Last week, I attended a workshop about how to create a compelling business vision and purpose. As part of the process, we were asked to name our core values, going so far as to narrow it down to one, unshakable value that we held near and dear. Even when faced with a long list of lovely words, such as abundance, creativity, excellence, innovation, quality and winning (Ha - I'll never look … [Read more...]
Art of Relationship with Sarah Anma
When we spend most of our days with our colleagues, coworkers and computers, it’s easy to understand how our personal relationships can take a back seat. If we're in a committed relationship, we can grow apart from the people we love most because we’ve not made it a priority to focus on them in a loving, intentional way. And what if we’re single? In that case, we want to attract that ideal … [Read more...]
From Writer to Author with “Book Shrink” Laurie Helgoe
Do you have a message you want to shout from the rooftops? Since shouting isn’t usually a way introverts communicate, we’re lucky there’s a more subtle way to get our message across. At the risk of generalizing, most introverts prefer to express their thoughts and ideas through the written word. For many, writing a book is a fundamental business strategy, opening the door to increased visibility, … [Read more...]
You Wanna Piece of Me?!?: The Fierce Introvert
You know how sometimes a word keeps popping up over and over, so much so that you have to stop a moment and wonder why? Over the past few weeks, my word-pop has been “fierce.” It’s not a word I’ve used very much, and I’ve certainly never used to describe myself or anyone I knew. I mean, really, come on… I’m an introvert!! One of my clients, though, is immersing himself in claiming his … [Read more...]
Reclaiming Your Brilliance with Amy Kessel
When the busyness and business of life gets to be too much, we sometimes find out too late that we've lost touch with what makes us unique, what makes us brilliant. We feel disconnected from our energy and even our values. My guest today is Amy Kessel, certified life coach. Amy has dedicated her coaching business to helping women in transition reconnect with their authentic selves and their … [Read more...]
7.5 Reasons I’m Grateful to be an Introvert
Since this is the time of year when we spend time in reflection on the things we're grateful for, I thought I'd turn that idea inward to my own personality. It may seem silly. After all, wouldn't I naturally be grateful for who I am, for what makes me, me? Not necessarily... since turning my focus to introverts, I've become aware that some people see introversion as something to be changed or … [Read more...]
You Miss Every Shot You Don’t Take
How long does it take to build a business, or do anything at which you want to be successful? It depends on how many shots you're willing to take. My business development action plan includes some activities that are well within familiar territory: Write blog posts and articles. Produce podcasts. Coach clients. Give presentations. It also includes stuff that feels unfamiliar and a little scary: … [Read more...]
Creating Introvert Pride of Ownership with Beth Buelow
When I witnessed a recent claim - and subsequent retraction - of "I'm an extrovert" by an introvert, it got me thinking again about how we introverts sometimes negate that part of our personality. We think it's a curse. We think it needs to be changed. We think we need to hide it, because we get messages that our introvert traits are not OK. The less our personality is affirmed, the more we … [Read more...]
Saying “Bye-Bye Boring Bio!” with Nancy Juetten
One of the most commonly shared laments I hear from introverts is “I don’t know how to talk about myself!” We are often so focused on our business or work, or creating magic behind the scenes, that when someone says, “tell me about yourself,” we often clam up and stutter and aren’t even sure where to begin. This goes for when we’re asked to talk about ourselves, as well as when we have to … [Read more...]
Avoiding Random Acts of Marketing with Maria Ross
In the world of business, we toss around words like marketing, messaging and branding with wild abandon. We talk about how we need a clear brand message or marketing strategy… but do we really know what that means? Do we know what goes into creating an effective brand that moves our business forward? And how do we make sure we’re going deeper than just tossing around marketing buzz … [Read more...]