The post Introvert Sales Strategies-Harnessing Quiet Strengths for Sales Success appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

As tempting as it is for us introverts to think that having an online-only business means we can hunker down and keep to ourselves, the truth is that we all need outside perspectives. In this episode of The Introvert’s Edge, Beth Buelow of The Introvert Entrepreneur explains why it’s crucial that we get out there and connect with other people, whether through networking, attending presentations, or meeting for lunch. It’s not just about building a network; it’s about creating inspiration. Yes, Introverted Entrepreneurs Need the Outside World It’s natural for introverts to prefer working on their own rather than being drawn to outside people and groups. But as Beth explains, when we isolate too much, we get stuck in our heads and our ideas can dry up. External stimulation, even something as simple as attending a webinar or going to a movie, has the effect of pulling us out of our heads, allowing us to generate fresh ideas. If the idea of socializing causes you a pang of introverted anxiety, take heart – Beth suggests that these activities can be entirely on your own terms. Choose ways to connect with others that you’re comfortable with, that will replenish your coffers, and that will keep your brain stimulated. You don’t have to mingle with every person in the room; the important thing is to participate in activities that give you new ideas and insights on your business. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the people you speak to are going to hand you the answers. It’s simply the process of being open to new ideas, hearing new perspectives, and talking through your thoughts – this is what can turn on that light bulb and reveal the way forward. If you’ve chosen a safe space to connect, and you feel a level of control, you may be amazed at what insights you can discover. Finding a Supportive Network for Introverted Business Owners You may cringe at the idea of attending a networking event or a mastermind, but the right group for you is out there. For example, Beth describes the mastermind group that she’s a part of, which is highly structured, well-facilitated, and provides opportunities for people to speak safely and comfortably. This results in a nurturing, empowering environment that works for her as an introvert. What does this mean for you? Beth advises that you not give up in your search for a helpful, supportive group. If one group doesn’t work, no problem; try something else. There is absolutely no need to try to force a fit. If you aren’t comfortable, don’t make it about you. It’s simply about finding a network in which you feel supported and heard – and that group does exist. Keep putting yourself out there, and you’ll find it. First, notice who you’re currently surrounding yourself with. Are you primarily spending your time with family and friends in traditional employment, who don’t understand the challenges of entrepreneurship? Are they supportive, or all doom and gloom? You don’t have to cut them out of your life, but you’ve got to connect with other entrepreneurs. Try an organization like BNI or Toastmasters, and pay attention to how you feel in the room. Give it a fair chance, but don’t force yourself to continue attending if it isn’t the right fit. It’s all about experimentation and persistence. It may sound contrary, but it’s important to remember that once you’ve found the right group, you also need to be conscious of when it’s time to leave. When you’re taking the next step in your business, you want to surround yourself with people who are already accomplishing what you want to accomplish. Want to write a book? Time to surround yourself with authors. Be deliberate and big-picture about who and what are going to help you most, and then get out there and make it happen. Some Questions I Ask: Is it ok for us introverts to just stay in our offices and not worry about any extroverted activities? (0:10) How can we reach out for help when we feel we’ve hit roadblocks? (6:35) What is the best way for an introverted entrepreneur to find a supportive network? (10:01) What do you consider your introvert’s edge? (18:14) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why you have to get out in the real world even if you’re an exclusively online business (0:36) Why staying too much in your head is the death knell of your business (1:16) The creativity benefits of interactive verbal processing on your own terms (4:25) The best way to find a support system that works for you (6:55) Suggestions for where to find support, and how to evaluate whether the group will work for you (10:17) When it’s time to leave a group, even if you love it (13:01) The mindset you need to adopt with every new group you try (17:20) How to tackle fear rather than trying to eliminate it (17:50) The personal and professional benefits of cultivating empathy (18:17) Resources Mentioned in the Show Part 1 of this episode BNI Toastmasters The post How Can Introverted Entrepreneurs Find the Right Support System? appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

