Do You Have a “Travel Blogger” Personality?

Thanks to my raging curiosity, I polled a bunch of travel bloggers to find out their MBTI types.

What is MBTI?   It stands for  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and you can find out yours here.   (Free.   They don’t even strong-arm you for your email.)

Sure, there are plenty of people who rail about how unscientific and meaningless the test is.   I don’t begrudge them their points ¹The either/or dichotomies are too limiting, it doesn’t matter, results for some people are inconsistent, it ignores a critical personality factor – conscientiousness.   I like to think of the MBTI as an opportunity for introspection that can often lead you to “your tribe.”   Or keep you away from them.   Or just explain why you always feel like a sore thumb.   Or why you and your partner get along so well.   Or why you and your ex didn’t.

Wait.   You Like Spreadsheets, Too?

I didn’t start to wonder about my fellow travel bloggers until I noticed “spreadsheets” being mentioned over and over in group conversations.   Y’all know I love-me some spreadsheets.   As in: I have between 3 and 7 open on my computer at all times.

Before you decide – “Nope.   I definitely don’t have a travel blogger personality if it involves spreadsheets” – read on.   Don’t worry.   There were plenty of travel bloggers lingering in the background thinking just what you’re thinking: “Those peeps are cray-cray!”

What Does it Take To Be A Blogger?

I thought I was the only one manically tracking a bunch of random data in spreadsheets.   When I saw other bloggers were doing it, too, I mused, “Hmmm…   Is this the stuff bloggers are made from?   OCD neuroticism? ”

I’ve explained before that Blogging is No Easier Than Being A Stripper. The need for tenacity and patience is off the charts in the blog world.   Plus blogging is a job just like any other full of unlovable tasks.

And only 23% of bloggers  across all industries make it “big,” earning at or above the physical therapist/physician’s assistant/paralegal/construction project manager level.   The rest of us take home the annual equivalent of a $7.69/hour job (But we work 65% less to get that cash as compared to a 40-hour worker).   Bottom line: it takes a certain something to be a blogger, to put up with the slog, and to hustle.

Do You Have a “Travel Blogger” Personality?

Before I start with the pictures, I feel duty bound to point out that this data was drawn from a small sample size (77 responders), is all self-reported, and may be skewed by a variety of factors.   E.g. Who tends to participate in Facebook blogging groups?   Who tends to be online daily?   Who cares enough about MBTI to already know their type or be curious enough to go find out and report back?   The coming “conclusions” could actually just be measuring one of the latter components.   But enough with the scientific technicalities.   Let’s have some fun!   And some beautiful graphs!

Here’s the MBTI distribution for the 77 bloggers polled:

Here’s how the percentages of each type compare to the general population:

Wow!   I knew travel bloggers (and bloggers in general) had to be rare breeds.   You have to be pretty ‘crazy’ to take on hours and hours of work that may go eternally unpaid.   Given that, I guess it’s no surprise that the three least-common personality types among the general population are in the top four most common personality types among travel bloggers.   I guess travel blogging is where all the black sheep end up?!

Do You Have “Travel Blogger” Traits?

I was also curious about which MBTI traits travel bloggers might cluster around.   Do we tend to be introverts or extroverts?   Are we feelers or are we thinkers?   What about the other two, more confusing Myers-Briggs categories?   My guesses (anyone not familiar with MBTI might struggle to understand.   If that’s you, just skip to the pictures!):

• a balance of introverts/extroverts
• probably a heavy “N” presence.   This Myers Briggs letter has to do with how people process data.   An N will focus on the future, look for patterns and impressions, and think abstractly about the big picture.   An S… probably already stopped reading. 😉   They are present-focused, into the “here and now,” putting energy into specific facts and concrete details.   Writing and tying one’s experiences together for the world seems like a very N thing to do, no?
• a balance of feelers/thinkers, but potentially tending toward the thinking side.   There’s lots of heavy-lifting to be done in the blogging life, and I presume thinkers thrive at these tasks.
• probably a heavy “J” presence.   What good is judging something if you don’t get to tell someone your judgement?   Enter: blogging!   However, when I did a little research for this bullet point, I discovered “judging” doesn’t necessarily mean judgmental.   J’s tend to be rule-followers who like a plan whereas P’s are flexible and relaxed.   In that case, it seems like travel bloggers might tend to be the latter.   After all, travel repeatedly demands adventurers go with the flow!

So were there any stand out clusters?   Yes!   Here’s the trait distribution for the 77 travel bloggers polled:

Travel bloggers tend to be introverts and judgers, rather than extroverts and perceivers.   They have a slight tendency toward “feeling” vs. “thinking.”   But they are very, very likely to be an N versus an S.   Makes sense, right?   Taking a bunch of data or experience, pulling together the good bits from the abstract, processing information, and then sharing it with the world?   Sounds like a blogger to me!

And here’s how travel bloggers’ trait distribution compares to the general population.

Again, while travel bloggers are slightly more introverted, thinking, and judging than the general population, the real stand-out is that “N” trait.   Almost an inverse correlation with the general population.   So if you’re an N, chances are you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a blogger.   Or at least a travel blogger!

What do you think?   Are you ready to start a blog?   Rolling your eyes at more Myers-Briggs hogwash?   Glad you finally figured out why so few people love what you do?   Share in the comments if you like!

Happy Travels!  ♣