The Introvert Entrepreneur

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 me a question or spill my drink on a new acquaintance when I go to shake their hand.

I’ve learned over the years that I’m not alone. There are lots of introverts who describe themselves as extroverts online, and introverts IRL, or in real life. It makes us start to wonder, “who am I really?” The truth is that both are true, unless you’re going over-the-top online and taking on a new voice, brand or personality. I became curious about how introverts could leverage the power and relative comfort of social media to form stronger off-line relationships. My guest, Morgan Barnhart of Sociable Boost, gives us some insights to help us bridge the divide.

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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 you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy."

The fear of public speaking is called Glossophobia, which comes from the Greek glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread. My guest for this podcast has dedicated his business to changing the way people - especially introverts and glossophobes - think about themselves and being on stage and in the spotlight.

Jonathan Bender, founder of WholeSpeak, is a professional speaker, coach, actor, theater director, writer, and self-proclaimed introvert. He is passionate about helping introverts become strong speakers who actually feel comfortable in front of large groups. His passion comes through loud and clear during this conversation, as we talk about

• The reasons introverts can feel empowered by being on the stage
• The five "keys to confidence" in public speaking
• How to turn fear into freedom
• How introverts can be more naturally expressive

For info about Jonathan's upcoming course, "Speak with Confidence, Inspire with Ease," visit http://www.authenticspeakerseries.com/confidence

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When people hear the word "introvert," they almost always think "shy," or picture someone with his nose buried in a book, or with noise-cancelling headphones as her constant companion. And it's true - we do like our solitude. We not only like it, we need it. But on the other hand, if we're called to bring an important message to the world, we're almost required to balance that solitude with celebrity, with putting ourselves out there and being more in the public eye.

Now with the publication of her book ("Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"), a highly successful TED Talk, and a whirlwind of publicity, when people hear the word introvert, they're just as likely to think of Susan Cain as they are to think of the word shy. Susan has had to learn to walk that tightrope between solitude and celebrity, and I'm excited to share this conversation we had about her experience and advice for introverts who want to fully embrace their introvert personality.

Susan shares with us:

• How she worked through her nervousness about public speaking
• What introverts can do to feel at ease in uncomfortable situations
• The benefits of being aligned with your passion
• Why understanding introversion is so important to the next generation

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If there's one complaint I hear over and over again, it's about how we all have so much to do, and so little time to do it. As introverts, our energy is our most precious asset. We have to be intentional about how we spend it and when it's best to save it. Knowing how to do that is not always easy when we're being pulled in a million different directions.

So why is it that some people seem to get so much done while others get bogged down, overwhelmed, and further behind with each passing day? It is possible to focus your energy in such a way that you are more productive without feeling burned out. Bruce Lee offers us one approach; he says, "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own."

Today's podcast guest, Pam Weatherford of D3 Seminars, offers another approach that's similar to that advice, but uniquely hers. She calls it "cutting the CRAP," and her intention is to give you tools that allow you to get more done in less time.

You'll learn

• Why less is more when it comes to working towards your goals
• How the 80/20 Rule applies to time and energy management
• The art of saying "no" gracefully (and why this is super important to introverts)
• What Pam has identified as the Habits of Highly Efficient & Productive People

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It's ironic that I'm posting a podcast on personal branding just a few days before the biggest commercial extravaganza of the year, the Super Bowl. Most people think the elements they see in commercials represent the product's brand: its logo, colors, tagline and music are all tangible ways the brand is expressed. But what's at the heart of the brand is none of those things; it's really about the feelings that are aroused through the combination of those elements. This is valuable information for the introvert who wants to discover his or her personal brand.

My guest is Peg Marckworth, principal of Marckworth Associates. She creates brands for companies that set them apart from the competition and catch the attention of the right clients. We focus on the fundamentals of discovering your personal brand, including:

• What it means to define your personal brand
• Why saying that you deliver "excellence" isn't enough
• The good news for introverts and self-promotion
• An interesting lesson in branding from "America's Next Top Model"
• What's involved in the branding process

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