Attitude is Everything!

bySonicBoom

561 followers

5 years ago

If you were an introvert (as I am), this blog is meant for you.

I am an extreme introvert. I hate being seen, being exposed. I am scared people may see my faults, my reservations, my thoughts, privacy. I once cancelled a dentist appointment for fear of letting someone inspect the holes in my molars.

Before I knew better, I thought that an online business is the ideal activity for me- after all, one can easily hide from the world behind a laptop screen. You do not have to face people or speak out to be heard.

And boy oh boy, was I wrong!

After starting with online, I quickly learnt that I have to “shout” to be seen. To create traffic, my articles have to be bold and convincing. To progress amongst the WA community, I had to start blogging and talking and responding and introduce myself to hundreds of people. I could not hide in my nutshell any longer. I had to come out and interact and make friends and communicate and have an attitude.

The online world really offers little refuge to the introvert. In fact, it is a requirement to emerge from the shadows of introversion, to stand erect, and to grow tall. You have to learn to be bold.

So, is it too much of a challenge, or is there a way out?

They say being around lots of people drains the introvert’s energy. The good news is that your online business allows you to take regular breaks, make some coffee, watch a flower bloom, enjoy your solitude, recharge your batteries in between your “stage” appearances.

They say introverts have small groups of close friends. The good news is that nothing stops you from finding a few good friends amongst your hundreds of followers, connect to them and establish private, thoughtful and stimulating discussions. This almost invariably happens naturally. You DON’T have to always be on the rooftop!

They say introverts are quiet people and that is difficult to get to know them. The good news is that you are already in the business of writing- so, use the chance to write your thoughts down and learn to share them. People will feel you reaching out and will respond. Take the courage to add your name to your mails (or a name by which you feel comfortable to be known). Put effort into designing your responses to blogs and questions- let them realise that you put work into your writing. They will respond with dignity and enthusiasm.

They say that too much stimulation leaves the introvert feeling distracted and unfocused- boy oh boy. I often feel like an ant in a bowl of soup with all the different offerings of training modules, reaching out to my network, answering questions, work through my notifications, let alone keep attention to design and write my web page articles. My rescue came when I drew up a daily menu of the routine issues that needs my attention, and I do not deviate from it until I’m done. I put the small, administrative tasks first e.g. following a few new friends, and the more conceptual tasks, e.g. working on my current article, last.

They say that you like to learn by watching rather than being lectured- ohhhhh yes. The good news is that the online world and the WA training are paradise in this respect- tonnes of watch and learn videos and activities. Need I say more?

So, this is my sincere call to all of those introverts out there still lurking in the shadows: Take my hand and come out. Be visible, be bold. Take a stand. Stop following, start directing.

Remember: “Attitude is Everything”. Even in the online world!