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initiation of the disastrous War of 1812 161 was announced, he was stricken. Those who understood<br />
the difference in military power between the British and the Americans knew from the start that the<br />
war was not going to turn out well for the Americans.<br />
In 1812, after a long series of supposed insults and wrongs from Great Britain, the American government<br />
declared war against that power. Mr. Bowditch was completely overcome by the news, and for two days<br />
was so much distressed, that he was unable to study. Friends who knew him had never seen him look so<br />
saddened before, on any public emergency. He could speak of nothing but the disasters that he foresaw<br />
war would entail upon his country. On the morning of the third day, he arose, and descending into the<br />
parlor, said to his wife, "It won't do for me to continue thus. I will not think any more about it." Saying<br />
this, he retired again to his books. The difference in his whole manner was very perceptible. He rarely<br />
afterwards allowed himself to be disturbed by the unfortunate affairs of state..."<br />
Onlookers can be amazed by this sort of behavior; it almost seems like some kind of "mind over<br />
matter" trick. But the INTJ reasons, "I cannot personally fix this problem. Worrying about this<br />
problem accomplishes nothing and disrupts other areas I could be productive. It is not logical to<br />
worry about this problem. I will stop worrying about this problem now." Then they flick off the<br />
light switch. Yes, INTJs will still worry; they are human, after all. They just aren't as worried as<br />
other types anymore.<br />
Rational bosses tend to have high expectations of their employees. Bowditch required "at all times<br />
great promptness and accuracy from them [his employees] in the discharge of their appropriate<br />
duties..." Employees are apt to say (perhaps grudgingly), of their INTJ boss, "She doesn't ask<br />
anything from us that she doesn't ask of herself."<br />
Bowditch was rigorous in his standards, but he was also very friendly towards the circle of people<br />
he worked with on a day to day basis. He invited several as witnesses to his will when he was<br />
dying, saying that he wanted to see them all together one last time. His interactions with them were<br />
described as being "of the most affectionate character."<br />
However, he was always very careful to separate his institutional duties and his personal friendships<br />
with his employees. For example, one story goes that, "Dr. Bowditch had one day gone out of the<br />
office for a few moments, and, on his return, found that he had accidentally left open the trunk<br />
containing all the convertible property of the company. The secretary might have had access to it."<br />
So what does one do in a situation like this? If he went through trunk to make sure everything was<br />
in place, he would effectively be sending the message, "I don't trust your integrity" to the secretary.<br />
If he didn't check, he would be neglecting his responsibility to the company's clients. He resolved<br />
the situation in the following way: "Without any remark at the time, he took out the trunk, and the<br />
schedule of the property which ought to have been there, and carefully examined each item. He<br />
told us at the time, and the secretary of the company himself afterwards, that, though he would have<br />
unhesitatingly left his own property uncounted, and have felt that there was not the slightest risk<br />
from exposure, he could not answer it to his conscience, as the responsible guardian of the property<br />
of others, knowingly to subject it even to a possibility of loss." While Bowditch was friendly with<br />
his employees, he did not let it affect the discharge of his duties. Friendliness did not produce a<br />
casual disregard for the rules of propriety.<br />
Bowditch's mathematical skills gave him an advantage in the financial sphere; i.e., he "was very<br />
rapid and exact in all his calculations, such as computing interest..." One can readily imagine how<br />
good a mathematical genius could be at calculating interest by hand. He also brought the same<br />
perfectionistic approach that he employed in mathematics to his business: "He always bestowed his<br />
161 The War of 1812 was a disastrous failure for the Americans; in fact, the British burned Washington D.C. to the<br />
ground.
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