I Love Being an Introvert Entrepreneur

Building a Business as an Introvert

Can introverts be entrepreneurs and succeed? Of course, they can! I would describe myself as an introvert entrepreneur, and I’ve built my empire by understanding my strengths and weaknesses to help me thrive. Some of the most successful business owners ever known, including Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg were introverts. That’s inspiring to all of us introverts who doubt ourselves! Introverts are realistic and goal-driven, which makes us a great candidate for being an entrepreneur.

Yes, We can be Great Entrepreneurs!

Most people assume that we are terrible at socializing, but that is not the case. Introverts are just people who recharge their batteries by being alone. But is not the same as being shy. 

We are known for our ability to focus and speaking on a subject that we love. Introverts aren’t fond of small talk. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t like to talk. I love to speak about a topic that is dear to my heart and ramble on to my loved ones. But would I do this to a stranger? Probably not. 

But that’s not a bad thing at all. “You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to run a company.” I’ve come to realize over time that being an introvert entrepreneur is excellent. Introverts have great strengths that will come in handy in the entrepreneurial world. Succeeding in business doesn’t require you to be outgoing or bubbly. All you need is ambition and the ability to make the right decisions to get your foot in the door. 

Tips for Introverts in Business

Use Your Great Listening Skills

Introverts prefer meaningful one-on-one conversations where you can listen to the other person’s thoughts and ideas. It can help tremendously with your success because it will make your clients/customers feel like a million dollars! 

Extroverts tend to talk a lot. They sometimes don’t think before they speak, which can damage some relationships with potential clients and customers. Introverts do not have this problem! We always think, process, and listen to all of the information given before speaking. Use this to your advantage when become an entrepreneur, as it is a great skill to have.

Embrace it & Be Yourself

It’s okay not to be the life of the party. We may not be able to network like extroverts, make friends as fast or have the confidence to make small talk, but YOU are lucky to possess empathy and listening skills, which is great to have as an entrepreneur. 

Don’t pretend to be extroverted for people to like you because this would not end well. If you pretend to be this outgoing, bubbly person on social media, but cannot speak a word to anyone at a social business event, this will make you look phony. It’s best always to be yourself and own your strengths! 

Don’t go to a networking event if you know it’ll exhaust you. Do other things to promote your business! Use social media, write a book, create courses in front of a camera rather than public speaking, etc. There are so many alternative ways that you can promote your business without doing anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Recharge when Needed

Just like me, Introverts need some alone time every day to recharge their battery and inspire creativity again. Thankfully being your boss means you can create your schedule! 

Make this a priority to avoid getting burnout. Spending time alone is not a bad thing, and will help you become a better person for the following day.

Start an Online Business

An entrepreneur’s best friend? Having a business without socializing in person. The internet is a fantastic place for introverts to grow. You can open up an e-commerce shop or sell online services like me without going out in the public world. Now that’s amazing! 

Don’t Follow People’s Advice

The primary advice for introverts who want to be entrepreneurs tends to be – Be more extroverted. Let me guess. An extrovert told you this? 

Before starting my business, I had landed a job in the wedding industry. I had worked my whole life to get the foot in the door and finally earned my spot. After almost a year of working with the company and making a promotion, I was sat down by my bosses. They had told me I shouldn’t pursue this field as I was too reserved and quiet. 

I worked hard, finished my tasks on time, and did everything I could to make them happy. Would a customer ever complain that I was “too quiet” for them to receive business? No. Customers appreciated me for listening to their ideas and concerns about the product! 

This story shows you that a lot of people don’t realize how introverts work, especially employers who frown upon those who don’t speak up at meetings or socialize every minute. 

Are You an Introvert?

Walking up to strangers and introducing yourself? Does that sound fun to you? Not for me!

Not sure if you would consider yourself an Introvert? I highly recommend viewing your personality traits on 16Personalities right here. I had taken this test when I was thinking of changing career paths, and it was beneficial to make me realize that I could not pursue in wedding planning as I had done. My personality type is Defender (ISFJ-T), and I am 93% introvert according to this quiz. Let me know in a comment below what your personality trait is, I would love to know 🙂 

Want to learn more about my entrepreneurial journey? Click here to view more!