The Introvert Entrepreneur

Ep59: Building an Extroverted Brand, Introvert Style: A Conversation with Tony Hsieh

In this first episode of 2014, I'm pleased to welcome Zappos.com CEO, "Delivering Happiness" author, and introvert entrepreneur Tony Hsieh to the podcast. We cover a range of topics, from how he handles his role as a very public leader to how his style meshes with the more extroverted culture (it's been called "zany" and "the whackiest," and encourages chance encounters to stimulate connection) of Zappos. We also touch on the new holacratic organizational structure that Zappos is adopting, and what motivates Tony to continue his investment in people and community.

Be sure to listen all the way to the end, when I announce just a few of the fabulous guests yet to come in 2014!

Dedication: This podcast is dedicated to Francis Vijay, a podcast fan and loyal member of The Introvert Entrepreneur Facebook Community. He sent me a message a week or so ago, requesting new podcasts (it's been a little while since the last one!). So Francis, this one's for you!

(Audio Correction: While I say at the start that this is episode 58, it's actually 59!)

Discovering Your Personal Brand with Peg Marckworth

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

How to Create Successful Collaborations That Stick with Monique MacKinnon & Pat Weber

It's interesting that as I was editing this podcast interview about collaboration, a fabulous New York Times piece ran about the Rise of the New Groupthink. It was written by Susan Cain, whose book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking" is about to be published. In her NYT piece, Susan expresses concern about the push in corporate environments to have open work spaces and a team-centric approach to innovation. She makes the point that solitude often sparks creativity, and groupthink trends don't provide much space for solitude. Today's conversation serves as another perspective, this time looking through the lens of entrepreneurship. Rather than being forced into groupthink situations, introvert entrepreneurs often experience the opposite challenge of isolation, or of too much time alone. The middle ground between working in solitude and working in "all teams, all the time," is strategic collaboration. My podcast guests, Monique MacKinnon and Patricia Weber, are examples of successful and strategic collaboration in action. Together, we talk about the many faces of collaboration and what strengths introverts bring to the relationship. Insights shared include:

• How partnerships can increase your marketability and creativity
• What to look for (and look out for) when choosing a business collaborator
• Why collaboration is like dating (and doesn't have to lead to marriage)
• Anticipating the icky stuff and how to handle it when it comes up
• The benefits of strategic collaboration for introverts

Bonus info! For a complete description and ordering information of MacKinnon and Weber’s eBook series, "The Complete Guide to Successful Collaborations," visit http://bit.ly/CollaborationeBooks Or, if you have a Kindle, go to http://amzn.to/CollabGuideKindle After your Kindle order send e-mail to questions@entrepreneurialtelesummits.com with that order number for an mp3 Bonus.

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 to a tool - the mastermind process - that provides a powerful way to create that safety so that you can make meaningful connections with others while strengthening your business. We learn how to tap into the wisdom of almost a century ago, when Napoleon Hill formulated the principles that have lead millions to success. Cheri shares how she developed her business around these principles and how they can be particularly supportive to introvert entrepreneurs. We learn about

• How a spirit of collaboration can bring you answers to the toughest challenges
• The best practices of thriving mastermind groups
• What can derail even the best intentions
• The benefits of mastermind principles on all of your relationships

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 guest for this podcast, Matt Youngquist of Career Horizons (http://www.career-horizons.com), sets me straight on that point. He shares ways that both the seeker and the entrepreneur can leverage LinkedIn for stronger relationships and stronger businesses. We also talk about being an introvert entrepreneur and how LinkedIn is a perfect platform for the introvert to connect with others. You'll learn

• What LinkedIn is and isn't useful for
• Why your profile might not be working hard enough for you
• Why you don't want to say "yes" to everyone who invites you to connect
• LinkedIn's best kept secrets that boost your visibility and connectivity