[Zhen]

Just wondering...personally I have missed so many opportunities by not being able to react on the spot...I think I'm too cautious, considered, rational, logical when presented with spur of the moment opportunities...slow...

[jimnorris]

i won't try to speak for all INTJ's but i know i am. if you present me with a choice or opportunity and want me to make an immediate decision then my default answer will be no. i need time to consider, to think. maybe i'm blowing hot air but i... um, think... that most of the world's issues are because people don't take time to think, to consider. hope that helps
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[Musing]

I don't necessarily need time when making a decision, I need all the information. If a person can give me nearly everything I would need in making the decision, I can usually do it immediately. If not, then I can give them an immediate answer but I might have to change my mind upon further information.

[CaptainA]

Probably. I tend to overthink everything, and in so doing miss the boat so to speak.
Having said that I have actually succeeded at Carpe Diem on a few occasions and it worked out OK.

[jndiii]

It's more of an INxx trait than just INTJs, but yeah, I'd agree.

INTJs can seize the day under certain conditions. If there is something that forces the choice, the INTJ will quickly analyze and make the best choice possible with the given knowledge and not dither in indecision. That isn't technically seizing the day, though, since it's a forced choice.

Another, better case, of seizing the day is when a opportunity appears that fits one of the INTJ's contingency plans: one can appear to change course abruptly, for no reason. This is a more spontaneous example, but the reason it works is that the INTJ has already thought through all the possibilities and is prepared for the opportunity.

If we aren't prepared, we'll forgo the seizure until we are.
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[liquidzilla]

I prefare to see the whole picture before I make a decision, but I have made quite quick decisions when I've really really had to without thinking too much (normally I have to go back later and correct it so it works better though).

[Causa Mortis]

	Originally Posted by Zhen To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Just wondering...personally I have missed so many opportunities by not being able to react on the spot...I think I'm too cautious, considered, rational, logical when presented with spur of the moment opportunities...slow...

Interpersonally, definently. Otherwise, not at all.

[Prunesquallor]

I insist on making informed decisions. Sometimes they can be quick ones, but I always refuse if pushed into a decision I cannot justify.
I've never really considered it a problem, though.

[knick4life]

I agree with the others who say they like to think things through before acting/deciding. Although I think it depends on what carpe diem means. Its most commonly associated with doing a large number of highly stimulating interpersonal activities. But if carpe diem means sitting and reading a classic, well INTJs can sieze the day, too, then.

[Samoan Corleone]

"Carpe Diem" is our motto at College. But yes, I do take a bit of time to come to a decision. "Carpe Diem" is for SPs.

[Vagrant]

Depends.

If it's a time-critical decision, I will make a snap decision with little or no hesitation, usually based on my first reflex. Most obvious example is when I'm longboarding around. Usually split-second reflex decisions have saved my ass, and it's pretty rare for them to be wrong. In longboarding/skateboarding, making no choice is almost always worse than making a bad choice, this holds true in most cases -- indecision will result in your face to the ground, or worse.

For decisions which aren't as time-critical, but still need to be resolved quickly, I'll stop and think for a couple of seconds based on the information I have. Then I can usually come to a decision.

For decisions that are important, but not time critical, I will take my time. No need to rush.

And I've been working on improv'ing third choices and whatnot.

[Zhen]

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

It's more of an INxx trait than just INTJs, but yeah, I'd agree. INTJs can seize the day under certain conditions. If there is something that forces the choice, the INTJ will quickly analyze and make the best choice possible with the given knowledge and not dither in indecision. That isn't technically seizing the day, though, since it's a forced choice. Another, better case, of seizing the day is when a opportunity appears that fits one of the INTJ's contingency plans: one can appear to change course abruptly, for no reason. This is a more spontaneous example, but the reason it works is that the INTJ has already thought through all the possibilities and is prepared for the opportunity. If we aren't prepared, we'll forgo the seizure until we are. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I'm just like you...generally I can only make a decision seemingly "on the spot" if I've already prethought the whole scenario and had time to consider and weigh up all the pros and cons and think about the possibilities.

If a carpe diem opportunity has significant negative potential/consequences or is rather important I definitely will always err on the side of caution and not make a decision-which can result in missing some good opportunities- I definitely prefer to take my time...I would think INTJs are definitely more risk averse than other types, just because they do like to think...possibly overthink pretty well everything where as many other types don't seem to need to think at all...I do think that the most successful people however are able to recognise good opportunities when they arise and seize them. It's all about balance I guess.

