How to Become an Entrepreneur, Based on your Myers and Briggs Personality Type

It’s easy to think that entrepreneurs fall into just a few personality categories but every personality type has the potential to become brilliant entrepreneurs. Each Myers and Briggs personality type has their own unique strengths that can help them succeed when setting up a business.

Some types might be more naturally drawn to risk-taking or long-term vision casting, while others shine when it comes to customer relationships, daily operations or creating scalable systems. The truth is that successful businesses need all of these skills, and the diversity of personality types behind them is part of what makes the entrepreneurial world so dynamic and innovative.

In fact, research confirms what many of us have long suspected: there’s no single “entrepreneur personality.” Although many successful founders may share traits like openness to adventure, high energy or a preference for novelty, they don’t all fit one mold. Researchers identified distinct personality profiles that show up again and again in thriving startups, from imaginative innovators to detail-oriented doers.

What’s even more interesting? The more personality diversity within a founding team, the greater the odds of success. Startups with complementary co-founders are significantly more likely to survive and grow than those led by solo founders. That’s good news for all of us. It means your unique personality doesn’t have to match anyone else’s to make a real impact. It just has to complement the right people and the right idea.

Whether you’re a big-picture dreamer, a detail-loving strategist or someone who thrives on connecting with others, there’s a path to entrepreneurship that fits you. You don’t have to change who you are to succeed — you just have to channel your natural strengths in the right direction.

Read on to find out more about how to become an entrepreneur, based on your Myers and Briggs personality type.

INFP: The Imaginative World-Builder 

As a creative and individualistic personality type, INFPs have the imagination needed to become an entrepreneur. They're motivated by personal values and social good, and they have a talent for building brands that feel authentic, emotionally resonant and purpose-driven. They are sure to come up with an interesting and truly original business idea that allows them to dedicate their time to causes that they’re passionate about. They’re great at innovating ideas – the hard part is narrowing them down.

How to become an entrepreneur as an INFP:

• Choose an idea you are really passionate about – as creative and idealistic as you are, you can become self-critical and emotionally vulnerable when things get tough, and that can make you reluctant to take necessary risks. Pursuing a cause you are truly committed to is the best way for you to stay encouraged.   
• Be realistic – remember that running a business can be hard and the daily slog of detail-oriented tasks can get tedious. Be prepared for the practical reality of entrepreneurship.
• Tap into the skills of a Thinker-Judger friend - utilise your friends if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They can help you look at the facts and logical consequences of the (many) ideas you are excited about.

INFJ: The Purpose-Driven Visionary 

INFJs are empathetic visionaries and strategic problem-solvers. Their ability to deeply understand people and foresee long-term ripple effects makes them thoughtful, values-aligned founders. Purpose-driven and intuitive, INFJs are drawn to mission-based ventures where they can create meaningful impact. These traits and more make them excellent entrepreneurs.

How to become an entrepreneur as an INFJ:

• Surround yourself with likeminded people - as an INFJ, you’re independent and private but to have the best shot at your business, it’s important to bring others on board who share your ideals.
• Use your decisiveness - you know your own mind so take advantage of this. Have faith in your abilities, have confidence in your ideas and avoid self doubt to make your business idea a reality.
• Lean into your natural resilience - your willpower will be the trait you use most as an entrepreneur. When obstacles get in your way, remember that they are just challenges to be overcome. Don’t give up!

ENFP: The Energetic Creative 

Energetic and enthusiastic, ENFPs have the self-confidence that’s needed to become an entrepreneur. Their strength lies in sparking new ideas, forging strong connections and championing causes that align with their values—all key ingredients in entrepreneurial success. They will find it easy to get people excited about their ideas - the challenge is putting in the work to make it happen.

How to become an entrepreneur as an ENFP:

• Harness your charisma - find a way to harness your natural showmanship and use it to your advantage. ENFPs are positive, charming and upbeat, and people respond well to this. Use these skills!
• Find your audience - any good business starts with market research. Don’t just focus on the idea, focus on who will buy it. Use your people skills to sniff out who needs your products and then sell to them.
• Be patient - being an entrepreneur is a long-term commitment. Things probably won’t happen for you overnight. That means you’ll need to combat the ENFP trait of being easily bored and persevere with your plans.

