Almost all entrepreneurs would agree: being an entrepreneur is both an exciting and exhausting challenge. And if that entrepreneur happens to be an introvert, you have a situation where one's natural tendencies and instincts appear to go against the grain of traditional entrepreneurial wisdom. This leads the introvert entrepreneur to look at everything from sales to partnership to … [Read more...]
I’m More Me Without You: The Future of the Introvert-Extrovert Conversation
You've come a long way, baby. When I started The Introvert Entrepreneur in May 2010, introversion was a topic that hung out at the edges of the room (like many introverts!). A March 2003 article, "Caring for Your Introvert," was the most popular piece making the rounds (and is still popular 10 years later). Then came along "Introvert Power" (2008/2013), "Self-Promotion for Introverts" … [Read more...]
How an Introvert Can Be Happier: Ignore the Studies
"'If you're introverted and act extroverted, you will be happier. It doesn't matter who you are, it's all about what you do,' said William Fleeson, a psychology professor at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C." Wow. This amazing quote comes from a Wall Street Journal article published a few weeks ago, "How an Introvert Can Be Happier: Act Like an Extrovert." Given how many … [Read more...]
One Reason You’re Probably Feeling Stuck (And What To Do About It)
This is a true story. One of my coaching clients had taken on the task of brainstorming big-picture messages that she wanted to communicate. She took some time to record her thoughts. In that moment of inspiration, she created several powerful statements that resonated with her. In fairly short order, her thoughts then moved towards how to translate those messages into tangible outcomes or … [Read more...]
Lingering Invisibility & Quiet Invincibility: Lessons from the World Domination Summit
When I was a little girl, maybe 8 or 9, I longed to be unique. The image that reflected back to me when I got ready for school each morning was achingly ordinary: brown hair, brown eyes, a few freckles. Blah, blah, blah. I was envious of a friend getting braces or glasses, because it was going to set her apart. My favorite biographies in the school library were of Beethoven and Saint Thérèse of … [Read more...]
Seven Sayings That Have Saved My Business (and My Sanity)
Words have power. Hearing just the right word, at just the right moment, can completely change our entire world. This morning, I was fortunate to hear Nancy Duarte speak on the power of story in communication. She started by defining resonance, which she's described in her blog: "If you know an object’s natural rate of vibration, you can make it vibrate without touching it. Resonance occurs when … [Read more...]
When Introvert Ignorance is No Longer Bliss
Those of us who are tooting the Team Introvert horn, loud and proud (relatively speaking!), have a few shared core messages: Being an introvert isn't a liability, it's an asset. Honor your need and desire for alone time, no apologies. Don't let the noise of the outer world drown out your inner voice. Your energy and power comes from within. You have innate strengths that enable you to be a … [Read more...]
You Have to Find a Way to Shut That Whole Thing Down
Several weeks ago, my husband asked me if I'd ever been squashed by anyone. Put down, minimized or otherwise trivialized. I responded, "I'm guessing I have, but I can't think of any specific instance." Well, I'll be darned if last week the universe didn't hand me an opportunity to have 5'1" cut off my height and leave me feeling about 1" tall. The sad part is, the other person didn't intend to … [Read more...]
Three Little Words That Will Change Your Life Forever
One rainy afternoon a few years ago, I was driving into Seattle for a networking event when my husband called me on my cell. I answered (this was pre-hands-free law) and listened, noting the barely perceptible panic in his voice: something unexpected had come up, and he needed the car for an off-site meeting. Since I was in the car, traveling up I-5 at 65mph in the opposite direction from him, he … [Read more...]
Revelations of an (Almost) Egotistical Introvert
I had an interesting awareness yesterday that you might appreciate - I was offered a leadership opportunity in a professional association I'm part of. I was flattered, but also hemmed and hawed about it for a few weeks. Here's why... Two things kept coming up: my business and my energy. My plate feels pretty full. I have some ambitious goals. But when I thought about my colleagues in association … [Read more...]
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