Sorry to bother you but I don't know who else to turn to.  I have a question...  I have to talk to someone.  But every career counselor I have talked to in the past doesn't know how to work with artist types who do not want to write a professional resume and work for a Fortune 500 company or they are TOO pseudopsychospiritual and being an INTJ you know I need structure. 

The problem is I have a better idea of what I want to do and where I want to go, I just don't know how to do it/get there.  The problem with me is that what I want to do has no direct path and it's a bit unique and requires a great deal of education on my part for which I cannot afford without a steady job, but most of my money goes to pay bills so I don't have a lot left over for school. 

Also, there is no guarantee of making any real living which is scary for me because I need some kind of security. Yet I just don't want to work for or with anybody else anymore.  There's a part of me that cannot justify doing it because it's not helpful or useful to anyone at least not like healthcare or community service is and there's a part of me that's drawn to it because I want to be a visual artist-that's how I want to express myself.  Then there's the aspect of it that deal with performing (because at its base it's a musical project) which I do not want to do but at some point I'll have to perform, I just don't want to go on tour or anything like most musicians do-I want to produce it for DVD which is real expensive and means I'll have to have some kind of job but the only jobs I can get that pay the money I need I hate...It's a vicious cycle I'm in.  Can you give me an idea of what I should do or at least whom I should talk to? 

HERE'S DAVID'S ANSWER:

The first question that I always ask is how you determined that you are an INTJ - Mastermind?  From what you have written, I would assume that you are really an ISFJ or ISFP - Artisan.  You even describe yourself as an artist.  Did you take a certified MBTI tesT? This would be highly recommended, as many online tests are not accurate.  I would also suggest taking an Enneagram and a DiSC test to further assure that you are the type you think.  

In my own experience, many Artisans test as Rationals.  I have a friend that is an musician and a woodworker.  He is the most organized person that I know.  He swears he is an ENTJ but after I worked thru all the questions with him, he tested as a strong ISFP.  I attribute this to several factors.  First, Artisan's sensing side (especially visual) is so powerful that they need a sense of order like an INTJ and they answer the test questions accordingly.  The difference is that Artisans might need order while Rationals need to impose order.  The second factor is that Artisans see themselves as dreamers and answer the test questions like an Intuitive rather than a Sensor. Many MBTI questions are related to whether you think about the present or the future.  Everybody does both.  The difference is that Sensors think about the future in terms of their enjoyment while Intuitives live in the future in terms of solving complex problems relating to such things as engineering (INTJ/INTP) or resolving other people's problems (INFJ/INFP).  Introverted Intuitives are mainly concerned with solving the worlds problems not their own problems.  They tend to not be very visual.  For example, do you notice food stains on your friends clothing?   An Intuitive wouldn't notice the stain and would likely not notice what color shirt they were wearing.  Are you argumentative by nature? If I say, its 45 degrees outside and you know its 43 degrees, do you point that out?  Is the difference important?  If so, you are like an SF not an NT.  The only exactness in an NT's life usually revolves around a mathematical equation or a scientific theory.

Most INTJ's find comfort and challenge working in the system and even more enjoyment building the system that they work in.  They are too structured to enjoy performance arts.  A great job for an INTJ would be an engineering manager, a strategic planner, a construction superintendent, etc.  These are all jobs that require a strong need to build a system or a process to manufacture a product. 

Some INTJ's do find joy in the performance arts, but they are few and far between. From what I have read, it appears that you see yourself making a living doing a certain thing - visual arts.  Unfortunately, you feel that you do not have the money and time to put into an education to become a visual artist.  I am sorry, but some things in life are not negotiable.  We have to pay the price to attain most things and we are rarely the one that gets to determine what that price is.  An INTJ would accept this and figure out a logical way to attain their goals or find go new goals.  Many INTJ's would figure a way to tweak the system to accomplish their goals.

I am very happy that you reached out to find the answers you seek.  I would be very happy to discuss this matter in further detail.  I am sure that I can help you if you give me enough information about yourself, your history, your MBTI experiences etc.  You may contact me at the e-mail list above.

David