ENFJ: The Impact Leader 

To an ENFJ, entrepreneurship comes naturally. Charismatic and people-focused, ENFJs excel at building strong teams and creating uplifting company cultures. They lead with vision and empathy, inspiring others to join their mission and creating businesses that prioritize both purpose and people. They are big thinkers with a clear vision for the future - the trick is practicing caution along the way.

How to become an entrepreneur as an ENFJ:

• Think it through first -  you’ll have no problem coming up with a master plan for your business but you need to be careful that you’ve properly thought through your decision. Make sure you have the time and resources to make your vision a reality before you jump right in.
• Find people you trust - your biggest strength is your networking skills. You have bags of charisma so getting people on board is easy and effortless. The secret is making sure you can trust your new colleagues and that they’re working for you, not the other way round.
• Practice time management - you love being busy but to be a successful entrepreneur you need to get better at time management. Try not to overcommit yourself too much in the beginning, work on prioritising the work that matters most to you and your business.

INTP: The Innovative Explorer 

When starting a business, INTPs can make the most of their imagination and enthusiasm to come up with a product or service that will be successful. Curious and analytical, INTPs bring original thinking to every problem they tackle. Their love of exploring new ideas, questioning assumptions and designing elegant solutions makes them ideal for industries that thrive on disruption and innovation.

How to become an entrepreneur as an INTP:

• Don’t sugarcoat your new career - while entrepreneurship means more freedom, remember that networking, building relationships and answering to other people will still be important aspects of your new career. It’s important to go into entrepreneurship with open eyes and realistic ideas.
• Have confidence - though you have the skills you need to become an entrepreneur, your lack of confidence will hold you back. Practice working on your self-belief and conviction.
• Get a second Sensor opinion - one of your biggest strengths is your highly analytical Intuit’s brain but it can be a good idea to get advice from a Sensor type too. These practical-minded personality types might be able to see things that you’ve missed.

INTJ: The Future-Focused Strategist 

INTJs benefit from intellect, logic and independence, all of which can help them when starting a business. Strategic, independent and future-focused, INTJs excel at building long-term visions and turning complex ideas into actionable plans. Their natural ability to foresee industry trends and optimize systems makes them powerful innovators who build with precision and purpose. This personality type will probably approach entrepreneurship carefully and strategically, drawing up extensive plans with a focus on efficiency. But to be successful, they’ll need to get others on board as well.

How to become an entrepreneur as an INTJ:

• Work on your EQ - while starting a business involves a lot of independence, growing it means drawing on the skills of others. To do this, you’ll need to work on your emotional intelligence to lead your team and retain your new employees.
• Be humble - where INTJs need to be careful is that they don’t become too superior. Even as an entrepreneur, you need help and advice from others. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have all the answers all the time.
• Strike a balance - it’s easy for your business to take over all areas of your life. As an INTJ, you’ll have to work really hard to keep your work-life balance on track to avoid sabotaging your relationships.

ENTP: The Disruptive Trailblazer 

The fearlessness of the ENTP is one of their biggest strengths when it comes to entrepreneurship. Quick-witted and confident in the face of challenge, ENTPs are idea machines who thrive in the startup phase. They’re at their best when pitching big concepts, disrupting outdated models and pivoting with confidence when the landscape shifts. They just need to master their procrastination problem!

How to become an entrepreneur as an ENTP:

• Focus! - Boredom will be your biggest enemy when it comes to setting up a business. Procrastination is the hardest thing for ENTPs to overcome so work on finding strategies to help you knuckle down and concentrate.
• Research your business - before you dive headfirst into your new business idea, start with research. Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you begin to avoid wasted time and disappointment.
• Find your right hand (wo)man - ENTPs tend to be innovative, quick and intellectual but you’re not so good at practical things. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to find your opposite and enlist their help as your trusted advisor.

ENTJ: The Empire Builder 

Born leaders with bold visions, no one needs to explain to an ENTJ how to become an entrepreneur. This personality type thrives in high-stakes environments and they’ve probably already prepared a strategy, a business plan and a presentation to pitch their idea to you. They’re natural decision-makers who can rally teams, scale businesses efficiently and keep their eyes firmly on growth and expansion. Entrepreneurship is practically in their DNA. Now the question is, how will they take the first step?

