What Introverts Should Know About Doing Business

Unless you took some personality tests or Psych 101 in college, you probably think being an introvert means being a shy wallflower.

Nope! That’s the popular miconception.

It’s not about whether you are charming and outgoing or quiet and dull, it’s about whether you gain or lose energy around people. Introverts are energized by solo time, which is a drain on extroverts. Social hours charge the extros’ batteries, but drain the batteries of intros.

Thanks for the psychology lesson, but what’s the point?!

The point is this: as a small business owner, you need to be aware of what nourishes you and what depletes you. You’ll get more mileage, and happiness, out of focusing the majority of your time on your strengths. For introverts, this means limiting the face-to-face selling and exposure to big groups (like networking events and conferences). Obviously, you’ll need to promote yourself and network sometimes, but when you do, remember to make time in your schedule for solitude and rejuvenation.