One of the things I noticed right away when I started my business was that it was much easier to be outgoing and social online than it was in real life. I could do things at my own pace, sit back and watch for a while before jumping in, and I generally felt in control. Contrast that to a live social situation where anything can happen – I could forget someone’s name, draw a blank when someone asks … [Read more...]
Finding Your Authentic Presence with Jonathan Bender
Comedians often highlight the absurd truths in society, and introvert - yes, introvert - Jerry Seinfeld is especially skilled at shining the light on our contradictory natures. Here's what he has to say about public speaking: "According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if … [Read more...]
How to Know When Two Heads Would Be Better Than One
"If you want it done right, do it yourself." * The words of an introvert, me thinks! I lived by these words for many years, embracing them wholeheartedly because they gave me permission to fly solo. A co-pilot tended to muck up the works. There was always the possibility of communication challenges, conflicting agendas, and unexpected demands on my precious time and energy. Introverts and … [Read more...]
Unleashing the Power of the Mastermind with Cheri Ruskus
For some of us, putting ourselves in a situation where we have to reveal our dreams, fears and triumphs to our peers is taking a huge risk, even if we value the learning that might result. It's incredibly important to feel safe if we're going to share what we usually keep inside, especially regarding our entrepreneurial aspirations. In today's podcast, Cheri Ruskus of Victory Circles introduces us … [Read more...]
Leveraging LinkedIn for Success with Matt Youngquist
Are you making the most of your LinkedIn profile? Or did you set it up ages ago and have to blow the dust off the URL each time you come back? I've decided to make 2012 "The Year of LinkedIn." While Facebook has gotten a lot of our (my!) time and attention, LinkedIn is a fabulous treasure trove of connections and resources. I thought for the longest time that it was primarily for job seekers. My … [Read more...]
Why I Learn Best In My PJs
You know the drill. The day opens with a breakfast of bagels, muffins and oranges (I mean, really... does anyone at an event actually take the time to peel and eat an orange?!), with a side of small talk while you juggle your teeny tiny paper plate and lukewarm coffee. Someone who has no right to be so peppy first thing in the morning welcomes you from the stage. You take your seat, making sure … [Read more...]
How to Keep Your Words From Going In One Ear & Out the Other
“Why can’t they just figure it out on their own?” “What is taking him so long?!” “Why does she keep talking about stuff she doesn’t know about?” “Why can’t we ever have a productive team meeting?” Do any of these laments sound familiar?!? In the typical workplace, there are a wide range of personality … [Read more...]
Why Entrepreneurs Cannot Live on “Like” Alone
A few weeks ago, my business coach threw down a challenge. No social media for five full days. No Facebook. No Twitter. No blogging. No lurking, no sneaking, no peeking. I had to go cold turkey. And it was going to be painful. I mean, I use each of those tools for my business! (Can you hear my whiny voice?!) They are valuable communication channels that help me connect with lots of people … [Read more...]
Small Talk Savvy (and More!) with Melissa Wadsworth
As we know, introverts are often drained by too much social interaction. But that isn’t always the case. There are times when we’re nurtured by social interaction – if it’s meaningful to us. That’s why I can sit for hours with a small group of friends and have deep conversations. Where the interactions become challenging is when I am with a lot of people and the conversations stay on a casual, … [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...]