If you’re an introvert who’s been dreaming of starting your own business, but are afraid that your quiet nature closes that door for you, this episode will reframe your thinking and get the fire going in your belly. Just because your strengths may not naturally include networking, presenting, glad-handing, or sales, that does not mean you can’t be a hugely successful entrepreneur. In today’s episode, I talk with Beth Buelow, author of The Introvert Entrepreneur, about the limiting stories we tell ourselves, how to overcome them, and how to identify and leverage the natural strengths that propel us down the path to entrepreneurial success. Let’s Bust This Myth About Introverted Entrepreneurship Despite the significant strides made in recent years about recognizing the gifts and power of introverts, the stubborn stereotype remains: the one that say that truly impactful entrepreneurs must be extroverts. After all, starting a business from the ground up entails a whole lot of typically extroverted activities – meeting new people, reaching out to old and new contacts, attending events, pitching to investors, selling to customers, leading meetings, and on and on. I’d point out that all of those skills can be learned and mastered by introverts; in fact, introverts can be even better at them than extroverts, with a system and a process. But as Beth points out, think about all the other elements of successful entrepreneurship – the ones that may be a bit more hidden, but every bit as important. These include preparation, research, careful listening, understanding your prospects and customers, analytical thinking, creativity, focus, writing skills, and so much more. These entrepreneurial qualities may not get as much recognition as those that are more public-facing, but can you imagine a successful business without them? The only thing that holds introverts back from entrepreneurial success is the stories we may tell ourselves. The simple secret is not to try to change who you are; it’s the opposite. Embrace your introversion, be true to yourself, and harness your amazing natural skills. Key Strategies for Introvert Entrepreneurs By now, you may be saying to yourself, “Ok, I’m an introvert, I embrace it, and I’m excited to use my strengths in entrepreneurship; but I still have to do the extroverted activities too, right? How can I get good at those?” I firmly believe that you can not only acquire these skills, but even enjoy them. To start, Beth recommends thinking of these activities in terms of energy rather than time. For example, do you get worked up at the thought of making several calls in a row? For Beth, she knows that the best way to manage phone calls is to batch them and do them all at once, rather than “getting one over with” and working on a different task before moving on to the next call. By doing all the calls at once, Beth is able to build momentum and get into the groove, instead of splitting them up throughout the day and being forced to summon that energy over and over from scratch. It’s helpful to apply this “energy” idea to all of your daily business activities; strike a balance between the tasks that stress you out and the ones you enjoy. Terrified about hosting that webinar? Consider spending some time beforehand on writing a blog post about the webinar topic, or working on your registration email campaign – tasks that are related to the webinar, and will help you prepare, but that don’t fill you with dread. Then gather your energy and go for it, knowing it won’t last forever and that you can soon return to the tasks you prefer. Think of it this way: When you take those steps outside your comfort zone, you can then reward yourself by getting safely back in it, until you next venture out. That is the key to growth – taking risks, working through fear, and then recharging your batteries so you’re ready to do it again. Some Questions I Ask: Do you find that introverts automatically assume that successful entrepreneurs are extroverts? (5:20) What strategies would you offer introverts who struggle with limiting self-beliefs around business success? (8:25) What are some examples of barriers you’ve seen introverts set for themselves? (12:56) What should introverts ask themselves in order to overcome their self-imposed hurdles? (16:30) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why owning who you are and being true to yourself is crucial to successful entrepreneurship (5:30) Why you should think about your tasks in terms of energy requirements, rather than time blocks (8:35) The importance of balancing the comfortable and uncomfortable jobs (10:51) How to start stretching outside your comfort zone so it keeps getting bigger (11:22) How to let go of trying to do everything yourself (10:20) What “FUDs” are, and why you should care (16:42) How to be conscious and deliberate about the business activities you engage in (19:53) The importance of asking, “What does success look like for me?” (21:22) How to reframe your views of what you “can’t” do (23:10) Resources Mentioned in the Show Beth’s website The Introvert Entrepreneur Podcast The Introvert Entrepreneur Book The post Entrepreneurship and Introversion: The Perfect Match appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

