Sometimes, it’s good to mix a business with a little pleasure, and today’s guest is the perfect person to help us do that. We’re going to be talking about the introvert superpowers that we can tap into in order to form relationships, whether they’re romantic, platonic or professional. While we often focus on various aspects of entrepreneurship in this podcast, it’s also important to address the … [Read more...]
Ep80: “Yes, And” and Beyond: A Conversation with Improv Pioneer Bob Kulhan
Stand up in front of a group. No script. No prep. No rules. This is improv... in a way. It's not quite as scary as that, even though that set-up is likely to send many an introvert running in the opposite direction. And in fact, what looks like a completely spontaneous improv situation actually DOES have rules, and there are ways to prepare yourself. Sure, there's no script, but life doesn't have … [Read more...]
Ep74: Introverts and The Happy Hour Effect with Kristen Brown
There are few people who would see the terms "introverts" and "happy hour" and think they would be like two peas in a pod. Yet my guest, Kristen Brown, challenges that assumption and gives us a new perspective on happy hour. It's not about the event itself; it's about the energy it can generate. Kristen and I chat about "The Happy Hour Effect," commitments entrepreneurs make that separate a … [Read more...]
Ep67: Tips for Speaking Up and Out with Introvert Expert Nancy Ancowitz
If there's one thing most introverts have in common, it's this: they don’t talk unless they have something to say. They’d rather listen, observe, process and wait until they have something meaningful to share. While I personally think that’s a strength, because we’re not wearing ourselves and others out with lots of talking, it’s not a style that the typical work environment values. The other … [Read more...]
When You Don’t Click with the Clique
We've all felt it. Even if there's a place in our lives where we're on the "inside" of the group, we've all experienced many more places where we're on the outside looking in. For me, I'm on the inside when I'm with a group of my coaching colleagues with whom I've interacted over the years. Sometimes, but not always, I feel that way when I'm around other entrepreneurs. But more often than not, … [Read more...]
Why Laughter is the Best Introvert Medicine
Today I posted a humorous short article on Facebook that originally appeared in The Onion. It was about the "local introvert" who attended a party and was trying to make the time go faster by preoccupying himself with food, coats and tying his shoes. Three people immediately "unliked" my Page. Was it something I said? The experience flashed me back to last week, when I was interviewed for … [Read more...]
5 Habits I’m Changing After My Wonderful Webfree Week
It was one morning in early February, and I was still in that cozy place between being asleep and awake. A little voice inside me said, "Go off the grid. Take a week off from the internet. Clear your head. Get $#!% done." It was so clear, and so random, I knew I had to do it. I told my husband about my plan to go webfree for a week, and while I can't remember his exact reaction, … [Read more...]
Ep60: An Introvert-Friendly Approach to Networking with Sandy Jones-Kaminski
When an introvert thinks about networking, dread is often – but not always – the first emotion that comes to the surface. Yet networking is an important professional activity, whether we own our own business or work for someone else. Since we have to do it anyway, how can we make it easier and more enjoyable? My interview with networking expert Sandy Jones-Kaminski of Bella Domain Media … [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...]
Why Being an Online Extrovert is Bad for Your Health
Over the last 20 or so years, there have been numerous trends and changes that have been like manna for introverts: self-checkouts at the grocery store. iPods and earbuds. Smart cars and MINI Coopers that only seat two people. E-mail and the web. Social media/networking. It's that last one that is becoming less like manna and more like madness. I've been experiencing "Facebook fatigue" and social … [Read more...]