22 Signs of the ESTP Personality: Are You The Daredevil?

How to Spot an ESTP Around You—One of the "Most Daring" Types

The estp personality, also known as the "Daredevil" or "Entrepreneur," is famous for their endless energy and drive.

Arthur Conan Doyle—the British author and creator of one of history's most iconic fictional characters, Sherlock Holmes—is a perfect example of the ESTP personality type.

Besides loving stimulating activities, Doyle was also a writer and a doctor, which laid the foundation for his creation of Dr. Watson's character.

Renowned American author Ernest Hemingway and actor Tom Cruise are also considered to have ESTP personality traits.

These types of people are filled with a desire for adventure, novelty, and action. How can one spot an ESTP in a crowd?

The ESTP Meaning

• E – Extraversion. "I focus on the external world of experiences, people, and events first, and then on my inner world."
• S – Sensing. "I pay more attention to the concrete, existing world rather than the theoretical and abstract world."
• T – Thinking. "I focus on the objective aspects of a decision (pros and cons, logic, cause-and-effect relationships), and then I look at the personal impact and emotional dynamics."
• P – Perceiving. "I prefer a flexible and spontaneous way of life, tending to blend work and play rather than finishing one project before starting another."

22 Signs You Are an ESTP

Here are 22 estp characteristics that might indicate you have this personality type.

1. You can sense people's motivations

You are extremely sensitive to the smallest non-verbal cues. Although the ESTP is not an intuitive type, you have a great deal of physical intuition.

You have a talent for interpreting non-verbal cues and sensing others' thoughts or feelings. This makes you an excellent salesperson in many situations.

2. You believe actions speak louder than words

You know how easy it is to charm people and tell them what they want to hear.

Because you are naturally skilled at reading people, you might find it easy to praise others or make them feel the way you want them to feel. 

But ultimately, you prefer to express your love through actions.

You like to help people in practical, concrete ways to show them that you value them.

3. You fall into a serious "fear of missing out"

Sitting around for idle chat, listening to lectures, or poring over documents can make you feel restless in many situations.

You have an urgent need to experience the world and everything it has to offer, not wanting to miss any information.

Fear of missing out, also known as "FOMO," refers to the feeling or perception that others are having more fun, experiencing new things, or living better lives than you are.

An ESTP wants to do things, not just talk about them. Every moment spent sitting still feels like a waste to you.

4. You are a realist

You are neither an optimist nor a pessimist; you prefer to see life as it is.

You pride yourself on facing facts and remaining objective and calm. You prefer to focus on the present reality rather than getting lost in hypothetical fantasy situations.

5. You have no illusions about people

You accept people for who they really are and don't shy away from things that might make others uncomfortable.

You help friends solve practical problems or see through the hypocrisy many people hide behind.

Behind the sometimes intimidating and serious demeanor of an ESTP lies great tolerance for others. You just want them to be sincere with you.

6. Your visual memory is incredibly accurate

You have a clear and detailed experience of the world around you.

The ESTP is one of the most observant types in the .

Because of this, you are able to remember things with a depth and accuracy that many other types can only dream of.

7. You often play devil's advocate

ESTPs can see the subtle logic in many different viewpoints and despise generalizations and flawed reasoning.

In a debate, you can effortlessly stick to your point and point out the logical fallacies in your opponent's argument.

8. You believe seeing is believing

Without verifiable evidence, you find it hard to believe in theories and belief systems.

Any attempt at emotional manipulation or deception using hunches will leave you disappointed.

9. You are an internal control freak

On the outside, you may seem easy-going and willing to do anything, but in reality, you must run all decisions through a carefully organized set of logical tests.

When you think about something, you see all the data through a series of filters—each filter further refining the information until you can understand the best path forward.

10. Fairness is one of your core values

Nothing disgusts you more than favoritism or unfair advantages.

You believe everyone should have a chance and dislike hierarchies and people who get something for nothing.

11. You are tenacious

Although you appear adaptable and easy-going, you have great perseverance.

If you truly believe in something, you will stand on the front line with it and strive to acknowledge its truth.

This might come out in debates or in response to what you consider to be overly "adventurous" life choices.

12. You crave independence and freedom

You long to venture into the world, facing exciting new challenges and discoveries.

You want to face life with noble and firm courage, preferring to risk wear and tear rather than rusting away.

13. You can become paranoid under pressure

In normal daily life, you are someone who likes to keep a clear and calm mind.

But when stress is persistent or severe, you suddenly find yourself misinterpreting things or inferring meaning from random events. For example, if your partner is just late coming home, you might suspect they are being unfaithful.

When long-term stress overwhelms your thoughts and drains your energy, you may suddenly get lost in the intuition you don't often use.

14. You love giving gifts

When you care about someone, nothing brings you more joy than surprising them.

A spontaneous trip to the Caribbean, two last-minute concert tickets, or a pair of sparkling earrings that perfectly match your partner's face shape.

15. You hate the feeling of being tied down by promises

You would rather make plans on the fly than prepare in advance. What if you don't want to go to that restaurant a week from now?

What if you don't want to continue on that career path five years from now?

What if things turn sour after you get married? You prefer to take a wait-and-see attitude toward life so you won't regret your decisions.

16. You crave variety

You are an excellent multitasker, adept at switching between tasks and handling several different projects at once.

In fact, you prefer a life where you can try many different projects and activities simultaneously. Doing only one thing at a time will cause you to lose motivation.

17. You use humor to ease tense situations

When everyone around you feels overwhelmed or distraught, you often use a well-timed joke to ease the tension.

In chaotic situations, your calm and charming personality often comes in handy. You use humor to comfort others and unite with them.

18. You are a master of tactics

ESTPs are sometimes also called "The Promoters."

In almost any crisis situation, you can formulate a quick and strategic plan. Execution and using your influence to get others to execute it come easily to you.

Therefore, you can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time—your stern yet friendly image allows people to get involved without feeling "bossed around."

19. You are good at pointing out others' logical flaws

You can see the subtle logic from many different angles and despise overgeneralized viewpoints and flawed reasoning. In a debate, you can unhesitatingly stick to your point and point out your opponent's logical fallacies.

That being said, an ESTP can easily go too far with a joke and unintentionally hurt others' feelings.

20. You love adventure

You know that to achieve great things, there is always an element of risk.

You believe in conquering fear, competing, and choosing the path to happiness, not just the path to safety.

21. You know the good restaurants around

The ESTP is a connoisseur of all the good things in life, loves trying new cuisines and small restaurants, and enjoys their delicious new flavors.

When people need to know about the best restaurants around, they come to you.

22. The past can crush you

You try not to get bogged down in past mistakes, but during times of turmoil or high stress, you often find yourself frustrated by past errors or by people who hurt you long ago.

You might feel like you can never get what you want. After a few disappointments, it can be hard for you to imagine your life changing direction.