Jennifer Kahnweiler is an international speaker, bestselling author, and world-recognized authority on introverted leadership capacity…but here’s the kicker: she’s an extrovert! While I make it a rule to invite only introverts on the show, in Jennifer’s case, I’ve made an exception – and you’ll soon discover why. Tune in to learn her personal and professional reasons for developing an interest in the power of introverts, her strategies for introverts who want or need to excel at leadership, and the improv mantra you need in your back pocket. Introversion and Leadership: The Perfect Pairing Whether you’re an introvert who’s actively pursuing leadership roles, or if you’ve suddenly found yourself leading a team and are feeling a bit of panic, take heart. There are many highly successful introverts in leadership, management, and C-level positions, and there’s absolutely no reason you can’t be an outstanding leader yourself. Jennifer’s extensive research has shown that, for an introvert, transitioning into a leadership role is not nearly as difficult as you might imagine – provided you go into it with a strategy that leverages your strengths. And these are the same strengths that allowed you to excel in your functional skill; you simply need to apply them to your new role as a leader. Leadership requires careful organization, good listening skills, and preparation, all of which come naturally to introverts – giving you an edge. The secret is to be able to “flex,” and bring these strengths to the leadership areas that tend to be more challenging for introverts, such as communication and professional relationships. It’s not about forcing yourself to be an extrovert; it’s about doing what you do best – analyzing, planning, and applying a clear strategy. The 4 P’s as a Leadership Strategy for Introverts Based on her years of research and interviews with highly effective introverted leaders, Jennifer has created “The 4 P’s” as a go-to strategy for introverts who want to develop their leadership capacity. Applying the 4 P’s is a simple way to drastically increase your confidence and nurture your skills as a leader. And best of all, it draws on the strengths you already possess. Preparation: Introverts don’t really like to wing it. Instead, we come with questions, ideas, analysis, and reflection. Having a plan for that meeting or conference call will make you feel much more comfortable than trying to go with the flow. Presence: When you’re prepared, you’re more able to be truly present, allowing you to connect to the people you’re speaking with. Push: Growth comes from pushing ourselves to do the things we might be afraid of. Push yourself just to the point of being a little uncomfortable; you’ll get through it and you’ll be stronger for it. Practice: Have a disciplined plan to hone and refine your skills. We all have our strengths and weaknesses; just remember that your “weaknesses” are not necessarily negatives; they’re opportunities to grow in both skill and confidence. Some Questions I Ask: As an extrovert, how did you become interested in the topic of introverts as leaders? (3:08) Do introverts have to “act” extroverted to be successful leaders? (5:10) What strategies should introverts employ if they are interested in becoming leaders? (8:15) Do extroverts have to work on refining “introverted” skills as well? (14:13) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How extroverts can better understand the introverted personality (3:40) The misconceptions about introverts and leadership roles (4:30) How introverted skills can be leveraged for effective leadership (6:20) The four “strategy buckets” for introverted leaders (8:50) Why preparation is so important for introverts (9:09) How being truly present helps introverts connect with an audience (10:19) Finding the right balance in pushing yourself (10:47) Why practicing your skills is key (11:35) Why it’s ok to feel you’ll never be 100% comfortable in “extroverted” situations (13:05) Why you should look at introversion/extroversion as a spectrum and not an either/or (15:20) Why behaviors are more important than labels (16:40) Resources Mentioned in the Show Quiet Influence The Introverted Leader The Genius of Opposites Jennifer’s website The post The Truth about Introverted Leaders appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

Traditional business advice includes ideas such as, “Find an unmet need in the market and create an offering around it.” But this is a terrible suggestion for introverts. Introverts are more likely to focus on authenticity as a core business value. This means that trying to bend ourselves to the market instead of focusing on our true passions ends up making us feel incongruent, fake, and miserable. In this episode of The Introvert’s Edge, Brian Smith, the founder of UGG Boots, shares why he sees no other option than total authenticity, despite the business “risk” it may seem to entail. How Being Authentic Leads to More Ideal Customers You’ve heard these sales maxims many times: You’ve got to have the gift of the gab. You want to be able to sell ice to Eskimos. Just be confident and they’ll buy. The problem is, this just doesn’t work for most introverts. At least at the start, we’re much better off focusing on a niche we know well and that we’re passionate about. Brian explains how this approach grew UGG to a billion-dollar company. Authenticity