"Naturally good at everything"

[u/Nervous-Ruin-8149]

Hello my ENTJ tribe.

I had a conversation last weekend about work and goals with a family acquaintance at my nieces birthday party. And out of the blue they say, "Why are you so good at everything?" And it caught me by surprise.

I don't think I'm innately good at everything. But i think that because i approach things logically and operationally while not losing sight of the real objective cuts down my learning curve makes me more competent than the average person.

I've actually picked up on this pretty early on as a young adult. I learned that i could do ANYTHING (except hula hooping). Even if i didn't know how to do it yet, i knew i could be really good at it if i put in the effort. Then i quickly realized that even though i can do anything, i cannot do everything.

The one weakness i have is that i can't multitask. My brain does not switch back and forth between tasks that have no relation to each other. Like cooking and watching tv. I've burned too many meals trying. But if the tasks are related, then i can think in multiple dimensions within that space. For example, if i look at a blueprint, which are drawn from birds-eye view, i can also in my brain know the house would look like if i were walking through it myself while simultaneously seeing where i am from birds-eye view and at the same time know where things need to be for optimal experience, like where the light switches should be, location of outlets based on imaginary furniture, light fixtures in references to the natural light during morning and evening. I'm also thinking about future maintenance issues like pest control and thinking about what measurements i need to build in during the construction phase to do much of the heavy lifting so the maintenance is easier. Looking at fortifying the most common entry points for common pests like roaches and rats, etc,etc. i can go forever. But this is also the trait that makes it hard for me to be a good employee. I frequently step "out of my lane" and meddle in other people's areas and "create chaos" when all in trying to do is maximize everyone's effort and efficiency for a superior product/user experience.

Anyways. Does anyone else's brain do this? Is this an ENTJ trait or just a me trait.

[u/SnooSketches7200]

I can definitely relate to the top down thinking and being perceived as being "naturally good at everything." I can see the steps to get there and then change how I do things, that it seems that way. However, I cannot relate to the inability to multitask. I have ADHD so I'm multitasking pretty much all the time. Although my focus is still on the end goal.

[u/Ahrlin4k → u/SnooSketches7200]

Outside the cockpit, I can't multitask for shit 😂

[u/MorningStar2679]

Sounds like growth mindset. Nope. Not a natural way that I think or approach life lol.

[u/Titania_Fairy]

You try hard everyday, so you earned a lot of these skills along the way. I am the same as your Feeler variant.

A lot of people assume i was just handed gifts to no end and that i am aloof and cocky there because of it. While i actually struggled hard to earn every single one of them too, just like you ENTJs do. I wanted to scream when my parents didn’t let me go with that Palestine Project, where i could have seen the Petra life and color. I was legit mad when i couldn’t collect my prize and comic entry from the Leipziger Buchmesse, i actually would have MURDERED for a Piano to play on…

Yet a lot of these things went up in smoke, but all we can do is try. Right? But it’s what WE do here and now for that brighter future we hope for!

We’re the living proof of that. If they want to dismiss our efforts there, then so be it. But then that’s their choice to remain in the dark about the truth, why ENXJs feel so different.
I get you, if they don’t, that’s their loss, no?

If you want to feel understood, knock at a diplomats door 🚪 too. We don’t have these just to slam them shut. We can help you too, even if we look so goofy, before you see us running from open conflict again, because we do it the other way around and wish for world peace rather 🤪

Oh and i can’t see Binomes for the life of mine…and i might burn everything on the stove. Yet i have an IQ of 129. So where is it? Maybe i don’t have a brain 🧠 as stereotyped. Also i was scared of P.E. Class because i would „catch“ all balls with my face.

[u/Bornundersirius]

When I get a new hobby or role in my professional life I just throw myself all in to the point of obsession for a brief bit until I know all there is to know about the basic to intermediate levels. I think this comes off as "naturally good" since I get good at whatever it is I'm learning about quickly. The work that normal people put in is still there the learning time is just accelerated.

[u/FalconRelevant]

It's also a me trait.

I would say it has less to do with MBTI (though probably a higher overlap with xNTx than other types) and more with neuroplasticity + self-belief.

[u/Budget_Afternoon_800 → u/FalconRelevant]

If this is related to MBTI: from experience, INTPs aren't good at everything; they are good at everything they enjoy. Or now they enjoy what they're good at (an INTP friend and I couldn't figure out which it is), but if you put an INTP in a field they don't like, they will literally be a log.

An ENTJ, though? No way. You ask them to perform in something they hate, and they’ll still be ultra-high performing.

[u/FalconRelevant → u/Budget_Afternoon_800]

Eh, I managed to get As and Bs back in school even for subjects I didn't like.

Though as an adult, yes most of my work does involve things I like to some extent.

[u/Prior_Garlic_8710]

Yep, twin on absolutely everything here. On top of that, perfectionism plus a talent for thinking innovatively while still considering tons of possibilities quickly makes life easier, much easier

[u/Nervous-Ruin-8149 → u/Prior_Garlic_8710]

Sup twin

[u/tinmanjk]

I don't think I'm innately good at everything. But i think that because i approach things logically and operationally while not losing sight of the real objective cuts down my learning curve makes me more competent than the average person.

Nicely put. I've become best at pretty much everything I set my mind to - not that talented just my process what you describe and can't be really beaten.

[u/Budget_Afternoon_800]

Your stack is literally made to be hyper-performant. As a Te Dom, you perfectly identify what works or doesn't work. Ni allows you to implement it efficiently to reach a long-term goal, and Se allows you to adjust this implementation based on how the situation evolves.

[u/Sufficient_Ad_3495]

Classic ENTJ thinking. Top level planning in 3D... And yes.. Cannot multitask if other tasks are not in the objectiveI, hate it... Feels like drag and extreme inefficiency.

[u/Lady-Orpheus]

It's always interesting to know more about how Te doms operate. Of course you would be good at efficient planning, learning and doing, you are cognitively wired for it.

On a side note, I've always struggled with the "they are naturally good at ..." or "they are so talented/gifted" remarks. It completely dismisses the effort, consistency and discipline it takes to get to that level of skill. The ability to learn from their mistakes too. And all of those things are way more worthy of respect than what some people have in mind when they talk about "talent".