[NickC]

A while ago there was a thread on your greatest fear, and for whatever reason I was pondering that recently. I realized the biggest looming thought that scared me was never doing anything of consequence.

Like all INTJs I love to contemplate the big picture, including radical and significant change in various fields of science and technology. But I also realize we aren't all destined to split the atom or make Google. I've spent time trying to balance out my personality a bit, and it has helped me realize that there is intrinsic value in impacting the world around you on a more reasonable scale.

There are so many challenges/opportunities in this world. Some are big, many are small, and most lie in-between. How do you find your niche? Do you pursue ideas that could change the world, or do you focus more on the immediate world around you?

I guess I'm really curious how people eventually balance the typical INTJ urge to conquer the world with being content in life.

[Octagon]

Originally Posted by NickC To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

A while ago there was a thread on your greatest fear, and for whatever reason I was pondering that recently. I realized the biggest looming thought that scared me was never doing anything of consequence. Like all INTJs I love to contemplate the big picture, including radical and significant change in various fields of science and technology. But I also realize we aren't all destined to split the atom or make Google. I've spent time trying to balance out my personality a bit, and it has helped me realize that there is intrinsic value in impacting the world around you on a more reasonable scale. There are so many challenges/opportunities in this world. Some are big, many are small, and most lie in-between. How do you find your niche? Do you pursue ideas that could change the world, or do you focus more on the immediate world around you? I guess I'm really curious how people eventually balance the typical INTJ urge to conquer the world with being content in life.

I'm not sure if you're looking specifically for an INTJ to answer you, but in case of you're not...
The following is nothing more than a personal opinion, it's open for interpretation and doesn't really hold a specific judgment, I only hope it provides you with (hints of) the answers you're seeking ...

"Never doing anything of consequence" is one of the basic sources of fear for a lot of people, it describes a nil variable, a person with no effect, no need, an existence with no real value.
Thing is, a lot of people don't really lead a valuable life, however when they perceive their "lack of value" it's only met with fear, rejection and denial. Effectively suppressing such thoughts and them carrying out their life like nothing happened. Remember that not a lot of people do not face such thoughts.

"Reasonable scale" is not really an objective standard, this reasonable scale can range from your household to the entire world and everything in between, a person who's mainly concerned with his family's welfare is an example of the former, a person who knows something that the world is missing and understands how to bring it to the world 'may' be an example of the latter.
Remember that the "Reasonable scale" is YOUR reasonable scale and is directly affected by the way you think/perceive and set your goals.

"Finding your niche" is something that can only happen by 'looking' for it, your words suggests that you understand that there are many patterns in this incredibly diverse world. Experiencing, experimenting, challenging and exploring as much as you can of these patterns is the key to understanding the world, finding the goals, knowing the means and pursuing these goals.

"The urge to conquer the world" however does not contribute to any of the previous, it's no different from wanting to be a hero, be a genius, be the strongest ... etc., these can be described as self-projected fantasies that can only be described as naive/immature. Again, your words suggest that you are well aware of this, which is a very good sign knowing that most people are not even aware of such projections and caring out their lives without knowing how much is being affected by them. Remember, it's crucial to deal with the shades we are looking through before we can see the world clearly.

Hope this helps in anyway, best of luck ...

[DesertKnight]

Short Answer: I haven't found a way to yet.

Long Answer: This inability to come to terms with my insignificance has really made life for me pretty miserable so far.

[ppu6502]

	Originally Posted by NickC To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I guess I'm really curious how people eventually balance the typical INTJ urge to conquer the world with being content in life.

I work for startup companies, and on side projects, remote from my apartment. I take the money earned to fund travel with family and friends. It's a great quality of life, and the company/projects being built have impact on a large enough scale to fulfill my need to make an impact, but also the accruing profits condense into ever more freedom to make bigger contributions at the next stage of my life.

The center of it all is relentless passion - if you took my particular passions away from me, I would pick something else. Finding your passion is less about finding a needle in a haystack, and more about taking any piece of hay and turning it into a needle.

[NickC]

	Originally Posted by Octagon To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'm not sure if you're looking specifically for an INTJ to answer you, but in case of you're not...

I appreciate answers from everyone, INTJ or otherwise. My words were catered to this forum, but the question about balancing ambition with reality is universal, so thank you for replying.

	Originally Posted by Octagon To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	"The urge to conquer the world" however does not contribute to any of the previous, it's no different from wanting to be a hero, be a genius, be the strongest ... etc., these can be described as self-projected fantasies that can only be described as naive/immature.

I used conquering the world more as a turn of phrase. What I meant was at what point, if any, do you taper off extremely high ambition or lofty plans/ideas to pursue something more feasible given your current resources, ability, and limitations.

	Originally Posted by DesertKnight
	Short Answer: I haven't found a way to yet. Long Answer: This inability to come to terms with my insignificance has really made life for me pretty miserable so far.

It isn't that we are insignificant. We are all significant if we choose to be. The question is how far does our significance reach? There are many variables to such a thing, but I think most of them are self-determined. We certainly control the biggest factors, such as education, ambition, and curiosity.

That doesn't mean the process is not painful though. I've had a lot of downs, and relatively few ups in comparison. I eventually realized my entire skillset in technology was developed to help me pursue other things, so now my background is in a profession that I rarely enjoy.

Even so, I wish you luck in finding your way. If I find any shortcuts I'll let you know.

Originally Posted by ppu6502

I work for startup companies, and on side projects, remote from my apartment. I take the money earned to fund travel with family and friends. It's a great quality of life, and the company/projects being built have impact on a large enough scale to fulfill my need to make an impact, but also the accruing profits condense into ever more freedom to make bigger contributions at the next stage of my life.

That sounds very nice. I've been involved in startups where I live, but the midwest is far different than the west coast. I'm guessing your solution would be a good fit for me as well since you can have an impact through the work you do for various startups, but at the same time you keep your problems varied and have a bit more of a life than most founders.

[DesertKnight]

	Originally Posted by NickC To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It isn't that we are insignificant. We are all significant if we choose to be. The question is how far does our significance reach? There are many variables to such a thing, but I think most of them are self-determined. We certainly control the biggest factors, such as education, ambition, and curiosity.

This hasn't been the case for me largely in that my ambition, skill, and curiosity are hindered by my lack of formal 'education' (I lack a college degree though I will soon rectify this). I however, have a seven year position with a biomedical engineering company as a service and repair technician. I have pretty specialized skills in computer hardware, hydraulic and mechanical systems, and electrical systems. However, the company I work for is very small and I do not make near the average of others with similar positions in larger companies. I have been told repeatedly by other companies that if I did have a degree they would hire me immediately. However to me this is an odd contradiction; I have seven years worth of in the field experience doing the literal job I would be doing elsewhere, far more than the worth of a two year degree. I find it strange that my actual skill level means nothing without a piece of paper that says it does.

To this end I feel as though my impact is significantly decreased by matters that I don't have full control over. Yes I can work towards fixing these matters, but only because I've finally come to a point where I've saved enough to go back to school (a factor not entirely under my control as I have a family to support as well). I fix things, it is my purpose; from defibrillators to anesthesia machines to toys that my kids break.

I feel as though the complications of the world prevent me from fixing greater things than this. I feel as though given the opportunity I could build or create great useful things; and yet the opportunity eludes me.