Beth Buelow's Blog, page 10
September 2, 2015
Ep86: Sarah Jones Shares Secrets to Connecting in Love and Life
Sometimes, it’s good to mix a business with a little pleasure, and today’s guest is the perfect person to help us do that. We’re going to be talking about the introvert superpowers that we can tap into in order to form relationships, whether they’re romantic, platonic or professional.
While we often focus on various aspects of entrepreneurship in this podcast, it’s also important to address the more personal side of being an introvert. After all, how we show up in life is how we show up for our business. And how we form relationships is important whether we’re at work or at home. What I find interesting about my conversation with Sarah Jones is how often I notice the overlap between looking for love and networking, prospecting, or connecting with clients. And while Sarah’s focus is on introverted men, what she shares definitely offers insights for introverted women.
Sarah Jones founded Introverted Alpha to help smart introverted men attract women naturally. She’s been featured by Cosmo, Business Insider, The Good Men Project, YourTango, MSN, LifeHack, and more.
Connect with Sarah
Download this episode (right click and save)
The post Ep86: Sarah Jones Shares Secrets to Connecting in Love and Life appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
August 11, 2015
How to Cure a Case of Shoulditis
Forgive me, friends, for I have sinned.
It’s been (mumbles) days since my last blog post and (mumbles) weeks since my last newsletter.
But it’s been at least 100 days without a workplace injury! (small victories!)
The truth is, I’ve been a bit stuck. It happens to us all. Back in June, my friend and colleague Sophia Dembling contacted me to get my input on a post she was writing about pushing past creative burnout. Her timing was good; I was feeling on top of my game. My creative energy was flowing.
Fast-forward a few months to today: I feel like I’m now where she was then. Burned out. Depleted. Out of bandwidth.
It took me a little while to realize what was going on. Maybe you’ve experienced this, too: general lethargy, enough energy to do what’s required but not much more. Ideas bouncing but not sticking. Overwhelm because too much is happening and not enough is happening.
Lethargic bouncing overwhelm… I get a little nauseous just thinking about it!
My initial diagnosis? Shoulditis.
It’s that terrible disease that sets in when we obsess too much about what we should be doing, rather than focusing on that which works best for us.
That nervous twist in our stomach because we feel like we’re never doing enough, and everyone else is somehow doing it all.
That anxiety in our heart that we’re missing out, messing up, melting down.
For me, writing this post is part of the cure. In processing through the situation, a few other antidotes have bubbled up for me. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been overtaken by the “shoulds,” here are three ideas that might get you re-centered in yourself and your truth.
Identify the shoulds, challenge EVERYTHING.
Where in your business and life are you saying “I should be…”? Take an inventory. List every “should” (“I should be going to networking events every week. I should be charging more. I should be making cold calls. I should hire an assistant…” You get the idea.)
Item by item, challenge the shoulds. What’s really true? Someone once told me that saying “I should” is a thinly disguised “I don’t want to.” Ask yourself if each should is true by taking the statement and changing it to “I want to.” “I want to go to networking events every week. I want to be charging more. I want to make cold calls. I want to hire an assistant.” Does that feel honest? If so, shifting your language and motivation from “I should” to “I want to” can put you on the road to recovery from Shoulditis.
If the truth is really “I don’t want to,” it’s time to challenge everything. Look at all of your assumptions about how you work. The whole kit and caboodle. For instance, I’m taking a close look at how I do my blog, podcast, newsletter, book promotion, coaching programs, social media, scheduling, and presentations.
As a result of this close examination, some things will change, others will stay the same. The point is to question each process. You can change what’s not working and recommit to what is. Being on auto-pilot for too long can contribute to Shoulditis… it’s more about “have to” than “want to,” and you forget why you’re doing it that way in the first place. By shifting into manual gear, you’re forcing yourself to look at each aspect of your business with fresh eyes. You can see more clearly where you’re letting the shoulds take control. And even that simple awareness might be enough to re-energize your thinking.
Give yourself Introvert Time.
You want to feel better, right? If you treat Shoulditis as something that has compromised your normal operating system, then we know what works: shut down, rest, and restart. This might seem to go without saying, but we can forget that it’s non-negotiable. Give yourself space to clear your head. Turn down the volume on everything. Do this for however long and as often as you’re able (5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days… your schedule, your rules). If you’ve come up with some new strategies and action based on your “should/assumptions” inventory, acknowledge yourself for that accomplishment, then let the work go for a little while. Trust that you’ve collected and documented your plans, and they will be waiting for you when you go back on the grid.
Conversely, notice if you’ve been too isolated. Maybe you need a healthy dose of extrovert time! For me, sometimes it’s as simple as working in a coffee shop or library, in “communal solitude” as Jennifer Kahnweiler puts it. Other times I might choose to do some intentional networking, or set up a Skype date with a colleague. Consider the amount and intensity of interaction that feels right for you, and make it happen.
Break the spell.
It doesn’t have to be a brilliant idea, work of art, or even half-way decent. Once you’ve given yourself some recovery time, do something, anything, to disrupt the rut. As I mentioned, this blog post is part of shifting my energy. What will it be for you? Keep it simple, low risk, and something you can do from start to finish. It’s good to have small victories and a sense of accomplishment when you’re trying to shake the shoulds.