and Business Growth Many business owners, especially introverts, believe they have to put their real passions to the side and focus their business choices on what’s “safe.” While this may seem like the practical decision, it’s actually a huge error. When you feel inauthentic, it’s hard to enjoy your business, let alone make it a success. But when you’re true to yourself, you have the passion and energy to lead your business to success, or what Brian calls in his book, The Birth of a Brand, “The Five Stages of Growth.” Brian shares his first-hand experience of rejection after rejection, running out of money, losing a partner – most would have quit. But he stayed on task, recommitted to staying authentic and doing what he was passionate about…and turned his company into a billion-dollar worldwide success. Some Questions I Ask: Are people surprised to learn that you’re an introvert? (0:25) When did you realize that you don’t need to care what people think? (7:01) Can you explain what you mean by “the five stages of a business”? (8:50) What advice do you have for business owners who are focused on external validation? (12:10) Describe the shift you experienced when your business focus changed to pursuing what makes YOU happy (14:38) What do you consider your introvert’s edge? (17:50) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why authenticity is key (0:53) Why you should build your brand around your passion rather than bending to the market (1:10) Brian’s struggle with introversion growing up, and the tools he used to deal with it (4:10) Why systems and strategies are especially helpful for introverts (6:10) What led Brian to realize he’s comfortable with himself just as he is (7:31) How building a business is like raising a child (9:05) Why “I need to prove I can run a successful business” is the wrong long-term mindset (12:40) Why opportunities become much clearer when you know exactly who you are and what you want (14:48) The importance of preparation in achieving your business goals (18:02) Resources Mentioned in the Show: Part one of this episode The Birth of a Brand, by Brian Smith Brian’s website The post Why Traditional Business Advice Doesn’t Work for Introverts appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

“You’ll never believe it,” said the excited voice on the other end of the line. “I just got off the phone with Brian Smith. He agreed to be our closing speaker at Small Business Festival.” Finding the exact right person to close our festival is always difficult. We look for a real-world business success story with an excellent track record in presenting from the stage. It’s always hard, because many founders don’t do public speaking…or at least, not very well. And most professional speakers do a great job with their specific topics, but don’t have experience in taking a business from a small startup to a worldwide success story. As a proud Australian, of course I knew exactly who Brian Smith was. And I knew that having the founder of billion-dollar brand UGG Boots speak from our stage would leave a lasting impression… And I was right. I remember being exceptionally impressed – not just with how authentic and relaxed he was on stage, but how genuine he was when talking to me before his presentation, and to the attendees afterward. As I do every year, as a thank you, I like to take the closing keynote speaker out for dinner and then show them around the city before dropping them back to their hotel. Over dinner I talked about how amazed I was with how he captivated the audience, how they seemed mesmerized with every story that he shared. Whenever I do a keynote presentation of my own, I always tell stories too. I used to try to share facts and details, but as an introvert, I found it left me feeling incongruous and awkward. I thought it was just me. That’s what surprised me most about what Brian said next. Brian told me that after the success of UGG Boots, he wanted to share what he learned with others, so he decided to become a speaker. He hired several well-regarded extroverted speaking coaches, who all told him to tell quippy jokes and use particular tactics to engage the audience. He said that everything they told him, while it worked for them and for other people they taught, as an introvert, he just felt inauthentic. He said it wasn’t until he just started sharing stories, well-practiced and structured stories of his own personal experience and the experiences of others, that he finally felt comfortable on the stage. I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t just me, that another introvert had stumbled on the same strategies for introverted presenting as I had. We laughed about just how similar our presentation styles are, how we love helping others (which is why we both stay after our keynotes to answer questions), and that we wished there were introverted speaking coaches who could have cut the learning curve in half and saved us a lot of discomfort. We both agreed we almost didn’t try, thinking, “An introvert on stage? Come on.” As it turns out though, we again have an edge. Becoming an Authentic Business Speaker Brian’s seemingly natural, confident stage presence is the result of two of what he considers his most important introverted qualities: