Any INFJs Earning Six Figures?
- Thread starter Stillwater
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I can see an INFJ being motivated by money. It depends what you have been through. There's probably always going to be a thing there saying "But don't do the wrong thing to get money! Get money without hurting others!" etc. (admitting that people's definitions of "hurting others" will have variability). But if you go through a certain set of circumstances, they can definitely potentially effect you in a certain way that can make you obsessed with getting a lot of money. Kind of like what James said about wanting money for your kids. An INFJ who had faced some certain set of circumstances in their own life, or with their kids, might be completely obsessed with getting money for their kids.
To me, acquiring wealth/resources isn't so much about "having it all" but more about removing obstacles. If I want to go to Ireland or New Zealand or wherever for a little while, I don't want money (or lack thereof) to be a limiting factor. I would also rather spend money on experiences than material objects. A new phone only feels new for so long.
I'm sure there are plenty of people earning six figures who fall under the INFJ type. Whether or not they admit to it is another story.
I'm sure there are plenty of people earning six figures who fall under the INFJ type. Whether or not they admit to it is another story.
- Dec 29, 2009
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Right now I'm fairly broke, so I am keen to do something about that, and I will. I guess I have some reasonable equity in our house when it's sold, but until then I will have to get a move on. Longer term though I would like to do something much more meaningful than just make money. One of my best friends has a job using music therapy for autistic children. He earns ok money, but he could probably earn more in other pursuits. I used to think he was very lucky, until a some years ago he worked at one center especially and built up a strong connection with the children there.
After the banking crash they closed the center down, and he contacted me in a terrible state - not through losing his job, but what was going to happen to the children, who had no concept of what was happening to them. I tried to console him, and pointed out it wasn't his fault, and he'd done a lot to help them. He quickly found a new job, but he was devastated. I do think he really does love his work though, it's much more than just going through the motions for him, he lives for it.
I remember one day at work watching two cleaners (I used to regularly work late) and I could tell one of them was upset. Her friend asked her what was wrong and she said that there had been a terrible row in her husbands family, following the death of a relative, and how the money was split up. She was close to tears and said, they'd always been a close family and never had any arguments before. Her friend gave her a hug, and said money can be a terrible thing.
I guess you could easily say it was the lack of money that really caused the argument, but I'm not so sure. Sometimes when I look at what people are prepared to do, even for relatively small amounts, I wonder. I certainly don't think just having a lot of money brings instant happiness, it can create as many problems as it resolves I think.
After the banking crash they closed the center down, and he contacted me in a terrible state - not through losing his job, but what was going to happen to the children, who had no concept of what was happening to them. I tried to console him, and pointed out it wasn't his fault, and he'd done a lot to help them. He quickly found a new job, but he was devastated. I do think he really does love his work though, it's much more than just going through the motions for him, he lives for it.
I remember one day at work watching two cleaners (I used to regularly work late) and I could tell one of them was upset. Her friend asked her what was wrong and she said that there had been a terrible row in her husbands family, following the death of a relative, and how the money was split up. She was close to tears and said, they'd always been a close family and never had any arguments before. Her friend gave her a hug, and said money can be a terrible thing.
I guess you could easily say it was the lack of money that really caused the argument, but I'm not so sure. Sometimes when I look at what people are prepared to do, even for relatively small amounts, I wonder. I certainly don't think just having a lot of money brings instant happiness, it can create as many problems as it resolves I think.
Tin Man
"a respectable amount of screaming"
At one time I did. But then I discovered the joy of killing for it's own sake.
If I were rich... I mean stupid rich I would own very few things. Just things other people had given me. Id probably rent everything else. I might have a few houses that I could go to whenever I wanted byt thats it. Things...having things ties you down.
I jusr think its funny that if rich... I would practically own nothing.
It looks to me like wealthy people do keep less things. In my job, I'm in and out of people's homes all the time. Those with lower household incomes just have stuff everywhere! Those who are wealthier appear to own less. Their houses look sparse. Very little knick knacks or just stuff lying around. Though they probably own other things like land, cars, boats, other houses etc. that you just don't see.
