The Introvert Entrepreneur

Do you have a message you want to shout from the rooftops? Since shouting isn’t  usually a way introverts communicate, we’re lucky there’s a more subtle way to get our message across. At the risk of generalizing, most introverts prefer to express their thoughts and ideas through the written word. For many, writing a book is a fundamental business strategy, opening the door to increased visibility, credibility and profitability. Others may want to leave a written legacy, sharing lessons learned so that others have an easier time on the journey. Laurie Helgoe, Ph.D., is passionate about helping writers become authors and guiding you through the journey from idea to publication. She is the author of Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength, the first book to reveal that introverts make up the majority—rather than a small minority—of the population. In addition to authoring five mass-market books (so far), Laurie launched Book It! Literary Consulting. Through seminars and individual consultation, she helps writers develop book ideas and take the steps needed to become published authors. Laurie and I talk introverts and publishing in this lively conversation. She lifts the veil of mystery on the process of getting a book published through a mainstream publishing house, as well as shares... One of the biggest things introverts do that diminishes their power How you can make your book proposal stand out from the pack The fatal mistake aspiring authors make when pitching an idea Why it's true that ignorance is sometimes bliss PS: Be sure to listen for a special offer from Laurie! Details shared near the end of the podcast. And if you're in the Charleston, West Virginia area, you'll definitely want to attend Laurie's upcoming seminar, "Get It Published! (Not Self-Published)" on March 5, 2011.

When the busyness and business of life gets to be too much, we sometimes find out too late that we've lost touch with what makes us unique, what makes us brilliant. We feel disconnected from our energy and even our values. My guest today is Amy Kessel, certified life coach. Amy has dedicated her coaching business to helping women in transition reconnect with their authentic selves and their purpose. And her message today isn't just for the ladies - men also will benefit from her wisdom and call to find simple ways to honor your strengths. In addition to learning about Amy's transition from social justice work to professional coach, we spend some time diving into How Amy manages her introvert energy while being fully present for her clients and her family What's wrong with the "no pain, no gain" approach to life The tiny ways we diminish ourselves and hide our brilliance How to see yourself as others see you I'm pleased to be publishing this podcast on January 25, 2011, the day of Amy's virtual business launch, so stop by her website to join in the festivities!

Do you ever find yourself sitting at your computer at the end of a long workday, thinking, "Where did all the time go!?" It's not just about how quickly the time passes - it's also about what I have to show for it. When asked what people value more, time or money, the answer is usually time. So how do we make the most of what we have? In this podcast episode, Productivity Coach Claudine Motto of Vistal Norte (soon to be known as Business in Blossom) offers a few powerful tips and resources to help us put time on our side. We talk about some of the bug-a-boos that get in our way and how to move through them, including Perfectionism Procrastination Thinking "If I just had the right software..." Being absorbed in busy-ness instead of business Not being clear on our priorities As a bonus to this podcast, Claudine has compiled a list of her favorite resources and nifty tools that will support your productivity! (PDF opens in new window)

How does an introvert wind up leading a large networking organization, hosting a nationally syndicated radio program and running her own company? Lots of energy, vision and taking care of business - most importantly, the business of taking care of herself. This week's podcast focuses on how one introvert leader has stepped into the spotlight and created ways to spread her message in a way that is authentic to who she is. Along the way, we also get some tips about having a friendly relationship with your time, energy and financial resources. For more than 14 years, Debbie Whitlock, as president of her own financial services company, has been financially educating and empowering suddenly single women as they make the financial transition from life with a partner to one without. Debbie reminds women that addressing their financial future from scarcity and fear will not lead to the prosperity they desire and deserve. In this inspiring conversation, we talk about how with deep self-awareness, introverts can shape their lives to fit their needs and energy. You'll hear about Her journey to becoming the leader of a prominent networking group What's wrong with trying to "manage" your energy The biggest financial mistakes people make in their personal and professional lives Debbie's greatest wish for entrepreneurs everywhere in 2011