being himself and being prepared. There is no question that introverts can be commanding, compelling public speakers – we just need the right approach and the right systems. And this applies to so much more than just speaking. Extroverts are generally regarded as having an advantage in business, and it’s no wonder – when it comes to sales, networking, and self-promotion, those who are confident and talkative may seem to have an advantage. But introverts have an important secret weapon that changes everything: the deeply-held desire to be authentic above all else. Learn how this drive to be true to oneself brought Brian Smith both a billion-dollar business and, ultimately, personal fulfillment. Getting More Sales Through Authenticity We introverts may not love the process of selling, but we’ve got to do it, not just to keep our doors open, but to truly thrive. Brian shares his journey from beginning UGG Boots, pushing himself to go out and do terrifying door-to-door sales calls, to the realization that the surest way to make sales was to stay true to himself. Some Questions I Ask: When did you realize you’re an introvert? (1:10) What struggles did your introversion present in your speaking career, and how did you overcome them? (2:50) Do you view introversion as having any disadvantages for your business career? (8:58) What process led you to determine your initial niche? (13:30) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How Brian’s lifelong fear of rejection impacted his personal and professional life (1:20) Why preparation and authenticity are key to successfully speaking on stage (3:20) Why Brian won’t work with a public speaking coach (6:30) How Brian pushed through his fear of sales to find what worked (10:13) Why you need to understand your customers better than they understand themselves (14:40) Resources Mentioned in the Show: Part two of this episode Brian Smith’s website The post Lessons from a Billion-Dollar Brand Founder appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

Dive into the intriguing world of introverted entrepreneurs as they share personal journeys from academia to successful business leaders. Discover strategies for introverts to navigate networking, emphasizing energy management and alternative methods for connection. Learn how authentic marketing can enable introverts to communicate their expertise effectively, moving away from traditional networking. The discussion also touches on unique communication challenges in digital settings and offers resources to empower introverts in their networking and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Ed Frauenheim, Director of Research and Content at Great Place to Work®, shares the simple steps managers and leaders can take right now, to not only increase the happiness and productivity of introverted employees, but triple the company’s revenue in the process. Creating a Great Place to Work for All Employees, Introverts Included You may be familiar with the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work for list, which pulls data from thousands of companies (and hundreds of thousands of employees) to determine which workplaces provide an atmosphere of trust, camaraderie, innovation, respect, and people-focused programs, consistently and for all team members. How do introverts figure into this equation, and what can team leaders do to ensure they fall under the overall banner of inclusion and workplace satisfaction? Why CEOs and Team Leaders Need to Focus on Introverted Employees There’s been a long-overdue push for inclusion in the business world to ensure that all employees, regardless of gender or ethnicity, are heard, valued, respected, and represented in the workplace. While this focus on diversity is welcome and needed, there is still too little attention being paid to the needs of introverts, who represent at least half the population. Ed and I discuss this critical oversight, along with the need to address it. As Ed points out, for organizations to advance, they’ve got to bring everybody along. Businesses do a huge disservice to their employees – and to their bottom line – by ignoring the needs of introverts in the workplace. Ed shares some simple and effective strategies that leaders can employ, starting now, to best allow their introverted employees to flourish. The benefits are two-fold: introverted employees become happier and more productive—and when employees are happy, company revenues increase by as much as three times. Some Questions I Ask: How can leaders create a workplace culture that allows both introverts and extroverts to thrive? (1:50) What should leaders be thinking about in terms of aiding and empowering the introverts on their teams? (3:40) What are the first steps a workplace can take towards being more inclusive? (4:59) What are the 5 levels of leadership, and how can they be applied to better understanding the introverts in your workplace? (6:37) What are some of the most important takeaways from your new book, A Great Place to Work for All? (16:40) Do you think that a discussion of introverted employees comes up among leadership as often as it should when creating policies for inclusion? (19:40) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why it’s just good