- Aug 21, 2015
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I don't want to have "stuff", either. I'm currently in the process of giving away and selling my possessions. When we move I want everything to have a place and purpose and nothing extra. I've trimmed our book, music and art collections, too.
I'm very good with money, despite currently not making much. I don't buy foolishly. Our credit is still at the very top. I set up my first mutual funds and IRAs in my 20's with a small inheritance (instead of spending any of it), and saved for the downpayment for my first house while working a college job where I started at $5.25/hr and left at $14/hr. I don't buy trendy clothes; I buy high quality classics that will last many years, and basics. If I need to buy something big, I try to buy it only once (like a sofa, for example) so I look for the best quality I can afford - something timeless and well-built. (We sat on the floor on cushions for years until we cold afford nice chairs.) I don't want to own anything I will want to throw away in a few years. This would not change if I were rich.
The only reason I want to earn a lot of money is to stay independent and to have enough peace and time in my life that I could be more giving. (Art feels selfish to me, even though it is a form of communication that has meaning and that others enjoy, so I want to do something more charitable, too.) Right now I depend on my SO for the majority of our income (because my postponed project is still not out) and it drives me mad. He doesn't mind at all. There have been times in our lives where this role was reversed and I didn't mind, either, but when I don't earn an equal amount I feel like I have to be submissive because it is technically his money. Ugh.
I'm very good with money, despite currently not making much. I don't buy foolishly. Our credit is still at the very top. I set up my first mutual funds and IRAs in my 20's with a small inheritance (instead of spending any of it), and saved for the downpayment for my first house while working a college job where I started at $5.25/hr and left at $14/hr. I don't buy trendy clothes; I buy high quality classics that will last many years, and basics. If I need to buy something big, I try to buy it only once (like a sofa, for example) so I look for the best quality I can afford - something timeless and well-built. (We sat on the floor on cushions for years until we cold afford nice chairs.) I don't want to own anything I will want to throw away in a few years. This would not change if I were rich.
The only reason I want to earn a lot of money is to stay independent and to have enough peace and time in my life that I could be more giving. (Art feels selfish to me, even though it is a form of communication that has meaning and that others enjoy, so I want to do something more charitable, too.) Right now I depend on my SO for the majority of our income (because my postponed project is still not out) and it drives me mad. He doesn't mind at all. There have been times in our lives where this role was reversed and I didn't mind, either, but when I don't earn an equal amount I feel like I have to be submissive because it is technically his money. Ugh.
I don't necessarily agree with this.
Sure I have no real desire to be rich. Chasing money your whole life is a fools game where you are just trying to get a number higher and higher. For what purpose?
But if I made 6 figures, there's a lot I could do with it. Travel the world. Invest into early retirement, giving me freedom from working for the sake of work (you bet I'd have to be on top of my hobbies though, I don't want to retire for the sake of retirement either). Enjoy a really, nice kitchen that I can bake a lot of good stuff in. Maybe think about moving to a place that has a much higher cost of living, but is more interesting/fulfilling for me to live in. Indulge every now and then, for the fun of it. Actually support artists/designers/etc who's work is interesting to me by commissioning them myself or donating to a patreon. Etc.
Of course I'd donate money in a heartbeat if I truly felt like it was for a good cause and making an impact. The problem is I don't like the idea of donating to things that are just going to be drops in the bucket fueling a never ending donation machine, or where the result of my donation has really ambiguous results, both of which turn out to exclude most nationally recognized charities. I'm much more likely donate to something that is in support of a specific event/disaster, or something local to me. Things where I actually have a quantifiable impact.
Of course all that said, I'm currently in a position where I'm not even sure I know what I'd do with a $60K salary yet alone a six figure one. I like the "finer" things in life but I also don't like spending money for no reason. I'm sure my first phat paycheck is going to seem really frivolous but I guarantee every pointless thing I buy is a carefully researched and considered luxury item that will satisfy that part of my brain for quite a while after
I wish I could remember where I found this information too but I do remember reading that the biggest reason why wage gap exists in gender is because women in the workplace often feel like they are not in their place to be asking for raises or negotiating pay, a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy if you will. I think INFJ's exasperate this further because we are such natural people pleasers, and wanting to create harmony in the system even if it means a small self-sacrifice to avoid issues.
