hobbies Of ESTJs
Art and artistic professions like music and acting are considered the most unpopular careers among ESTJs. The most popular careers include being a sales engineer, a stockbroker, an insurance agent, and other financial and managerial positions.
Similarly, hobbies and interests pursued by ESTJs are not generally very creative. Instead, ESTJs’ hobbies are more technical things like building and fixing things at home, community service, volunteering, gardening, and playing and watching sports.
7 Famous Creative ESTJs?
Although ESTJs do not usually take up creative professions, some still do. Here is a list of the most famous ESTJs in the creative realm.
1. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra, who went by the name “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” is part of the upper echelons of the music world. Sinatra breaks the mold as one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He is one of the rare singers who is an ESTJ, and his resolute nature is exemplified in his hit song My Way.
2. Laura Linney
Laura Linney is a well-respected, Emmy-winning actress with a filmography longer than my arm! More recently, she has starred in the Netflix show Ozark. Acting isn’t the most common profession for ESTJs, but Laura Linney is one of the few exceptions.
3. Daisy Ridley
Achieving her breakthrough in the 2019 Star Wars sequel, The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley has since starred in a few movies like the 2018 Ophelia that have brought her fame. This further emphasizes that any personality type can thrive in any occupation if they set their mind to it.
4. Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman is most popular for her Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill roles. She can be seen as an ESTJ as she has a strong personality rooted in her belief in doing what is right.
5. Emma Watson
Not only is she a famous actress with the Harry Potter films and Beauty and the Beast under her name, but Emma Watson is also an activist who actively campaigns to right societal wrongs. Her steadfast determination to balance the scales between sexes is a typical trait of an ESTJ, who is indefatigable.
6. Courteney Cox
Just like her character in Friends, Courtney Cox is a leader. She co-owns a production company called Coquette Productions. She has a fantastic work ethic and lives a principled life.
7. Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu, famous among other things for Charlie’s Angels and appearing more recently in shows like Why Women Kill, is focused and direct, leading many to believe she is an ESTJ. Integrity is one of her key values, and this is another reason.
ESTJ Trivia
Now that you know more about ESTJs, here is some trivia about them to further intrigue you:
- This personality type is more likely to present Type A behavior than other types.
- Satisfaction in their work is high among ESTJs.
- They have the third-highest marital satisfaction date.
- They are among the types most likely to remain in college.
- They are overrepresented among business owners, financial managers, and bank officers.
- They are one of the types with the highest GPAs.
Conclusion
Because ESTJs have difficulty expressing emotions, artistic professions are difficult for them. Despite ESTJs not being well suited to artistic careers, some exceptional people have become prolific artists, mostly in the acting profession.
