...even introverts and nerds can succeed in the business world.
I don't think anyone is saying that introverts can't be successful. They certainly can and I think the individuals you are arguing with have acknowledged that. Simply put, there are a LOT of INTP's that scrape by financially. There are also a select few that actually act on their ideas and turn them into reality - and when that happens, there is the potential to make a large amount of money. A lot of INTP's I know don't act on anything at all. And I include myself in this for certain periods of my life. I'm not afraid to say that. Are you an INTP that can't relate to this at all or do you kind of get what I'm saying?
On the flip side, there are an awful lot of Te users out there who are kicking butt in the business world. I can think of countless examples in my own life. They are all over the place. There's a kid near me, younger than I, who owns his own financial advising business. The kid is there every single morning at the crack of dawn, has his cup of coffee and reads his Wall Street Journal before even opening up the doors. I am in no way saying that this is the only way to make money. But, it's that kind of approach, that kind of drive, motivation, and consistency (basically, he gives a crap) that has a tendency to work well in our society. "The early bird gets the worm." "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." To many P types (not all of them, but many - and this is in my real-world experience - not just talking out of my butt here) - many P's find these sayings to be inspirational and cute, but they don't live it. Many J types (again, not all, but many) LIVE it. They're opening the doors while other types are still in bed sleeping. That goes a long way. It's logical and it's common sense that things like consistency, being there day in and day out, and seeing things through to completion have a general correlation with monetary success (and other kinds of success as well).
As an INTP, I admit that I've struggled with this for years. I'm a P. I want to slack. I want to sleep. I want to play. I want to start new projects before old ones are finished. I think that helps my creativity and I have some really good ideas, but I still have to execute.
Nobody is saying that INTP's can't do well in business. I, for one, agree with you that INTP's absolutely can do well. But, I and several INTP's I've known have struggled with actually
doing it. Not talking about it. Not
saying that we
could be good at business. But, actually waking up tomorrow morning and
doing it.
And just because Bill Gates did it, doesn't mean anything for me tomorrow when I wake up. Maybe it inspires me in some small way. But, I still have to make something happen. Te very naturally wants to do exactly that.