business to create a culture that works for ALL employees (1:55) How the “For All” leadership models ensures every team member has a great work experience (3:53) How “individualized leadership” brings out the best in every team member (4:08) The importance of listening to your employees (5:09) What a study of 75,000 employees and 10,000 leaders in certified Great Workplaces tells us about leadership, productivity, and innovation (7:00) How you can apply principles of Hilton’s successful culture to your own workplace (10:19) Getting introverted team members to buy in to your mission (10:43) A valuable feedback-generating tactic that’s underutilized by team leaders (13:20) Why you need to rethink your ideas about “team brainstorming” (15:30) How the workplace experience ripples out to the rest of our lives, and to the world (17:56) Resources Mentioned in the Show Fortune article – “Why Austin is the Rockstar of Small-Business Cities” 2018 Great Place to Work® For All™ Summit Book – A Great Place to Work for All The post What Makes Introverts Thrive in the Workplace? appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

If you’ve heard of the Eventual Millionaire podcast, you know that the host, Jaime Masters, is a big deal. Recently ranked by Entrepreneur and INC as one of the top podcasts in the world for entrepreneurs, the Eventual Millionaire demonstrates that Jaime is by far one of the best interviewers I have ever seen. When she interviewed me for the first time on her show, I was struck by how natural she was, how easily she was able to ask the questions that dig deep and get to the heart of the matter, and how comfortable I felt, even as an introvert who’s somewhat anxious about these things. I knew I had to have her be a part of the annual conference I run, Small Business Festival. When she moderated a panel on “Founder Secrets,” it was immediately evident that her interviewing skills worked beautifully in this setting as well. The panel participants were relaxed and genuine, and they shared pinpoint insights that proved revelatory to the audience – all because of Jaime’s approach. And when I started developing this show, I knew again that Jaime had to be a part of it. I wanted to discover her process for forging such strong connections with guests and panel participants. I wanted to know how she chose what questions to ask, how she guided the conversation, and how she handled the inevitable snags and unplanned moments. Listen in and learn the strategies that work not just for podcasting, but for any situation in which you’re building your network and growing your business. How to make your podcast interviews natural, meaningful, and valuable In the last episode of The Introvert’s Edge, Jaime shared the tools and strategies she’s developed over the years to beat extroverts at their own game, hands down. Today, we focus our discussion on podcasting and panel moderation. How does Jaime approach an interview to make sure that it’s authentic, provides great value, is fun for the guest and listener, and meets intended outcomes? She created a system, and she perfected it. Why podcasting is perfect for introverts It may not seem like a natural fit: an introvert, hosting a show, leading a discussion, talking to strangers, being recorded, sharing it with the world? We’re supposed to be shy and quiet, right? Jaime explains her secret weapon for going from “the girl in the corner with a book” to becoming the host of an Entrepreneur-ranked Top-3 podcast, with guests booked out six months in advance. The best part? It’s based on yet another quality that’s inherent to introverts. Some Questions I Ask: You’re one of the best I’ve seen at moderating a panel. Is that something that comes naturally to you, or is it a result of experience and strategy? (1:22) How do you strike up rapport with a first-time podcast guest? (7:09) What advice do you have for other introverts who struggle with building genuine, authentic rapport? (9:40) What do you batch in your work, and why? (15:08) Why did you choose meditation as a way to recharge, and why does it work for you? (16:17) Is there a way to do meditation without all the woo woo? (18:20) What do you consider your introvert’s edge? (21:45) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Jaime’s system for killer interviews and panel moderation (1:45) The go-to interview question that works every time (4:09) What YOU should be doing while your guest is speaking (4:42) Why you need to go with the flow during an interview or panel, rather than being rigid (5:52) How Jaime makes her podcast guests feel comfortable and natural (8:02) How to be strategic in the rapport-building process (10:10) The most important element for growth and success in business (and in life!) (13:07) How Jaime manages her workflow for the best results (15:16) What “entrepreneur crazy brain” is, and how to alleviate it (16:50) How science supports the benefits of meditation, and how it can help you and your business (19:09) How and why real connection makes a difference (21:49) Resources Mentioned in the Show: Part One of this episode Headspace App Calm App Thanks for taking the time to listen! The post Podcasting Strategies for Introverts appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.