Year's end is always a time of reflection. We have a tradition that says we each get a clean slate on January 1. Whatever happened in the previous year can be left behind and recycled and forgotten with the old calendar. But when we leave it behind without any reflection or thought, we are practically destined to repeat the same mistakes, have the same challenges and stay in the same place. How can harness the positive energy and desire for shedding of the old and embracing of the new that happens every January 1? How can we get off the treadmill of running in place and start to turn corners and speed past more and more mile markers? During this podcast, I offer a few thoughts, gathered from friends and colleagues and my own experiences. In addition, I share some guiding questions that result in a personal "process check," designed to offer space for reflection on 2010 and anticipation of 2011. Download a PDF of the questions. (opens in new window)

Does the idea of standing up in front of a group of people and having to think on your feet, well, freak you out a little? Or does not knowing what to expect make you just a wee bit uncomfortable? My guest today is a friend, colleague and co-conspirator who has helped me take steps to increase my confidence in these situations and more. Leif Hansen is an experienced coach, seasoned facilitator, and creator of innovative workshops. His workshops have been featured internationally, including NBC's Today Show. In our conversation today, Leif and I talk about how the principles of improvisation can improve your personal and professional relationships, and how it can get us unstuck when we introverts get too much in our heads. We cover how to fail fast, build trust in yourself and get over trying to look good in favor of being authentic. And listen carefully... we include a special offer for our Jan. 19, 2011 "Improv for Introverts" workshop in Seattle!

We know that understanding if someone is an introvert or an extrovert gives us certain insights into their personality and why they do what they do. But how can that information be utilized in marketing our business? My guest today is James Wedmore, a proud introvert, serial entrepreneur and serious student of personality types. In this podcast, James shares with us a few tips on leveraging introvert energy, building your team and the importance of setting clear intentions for your business and relationships. We also cover: How the internet is the global Land of Opportunity Why it's important to put the "I" (introvert) in TEAM The biggest mistakes introvert entrepreneurs make in their businesses, especially online

Sometimes in business – as in life – we get stuck. We find ourselves spinning our wheels or just not making the progress we want. The key is to move from the Cycle of Failure to the Cycle of Success. My guest today, Julie Fleming, shares a few tips on how to do just that. Julie works with small business owners who love what they do but don’t love marketing. Julie helps them learn how to attract their ideal clients by doing what they do best – serving clients. The result is that they get all the business they need, make more money, and love their thriving businesses. Julie is the author of The Reluctant Rainmaker: A Guide for Lawyers Who Hate Selling (Crow Creek Press, 2009) and the upcoming book Ignite It! Explode the Profit in Your Service-Based Business, due to be published in January 2011. Julie draws on her success as a lawyer, coach and business development expert to tell us: How to define success for yourself What it feels like to be caught in the Cycle of Failure How to make the move to the Cycle of Success Which business development activities have the most impact on your bottom line

As surely as Christmas happens on December 25 every year, stress levels seem to skyrocket during the holiday season between just before Thanksgiving to just after New Year's. There is pressure coming from all sides: to be happy, to attend parties and family dinners, to feel connected to the "reason for the season" while also running around like a crazy person, shopping, eating and socializing. This is exhausting for most people, and doubly so for the introvert who needs lots of time and space in the midst of the joyful chaos. How can we navigate the holiday season while honoring the needs of our hearts, minds and spirit? How do we stay sane through it all? Author Sandy Fowler shares how we can take some of the stress out of the holidays and stay connected to what's most important. Sandy shares with us How introverts can not only survive, but actually enjoy, all of the holiday socializing Why you should take a "no excuses" approach to the holidays (it's not what you might think!) How to stay centered in choice What you can do to make traditions your own The most important word to have in your holiday vocabulary Why the holidays aren't the right time to try to have this, that and the other.

When I witnessed a recent claim - and subsequent retraction - of "I'm an extrovert" by an introvert, it got me thinking again about how we introverts sometimes negate that part of our personality. We think it's a curse. We think it needs to be changed. We think we need to hide it, because we get messages that our introvert traits are not OK. The less our personality is affirmed, the more we disown it in order to be socially acceptable. In this podcast, I share some thoughts on what happens when introvert strengths are turned inside out, why we often feel an internal tug-of-war between our personal and public personas, and how a method called Voice Dialogue can help introverts reclaim "pride of ownership" of their innate personality. PS: The post picture is a recent photo session I held with my "gremlins," or parts of myself that clamor for my attention or razz me. You can get your very own gremlins at Archie McPhee's.