How to become an entrepreneur as an ENTJ:

• Consider a side hustle first - If you’re not sure you want to take on the risk of starting your own business, why not try doing it alongside your day job? This gives you a chance to test the waters before you quit your career completely.
• Choose the right clients - you know you’re not the most patient person and can easily get frustrated by people so make sure you only work with people who you respect. It will save a lot of headaches down the line.
• Make sure you separate work and life - if you’re running your own business, you need to be careful about getting overwhelmed. Force yourself to take time off. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

ISTP: The Do-It-Yourself Founder

Creative, technical and naturally curious, the Craftsman personality type doesn’t need to look too far to find the foundation for a successful business. ISTPs are tinkerers and they come up with new solutions to practical problems without even thinking. They often excel in product design, tech and trades-based ventures where innovation meets function. They’re natural DIY entrepreneurs who just get things done. They just have to learn how to sell their invaluable solutions!

How to become an entrepreneur as an ISTP:

• Whatever you do, make sure it’s creative - as an ISTP, you’re only going to be happy if you have a practical and creative career. Whatever business idea you have, bear this fact in mind.
• Keep your cool - in business, your biggest strength will be your level-headedness. If you know how to keep your cool in high stress situations, you are already halfway there.
• Don’t take risks just for the sake of it - you get bored easily which can lead to thrill-seeking to keep you entertained. When it comes to running your own business, you really need to work on keeping this trait under control. 

ISFP: The Heart-Centered Artist 

ISFPs are naturally creative and independent, often channeling their artistry into work that reflects their unique vision. Whether through fashion, design, wellness or artisan products, they create experiences that feel personal, aesthetic and emotionally rich. Although ISFPs may hesitate at first to turn their passion projects into a business, they have many skills that can make them excellent entrepreneurs, as long as they plan ahead! 

How to become an entrepreneur as an ISFP:

• Utilise your people-centred skills - As an ISFP, your people skills will be your biggest asset. Draw on the strengths of the people around you to turn your ideas into a profitable business.
• Plan for the future - ISFPs aren’t great at thinking ahead. To be a good entrepreneur, you need to have a plan in place. If you’re not sure where to start, ask for help from someone you trust who’s done this before.
• Stick to your ideas - you might struggle with indecisiveness and self-doubt. If you want to have a successful business, you need to be able to make a decision and stick to it!

ISTJ: The Methodical Thinker 

Dedicated and persistent, ISTJs make great entrepreneurs. They work hard to achieve their goals, using a methodical, step-by-step approach to getting things done. They bring structure, personal accountability and long-term thinking to their businesses, making them excellent at managing operations and ensuring steady growth. Where ISTJs can sometimes struggle is in being too risk averse. You can’t start a business without a bit of risk.

How to become an entrepreneur as an ISTJ:

• Just do it - Advice for how to become an entrepreneur? Get started! Don’t be afraid to take the plunge into the unknown and make your idea a reality.
• Be adaptable - to be a good entrepreneur you need to be ready for anything. Don’t resist change, go with it and make sure you and your business come out on top!
• Keep persevering - you’re naturally blessed with determination and perseverance. As an ISTJ you don’t give up easily! This is a super important trait when starting your own business. Add in some more self-confidence and you’ve got a winning formula.

ISFJ: The Service-Oriented Builder

The ISFJ personality type has many characteristics that are ideal for entrepreneurship. Caring, responsible and detail-oriented, ISFJs often build businesses that prioritize service and customer satisfaction. Their dedication, work ethic and behind-the-scenes leadership help create stable, people-centered companies that stand the test of time. They’re not afraid to put in the hours - just remember that you’re running a business not a charity!

How to become an entrepreneur as an ISFJ:

• Choose a caring career - for you, the opportunity to be an entrepreneur is the opportunity to provide for others. When you’re setting up your business, make sure it’s in an industry that lets you be a caretaker to others.
• Keep in mind that you need to make a profit - ISFJ entrepreneurs need to be careful of being too altruistic. At the end of the day, you need to be able to make money from your business. That means sometimes making tough decisions and putting your interests ahead of others. 
• Don’t take on too much - running your own business, you might find that you struggle to take a step back. To be able to care for others, you need to care for yourself too, so be careful about how many things and people you commit to at once.

ESTP: The Opportunity Chaser 

As entrepreneurs, ESTPs are self-confident, efficient and always in control. They’re at home in fast-paced environments, whether closing deals, launching trends or making bold business moves. When others hesitate, ESTPs go for it. But to be successful, they must find a business idea that interests them and will hold their attention, even after the initial rush is over.

