Experts often say that small businesses are the engine that runs the economy.
History and government expert Robert Longley reported that:
In 2010, there were 27.9 million small businesses in the United States, compared to 18,500 larger firms with 500 employees or more, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Based on Longley’s data, small businesses will continue to be the locomotive for the economy in decades to come.
However, the Pandemic of 2020 gave business aspirants cause to reflect on the types of businesses new entrants should consider.
The Pandemic of 2020 taught us three things for small business ideas:
- Online businesses are more pandemic-proof than brick and mortar companies.
- Industries most reliant on in-person employment are the most vulnerable.
- Crises cause people to reflect and prioritize, opting to look for opportunities with more flexibility and remoteness.
The bottom line is that work comes in two varieties, manual and mental.
This is a boon for cerebral-minded personality types like INTJs, where mental or intellectual work is favored.
Consequently, INTJs should consider online business ideas, engage in problem-solving, and hone skills needed in the marketplace.
Based on the solace and solitude enjoyed by INTJs, any business consideration should be online. Software and technology allow businesses to generate high-quality work with little to no overhead costs. Business owners working from home also qualify for tax benefits in the house where work is done. A professional accountant can provide excellent advice and direction in this regard.
The biggest skill consumers are looking for is the ability of products and services to solve problems. Business owners desiring to fulfill a market need should engage in market analysis to determine what problems consumers are looking to solve. Many business owners place their passion ahead of market needs and often become financially ruined.
Researchers also recommend that business owners strive to be different rather than better.
Different is better than better.
New York Times best-selling author and brand marketer Sally Hogshead said:
Rather than just knowing your strengths, you need to identify your differences and learn how to exploit them.
Focusing on your differences frees you from having to turn into something else, or learn a new skill. Different allows you to highlight the singular traits you already have within you. You aren’t necessarily better than your competition, but you do have built-in qualities that allow you to rise above others.
It’s good to be better, but better to be different. Different is better than better.
So INTJs can turn business ideas into reality by assessing the unique skills they possess that address a market need, which aligns with the core traits of their personality.
Many businesses fail because owners lack the introspection to place market needs above personal interests.
Loving what you do is a reward, but it does not guarantee financial success.
Instead, if you develop a general interest in a subject or problem that consumers have lamented about, generate interest in its diagnosis, and determine to discover a cure or solution for it, the product or service has a better chance of succeeding.
Business success can never be guaranteed in any venture. But your chances of success are more significant when you have applied market-based analysis to your business considerations.
Best jobs for INTJs
Business consultants suggest that individuals build a business from previous job experience or well-honed skills.
Business and career development writer Krista Hillis said:
Let’s say you wanted to start your own business, opening a cafe. You may not have owned a business before, but if you worked in the hospitality industry for five years, you already have experience. You understand how various systems work, scheduling, customer service, etc.
All of your experience from prior positions, will transfer into your business plan. Since you will already understand the inner workings, you can look for growth opportunities. Not every business will require you to have past experience within a specific industry, but it tends to help.
INTJs who enjoy reading, research, and solitude have many opportunities to create a business from their personality.
Researcher Jillian Merkel outlined in her article, 5 Best INTJ Jobs in the Future, the career opportunities befitting INTJs.
These jobs can be modified to create businesses.
The following chart was compiled from information furnished by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that falls within the skills often demonstrated by INTJs.
| Job Title | Salary | Growth (2020-2030) | Number of Jobs |
| Business Analyst | $87,660/yr. | 14% | 907,600 |
| Content Writer | $67,120/yr. | 9% | 143,200 |
| Corporate Trainer | $62,700/yr. | 11% | 328,700 |
| Curriculum Designer | $66,970/yr. | 10% | 190,400 |
| E-Learning Training/ Development Managers | $115,640/yr. | 11% | 42,100 |
As artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) become normalized, INTJs can remain competitive for decades by using data and research to create sustainable businesses.
Small businesses may always be the engine that runs the economy, but their longevity rests in their ability to remain relevant by satisfying the marketplace’s needs.
Solving the marketplace’s needs is where the future lies for INTJs.
Seize it.
—Frank Halloran
References
Hillis, K (n.d.). How previous work experience can improve your business. Wisdomtimes. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3Kl6XqC.
Hogshead, S. (2019, Oct. 18). Go for different, not for “better”: How to grow your brand without changing who you are. Eve. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/33o5LlT.
Longley, R. (2021, July 26). How small business drives U.S. economy. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3GNE3NG.