One of the most commonly shared laments I hear from introverts is "I don't know how to talk about myself!" We are often so focused on our business or work, or creating magic behind the scenes, that when someone says, "tell me about yourself," we often clam up and stutter and aren't even sure where to begin. This goes for when we're asked to talk about ourselves, as well as when we have to write our bio for social media and networking profiles, webpages and proposals. My guest on this edition of The Introvert Entrepreneur podcast is Nancy Juetten, a storyteller, workshop leader and author who shows business owners how to get seen, heard, celebrated, and COMPEN$ATED in their own backyards ... and beyond. Join me to hear about... Nancy's journey from shrinking violet to tall daffodil Learning to lean into your energy Making your bio a "painkiller" Why a one-size-fits-all bio won't cut it Little details to rock the house every time The four cornerstones of every great bio

In the world of business, we toss around words like marketing, messaging and branding with wild abandon. We talk about how we need a clear brand message or marketing strategy... but do we really know what that means? Do we know what goes into creating an effective brand that moves our business forward? And how do we make sure we're going deeper than just tossing around marketing buzz words? Maria Ross is the founder and chief strategist of Red Slice, a branding and marketing consultancy based in Seattle. In my longest podcast yet (stay with me; there's a chance to win one of two books at the end! Plus, Maria offers great insights all the way to the finish line), we talk about: Making promises you know you can keep The 3 C's of thinking through your brand strategy Lessons from Virgin America The biggest marketing mistakes people make (and how to avoid them) Dealing with "niche resistance" How to know when it's time to move from DIY to hiring the (right) expert Two special offers are mentioned at the end of the podcast... we'd love to be mailing YOU one of two free books!

Between 2002 and January 2009, the blog search engine Technorati had indexed as many as 133 million online blogs. With the estimated number of blogs doubling about every six months, some sources that index blogs report numbers as high as 400 million - and that's in English language blogs alone. Since the first blog debuted in 1994, the medium has evolved from the virtual diary read ‘round the world to an indispensable communications tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs. With that many blogs out there, how do you make yours stand out? What makes some blogs blah and others bold? Whether you have a blog right now and are interested in attracting more attention and readers, or you're just now setting up your blog and wondering how to make the most of it, Introvert Entrepreneur Judy Dunn can help. During this wide-ranging discussion, Judy and I discuss: Being an introvert entrepreneur and an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) What happens when you leap and trust that the net will appear How to use your blog to build trust, credibility AND business What we can learn from Nike about writing success How to get the blog post out before the fire goes out

If you are tired of struggling with your sales goals and are just plain frustrated with the pushy, manipulative approach to sales and selling, you’ll be interested in what my guest, Tshombé Brown of Your Signature Coaching Consulting, has to say. As a Spiritual Business Coach, Tshombé helps independent sales professionals release themselves from struggle, differentiate themselves in the market place, and to easily attract only their perfect clients. In his time with us today, he will share with us what typically gets in our way as entrepreneurs, and how we can instead be magnetic, creating a sense of ease and flow when it comes to sales and marketing. Our lively conversation covers critical information such as What "selling as spiritual practice" means and how it can help you reframe your relationship with sales How to orchestrate your life to support your introvert strengths Getting past the "Used Car Salesman" myth and creating a new sales story During the podcast, I have an "aha" moment about my own sales story... my guess is that you'll have one, too! Be sure to listen all the way to the end; Tshombé has a special offer for "Beth's Peeps" (I have peeps! :-) )

Do any of these things sound familiar to you? You're smart, capable and want to make a difference You have fears: of rejection, of failure, of success. You worry about what other people think. You're held back by lack of confidence. If you said "Yes!" to even one of those statements, you're in the right place. My guest in this episode of The Introvert Entrepreneur is Patty K. Famous for her love of pajamas, Patty is a on a mission to help people overcome the fears that get in the way of doing their "Thing." She's a blogger, motivational speaker and nonconformist. She's also an introvert, an optimist and an idealist who loves animals and Jimmy Buffet. Our conversation covers Patty's "Purple Cow" moment, how a work field trip and 17 seconds of terror informed her new career path, how logic can combat fear, and why the worst case scenario actually may be in your best interest! And did I mention that Patty's funny? She's funny. :-)