- Dec 29, 2009
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Hi,
I'm sorry I think I expressed myself poorly in that post. One thing I would say is that I think quite a few people in life wish they had more money to help and donate to others. Sadly, when you look at donations (especially weighed against disposable income etc) it's usually poorer people who give more of their income. I think having a lot of money can be almost like having a lot to drink, it has a mind altering impact. One drink, fine, twenty drinks ? I think money may operate in a similar fashion. Studies seem to suggest the more we get and have the less generous we become.
I wish that were not true, but when you examine the incredible wealth growth of the top 1% or even 0.1% - it does seem to be born out.
I'm sorry I think I expressed myself poorly in that post. One thing I would say is that I think quite a few people in life wish they had more money to help and donate to others. Sadly, when you look at donations (especially weighed against disposable income etc) it's usually poorer people who give more of their income. I think having a lot of money can be almost like having a lot to drink, it has a mind altering impact. One drink, fine, twenty drinks ? I think money may operate in a similar fashion. Studies seem to suggest the more we get and have the less generous we become.
I wish that were not true, but when you examine the incredible wealth growth of the top 1% or even 0.1% - it does seem to be born out.
I don't necessarily agree with this.
Sure I have no real desire to be rich. Chasing money your whole life is a fools game where you are just trying to get a number higher and higher. For what purpose?
But if I made 6 figures, there's a lot I could do with it. Travel the world. Invest into early retirement, giving me freedom from working for the sake of work (you bet I'd have to be on top of my hobbies though, I don't want to retire for the sake of retirement either). Enjoy a really, nice kitchen that I can bake a lot of good stuff in. Maybe think about moving to a place that has a much higher cost of living, but is more interesting/fulfilling for me to live in. Indulge every now and then, for the fun of it. Actually support artists/designers/etc who's work is interesting to me by commissioning them myself or donating to a patreon. Etc.
Of course I'd donate money in a heartbeat if I truly felt like it was for a good cause and making an impact. The problem is I don't like the idea of donating to things that are just going to be drops in the bucket fueling a never ending donation machine, or where the result of my donation has really ambiguous results, both of which turn out to exclude most nationally recognized charities. I'm much more likely donate to something that is in support of a specific event/disaster, or something local to me. Things where I actually have a quantifiable impact.
Of course all that said, I'm currently in a position where I'm not even sure I know what I'd do with a $60K salary yet alone a six figure one. I like the "finer" things in life but I also don't like spending money for no reason. I'm sure my first phat paycheck is going to seem really frivolous but I guarantee every pointless thing I buy is a carefully researched and considered luxury item that will satisfy that part of my brain for quite a while after
- Aug 21, 2015
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I've always had an, "It's fine." attitude about putting up with not earning what I'm worth.
Definition of success is different for everyone. I don't see INFJs as money driven, nor as the type to put themselves in a boring mundane job in order to achieve it. I think one thing that I respect about the INFJ type is their love of quality in their life ... in every way that can possibly be.
There are many things that I figure, none of which have dollar signs attached to them.
Exceptionally talented in all things music, but too much of an artist to want to ever go to school (debt trap) just to be able to work on someone else's project that I don't actually like. I'm very picky. Again, artist, idealist, perfectionist, control freak.
I'm also extremely OCD with cleaning and organizing. I'm not business oriented so any entrepreneurial effort in that regard seems like a distant option.
I'll probably be dead before I ever surrender to a dull, robot lifestyle working a job that I fucking hate.
Exceptionally talented in all things music, but too much of an artist to want to ever go to school (debt trap) just to be able to work on someone else's project that I don't actually like. I'm very picky. Again, artist, idealist, perfectionist, control freak.
I'm also extremely OCD with cleaning and organizing. I'm not business oriented so any entrepreneurial effort in that regard seems like a distant option.
I'll probably be dead before I ever surrender to a dull, robot lifestyle working a job that I fucking hate.
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments. My experience is that I haven't been too successful in most business/corporate
settings. I do have a hard time doing something just for the money, be it sales or any other occupation. I can get very motivated when I think
I can help others in a unique way.
settings. I do have a hard time doing something just for the money, be it sales or any other occupation. I can get very motivated when I think
I can help others in a unique way.