The Fox – ESTP

Cocky, sly, smooth, and charming, Foxes, like all Hunters, have a natural confidence and grace. From the outside, it’s a common mistake to confuse them with a Peacock, their equally performative Hunter sibling. Contrary to the Peacock, however, who will work hard for the attention they so desperately crave and are unafraid of showing a little sweat if it gets them Instagram likes, Foxes seem to attain their popularity effortlessly. In fact, everything about a Fox seems effortless, making them the perfect embodiment of “cool.”

The Improviser

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.

– Han Solo, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

“What is your primary talent?” Ask a Fox that question, and they’ll have difficulty coming up with an answer. Not out of humility, mind you, but from the sheer difficulty in singling out one thing that they do better than everything else. They’re liable to just say “everything!” and call it a day—though the humble ones, i.e., mature, might just refrain from answering the question entirely. The reason is, a Fox’s primary talent, the ability to improvise, is predicated on the belief that they have the capability to be good at anything at any moment. This confidence is their trump card, their ace in the hole, the play that, when the situation is most dire—it’s no surprise that the Fox is the quintessential “quarterback”—the Fox will undoubtedly pull out at the last moment to achieve victory.

Informed by their experiences—what younger Foxes lack in number they make up for in variety—Foxes visceral instincts are second to none. There are very few scenarios they have not seen, very few types of people they have not met, and very few situations they cannot escape from at a moment’s notice. Foxes are skeptical of abstract theory, as they prefer to place their trust only in things that they themselves have seen or experienced. Because of this, the standard classroom setting holds very little interest for them; they prefer learning from “the school of life.” Nonetheless, just as it is for the Peacock, school can be a pleasurable experience for the Fox, and they frequently use it as a training ground to practice the charm and wit they’ll need to survive in the “real world.” Foxes generally become popular amongst their classmates, and despite their penchant for mischief and fidgety classroom demeanor, they usually avoid the wrath of their teachers, who view them as entertaining scoundrels.

The Dealmaker

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

– Winston Churchill

The best networker of all the types, the Fox, unlike the relentless yet sometimes graceless Killer Whale, is an effortless schmoozer that takes it upon themselves to meet all types of people and not just those that could be viewed as future assets. This egalitarian openness is communicated subconsciously, and it enables Foxes to be everybody’s best friend and, essentially, the hub of a vast and diverse human marketplace. They regularly broker deals, introduce future partners, both business and romantic, and connect buyers to sellers, employers to employees, and everyone in between.

During personal interactions, Foxes are masters of the “perfect line”, their cognizance of an individual’s body language and micro expressions allowing them to identify exactly what a person wants to hear at the given moment. This knack for swift, observation-based action and reaction, is also why Foxes excel at making risk/reward determinations, calculating them at a speed that surpasses all other types. With their network of connections and shrewd gambling instincts, it’s no surprise that Foxes frequently find themselves in industries such as politics, management consulting, real estate, and stock trading.

The Madison Ave. Marketer

What else is there for me to conquer? Hopefully my ego. How will I know when I’ve succeeded? When I stop caring what anyone thinks.

– Madonna

The same instinct that enables Foxes to be hyper cognizant of how others appear causes them to be even more conscious of their own appearance. They realize that their “cool” factor relies heavily on a mixture of confidence and perceived effortlessness, and they will make painstaking preparations behind-the-scenes to keep up this façade. This can lead to an enormous amount of pressure when in competition; not only do they have to win, but they have to make it look easy. Like Peacocks, and yet far more disciplined, Foxes will spend hours crafting their physical appearance, whether they’re body sculpting at the gym or testing out different wardrobe combinations in front of the mirror.

Unfortunately, a Fox’s desire to always say the “cool” thing or be perceived in the best possible light can lead to a great deal of irritation for the people around them, who may begin to view the Fox as disingenuous. When this occurs, a Fox will most likely double down on the charm, hoping that it will be enough to re-establish their identity as a dashing and debonair expert on beautiful cocktails, beautiful people, and contemporary style at large. Regrettably, this only damages their reputation further, causing them to appear ingratiating and borderline sleazy, more into self-promotion than establishing authentic and genuine relationships with others.

The Adventurer

To me a heaven would be a big bull ring with me holding two barrera seats and a trout stream outside that no one else was allowed to fish in and two lovely houses in the town; one where I would have my wife and children and be monogamous and love them truly and well and the other where I would have my nine beautiful mistresses on 9 different floors…

– Ernest Hemingway

Foxes love to explore. New things equal new sensations, and to be in an unfamiliar scenario encourages the improvisation that they so obviously cherish as an inescapable part of themselves. Foxes will try everything. It is common when speaking to an older Fox—and perhaps a not so old Fox—to be regaled with fantastic stories of all the crazy experiences they’ve had in their lifetimes: going salmon fishing deep in the Alaskan wilderness, sliding across an Arctic ice sheet, running with the bulls, or maybe even discovering the New World.

That might be the reason why Foxes, when compared to the other sixteen types, are the most likely to jump from job to job or have a career that involves moving from project to project. Become a taxi driver? Awesome! What better way to learn how to navigate a city and scour its nooks and crannies for the best places to eat. Work as a location scout? Did someone say free travel? It is this explorative spirit that sets the Fox apart from some of the other aggressively ambitious types, like the Stag or Killer Whale. Success for a Fox is not measured by how high you can climb on the social ladder or sustained dominance in your professional field; it’s based on pleasure. And if you ask any Fox, they’ll assure you that pleasure is fleeting, and if you want it to continue, you have to chase after it.