[Alsaru]

"are INTJs very bad at "carpe diem"?"

.yes. unfortunately

[pip]

Sieze the day!
Why?
What did it ever do to you?

[torotech]

Much of my job involves guessing / formulating a hypothesis, with little to work on in the way of data and experience. At these times I rely greatly on my perceptive ability. INTJ's can adapt and become very good at this because they can slo
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down but work quickly at the same time. However, INTJ's do struggle with this at first. And it always creates anxiety and tension (no kidding, I become completely exhausted at the end of long troubleshooting sessions. Ultimately it involves temporarily giving up control with the expectation that it will come in time.

[Autoptic]

	Originally Posted by pip To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Sieze the day! Why? What did it ever do to you?

It's certainly done more to me than for me.
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Most who successfully act quickly were after things that relatively generic circumstance would allow because of relative simplicity, normalcy or other relative conveniences. Being weird, thus prone to weirding the circumstance yourself or just being in weird circumstances, and after something likewise weird will have to take far more into account. Assuming a truly profitable outcome is even possible, I don't usually have anywhere near the externally acquirable information to capitalize on most situations, much less immediate specific intel.

[AlR]

Yup, slow to make decisions here too.

I tried to get around this by trying to be clear about my values in life such as "spend more time with family and friends, especially those who live relatively far away".

So when I was asked me on the spot if I wanted to go LA (300 miles away from our home) with my wife's coworkers to go to some haunted house event and then spend time with her family. My initial reaction was I need to think about it. But then I reviewed my values of spending time with family and friends, so I said yes. But still in the pit of my stomach I really wanted more time to warm up to the idea.

[pistachio]

i would like to cite the op's reference to taking opportunities and not decision making.. a totally different animal.

and i do often miss opportunities do to my general cowardice >
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[JohnDoe]

I'm frequently accused of making decisions too quickly.

[HmjG]

I'm the same. If the information is presented, I usually can make a decision very quickly. It's not that I'm not thinking about the situation or question. Rather, its that I prefer action over limbo.

For lack of a better metaphor...if I know the temperature of the water, I jump in. I don't submerge slowly.

[Blse]

I'll second all those who said they like to have all the neccessary info. I like to know what I'm deciding on. I also like to know my alternatives. To me this part of being logical (risk aversion is logical, period IMO). I don't think it neccessarily an INTJ thing. I think ISTJ, or ENTJ and ESTJ are probably as likely to engage in this kind of behavior (well, introverts actually tend to be more cautious than extroverts). SP temparaments would seem least likely, although all people, to some extent or another, have figured out that thinking before doing might be good idea.

[Brittle]

I don't know that seizing the day has to be about snap decisions. Most opportunities come with at least a little time to think.

My personal experience has been the people who tend to miss opportunities are those who stop themselves for fear of change and stepping out of their comfort zone... all the "what if's" tend to get in the way. I've kind of done the opposite most of my life and jumped in, figuring at least if it all goes wrong, at least I'll be able to know for sure it was the wrong decision, rather than always wondering (those damn "what if's" again).

And who knows, sometimes it will be the right decision after all.... and if not, well hey, you've most likely still gained a valuable learning experience!

[rickster]

"Carpe Diem" has little to do with snap decisions or opportunism: it's exactly about living in the moment because tomorrow is promised to nobody - with that qualifier, and certainly rejecting the idea that 'additional information" is needed.

I don't think INTJs are any better or worse at it: many lives are wasted by living in the future, yet trapped by the past i.e. we are seeking fulfillment rather than experiencing it, because of a pre-existing mindset that happiness lies just beyond our grasp.

[Tantravaya]

I have an INTJ friend who is a farmer. He took 28 years to make a decision about buying a piece of farming equipment. On the other hand I can be extremely impulsive when it comes to one of my great loves; travel.

[fatkattykat]

	Originally Posted by knick4life To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I agree with the others who say they like to think things through before acting/deciding. Although I think it depends on what carpe diem means. Its most commonly associated with doing a large number of highly stimulating interpersonal activities. But if carpe diem means sitting and reading a classic, well INTJs can sieze the day, too, then.

I feel the same way. I always thought "carpe diem" had to do with enjoying your life while you were still young/able. Sort of like a "life is short, don't waste it" kind of mentality. I do think our extroverted culture has turned it into some sort of "bucket list" where seizing the day means having to do all these crazy things like skydiving, risky investing, etc. But I agree with you in that the statement is about enjoying life, and pursuing whatever makes you happy.