How to become an entrepreneur as an ESTP:

• Choose a fast-paced industry - ESTPs do best when they can work in an energetic and dynamic environment, so choose an industry that lets you play to your quick-thinking, thrill-seeking strengths to get the biggest rewards.
• Put structures in place - you love thinking on your feet but you hate thinking ahead. To be a good business owner, you need to put structures in place that will make sure you remember the important tiny details as well as the big ideas.
• Commit to your concept - your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur will be practicing patience and actually seeing your ideas through to fruition. If you’re setting up your own business, you need to stick with it - even through the slow parts.

ESFP: The Vibe Curator 

Charismatic and spontaneous, ESFPs bring flair and fun to entrepreneurship. Their strong people skills and love for the spotlight make them natural brand ambassadors and experiential marketers. They thrive when the business is exciting, social and customer-facing. To understand how to become an entrepreneur as an ESFP, you just have to learn to harness your charisma and showmanship. A huge part of selling products and services is selling yourself first. 

How to become an entrepreneur as an ESFP:

• Lean into your communication skills - your key strength is that you’re a people-person. If you can utilize your natural charm to win over clients, customers and investors, you’ll be well on the way to success.
• Set different challenges for yourself - as ESFPs are easily bored, it’s important you find a way to hold your focus during the day-to-day dullness and use strategies to help you be more productive. Setting weekly or monthly targets is a great way to stay motivated.
• Accept some conflict - thanks to your fun-loving personality, you avoid conflict like the plague but to be an entrepreneur, you’re going to have to get used to having some difficult conversations. You can’t please everyone all the time and that’s ok.

ESTJ: The Results-Driven CEO

Assertive and highly organized, the ESTJ personality type has the strong project-management skills and take-charge attitude needed to excel as an entrepreneur. They thrive in leadership roles, manage resources effectively and bring a no-nonsense, results-driven approach to launching and scaling a business. They also have integrity, confidence and commitment in spades - the only thing they’re missing is flexibility.

How to become an entrepreneur as an ESTJ:

• Play to your strengths - as entrepreneurs, ESTJs can utilise their love of planning, structure and organizing others to achieve their aims. Use these strengths and more to realize your vision for your business.
• Be open to new ideas - you have the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur but that doesn’t mean you have all the answers. Work on opening yourself up to the ideas and opinions of others - you might learn something.
• Prioritise your wellbeing - as entrepreneurs, ESTJs should be careful of working too hard. Running a business can become all-consuming so it’s essential that you find a way to switch off and de-stress or you risk burnout.

ESFJ: The Social Superstar 

If you’re wondering how to become an entrepreneur as an ESFJ, know that this personality type is extremely well-suited to entrepreneurship. Sociable and community-minded, ESFJs shine in service-oriented ventures. They’re skilled at building loyal customer bases, managing teams with empathy and ensuring their business runs smoothly while meeting real human needs. ESFJs have an ideal mix of leadership abilities, practical skills and attention-to-detail that will help them succeed as entrepreneurs - they just need to think of a good idea! 

How to become an entrepreneur as an ESFJ:

• Choose a business that aligns with your values - you are happiest when you’re looking after other people. As a people-focussed personality type, try to choose a business or industry that lets you help others.
• Be creative - the main barrier to becoming an entrepreneur for ESFJs is that you struggle to think outside the box. To help your business stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to work on finding something new and innovative that will give you an edge over your competitors.
• Get comfortable with rejection - as a people-pleaser personality type, it can be really hard for you to deal with rejection. Being an entrepreneur means getting used to people saying ‘no’ to your ideas, products or services and understanding that this isn’t a personal attack on you. It’s just business.

Want to learn more about your personality type at work?

Every personality type has their strengths in the workplace, from creativity to attention-to-detail to perseverance. This can help you when it comes to how to be an entrepreneur but also in everyday life too.

Understanding your natural strengths allows you to harness them effectively, making it easier to create a business that reflects your values and aligns with your talents. Moreover, embracing your personality type helps you better navigate challenges, collaborate with others and find fulfillment in your entrepreneurial journey. 

So, no matter where you are in your entrepreneurial path or life in general, remember that your personality isn’t a limitation — it’s a powerful asset that can drive you forward. By acknowledging and leveraging your unique strengths, you’ll not only excel as an entrepreneur but also in all areas of life.

To find out more about your personality type at work and how to play to your strengths, take our Typefinder for Career Planning test today.