Jaime Masters is the host of Eventual Millionaire, listed by INC as a Top-3 podcast for business owners. She’s also an incredible public speaker, a master networker, a flawless interviewer and moderator – and an introvert. We’d been good friends for over a year when we decided to attend a networking event together. I could see as soon as we got there that Jaime knew everyone, and we split up to each do our own thing. I didn’t know anyone, but I followed my usual networking tactics and ended up chatting with some of the most important people in the room, including Ryan Deiss, the founder and CEO of Digital Marketer, who mentioned that he was an introvert. Later, when Jaime and I got in the car to go home, I told her how surprised I was to keep meeting these incredibly successful people, who seemed so comfortable and natural in any setting, and learn that they were introverts like me. That’s when she said it: “Matt, you know I’m an introvert too, right?” This blew my mind. If you’ve heard Jaime present, moderate, or interview, or had the good fortune to see her networking skills in action, you’ll know why I was so surprised. She seems more extroverted than most of the true extroverts I know! The skills and strategies she has mastered over the years make it easy for her to beat extroverts at their own game, and in fact, put her in a league of her own. It takes a lot of work to seem like an extrovert Let’s get one thing straight: introversion is something to be embraced, not overcome. You already have every talent and ability you need in order to come across as confident and outgoing. You just need to learn the systems and strategies to hone your inherent skills and translate them to business success. It wasn’t always so easy for Jaime to walk into a room and command it, to interview millionaires without skipping a beat, to speak and moderate panels with finesse and charm. In the beginning, there were tears, anxieties, failures, and questions of self-worth. But with a strong mentor, the right tools, and goals that she was determined to achieve, Jaime made it happen. And you can too. Some Questions I Ask: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey, and how you got where you are today? (1:32) Was there ever a time you completely bombed out while trying to build your business? (4:08) What are some of the strategies you learned in order to not only be comfortable with networking, but to actually enjoy it? (8:37) How did you land your first millionaire interview? (11:43) What are some of the strategies you use in being such an effective and natural public speaker? (15:26) Do you still hate public speaking today? (18:04) In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How Jaime went from a shy, artistic, self-professed computer geek to the host of a Top-3 podcast for entrepreneurs (1:38) Why the concept of sales as “selling yourself” was especially hard for her (2:43) How having an amazing mentor helped Jaime push herself (4:16) How Jaime overcame and learned from her first, awful networking event – and how she feels about networking today (5:30) How Jaime built her network from knowing no one in the middle-of-nowhere Maine to a roster of millionaires and influencers (8:57) What “connection threads” are, and how they grow your network (9:35) How being determined and resourceful can make or break your dream (11:57) The major barrier Jamie faced in public speaking, and how she overcame it (16:05) Why Jaime, an introvert, loves public speaking (18:14) Resources Mentioned in the Show: Part two of this episode The Eventual Millionaire Podcast Toastmasters Help A Reporter Out Thanks for taking the time to listen! The post “Everyone Thinks I’m An Extrovert!” appeared first on Finding A Business Niche & Creating A Sales System - MatthewPollard.Com.