One final point. I opened this post with a confession, and that’s part of the process: admitting you’re listening to the shoulds more than you’re aware of your inner wisdom. That there’s something going on, it feels counterproductive, and you want it to change.
Be compassionate with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up and say you “shouldn’t” be feeling this way.
You do, so feel it.
Then choose to move through it.
Invitation: What are the strongest “shoulds” that show up for you in business? When you challenge them, what happens? What helps you to shift the energy? Please share in the comments!
PS: Sophia’s original post had an equally wonderful follow-up post that’s worth the time to read and consider: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-introverts-corner/201506/taking-action-against-burnout-first-steps Both posts include thoughts from me and wise words from coach Val Nelson.
The post How to Cure a Case of Shoulditis appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
July 29, 2015
Ep85: Mike Goldman on Secrets to Performance Breakthroughs
Mike Goldman
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a company of 1,000 or a company of 1: Culture matters. It’s an energy that sends a message about who you are and what you stand for. And it’s key to whether your company experiences performance breakdowns or breakthroughs. Our guest today is an expert in defining company culture and taking a strengths-based approach to growth. We talk about ways businesses large and small can shape their culture, as well as how we can shift the way we see “engagement” so that it includes all types of communication styles, introverted and extroverted.
Mike Goldman is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant and author of the book Performance Breakthrough: The 4 Secrets of Passionate Organizations. He has over 25 years consulting and coaching companies from the local entrepreneur to the Fortune 500.
Throughout his career at Accenture and Deloitte Consulting, he helped companies like Verizon, Disney, Polo Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Kmart, Dillard’s, Liz Claiborne and Levi Strauss.
In 2007, Mike founded Performance Breakthrough to help mid-sized companies achieve dramatic business growth. He does this by working with leadership teams to ensure they have the right people, strategies and execution habits for growth.
Download this episode (right click and save)
Connect with MikePerformance Breakthrough: The 4 Secrets of Passionate Organizations
Facebook: facebook.com/passionateorganization
Twitter: twitter.com/mgoldman10
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mgoldman10
The post Ep85: Mike Goldman on Secrets to Performance Breakthroughs appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
July 8, 2015
Ep84: Building a Freedom-Based Business Model with John Warrillow
Many people enter into entrepreneurship with the intention of creating more freedom in their lives. Freedom to choose their own schedule, create their own services and products, express themselves as they wish and earn the income they desire.
And yet… we often get stuck in a time-for-money business model that deprives us of the freedom we seek.
In this episode, I speak with John Warrillow, who shares with us a few ways to create a business that enables you to have freedom without sacrificing your bottom line. We primarily explore the subscription-based business model, which he explains as being viable for a wider range of businesses than you might think.
John is the creator of The Value Builder System, a statistically proven methodology for improving a company’s value by up to 71%. He is the author of the bestselling book Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, which was recognized by both Fortune and Inc Magazine as one of the best business books of 2011.
John’s new book, The Automatic Customer: Creating A Subscription Business In Any Industry was released by Random House in February 2015. John has been recognized by B2B Marketing as one of the top 10 business-to-business marketers in the United States.
Connect with John
Website: inc.com/author/JohnWarrillow
Facebook: facebook.com/BuiltToSell
Twitter: twitter.com/JohnWarrillow
Download this episode (right click and save)
The post Ep84: Building a Freedom-Based Business Model with John Warrillow appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
June 29, 2015
Ep83: An Introduction to Mind Hacking with Sir John Hargrave
Self-talk is powerful stuff. It can make or break your efforts in just about everything you try, from starting a business, sticking to a diet, or improving a relationship. What if you could do a little mind hacking and get control of your self-talk?In this episode of The Introvert Entrepreneur Podcast, we dive a bit deeper into how to shift the way we think and the words we use to talk about our situation and ourselves. Our expert is Sir John Hargrave, CEO of Media Shower, the world’s premiere content marketing company. His new book “Mind Hacking: How to Change Your Mind for Good in 21 Days,” about how to reprogram your mind and change your life, is available from Simon and Schuster’s Gallery Books in January 2016 or as a preview ebook at www.mindhacki.ng.
Connect with John
mindhacki.ng
mediashower.com
Book: amazon.com/Mind-Hacking-Change-Your-Good/dp/1501105655
Facebook: facebook.com/sirjohnhargrave
Twitter: twitter.com/sirjohnhargrave
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnhargrave
Download this episode (right click and save)
The post Ep83: An Introduction to Mind Hacking with Sir John Hargrave appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
June 12, 2015
Ep82: Playing to Your Introvert Strengths with Casey Lightbody
If you’ve been a listener or blog reader for a while, you might know that I’m not a fan of all this “step outside your comfort zone” stuff. At least, here’s what I’m not a fan of: shaming our comfort zones and acting as if they are hotbeds of laziness and stagnation. So that’s why I love this conversation with Casey Lightbody of Cloud Marketing Services and the Empowered Women Revolution. She talks about our comfort zone as a place to operate out of, to let our strengths become even stronger. We also touch on the power of developing your personal brand, letting go of perfectionism, and how she sees herself as moving from being more extroverted to being more introverted.
Casey Lightbody supports women with small voices but big dreams to step up and fulfill their extraordinary potential. She is the founder of the Empowered Women Revolution, an organization whose mission is to help sensitive and quiet women find their voices, rock their businesses, and love their lives.
Connect with Casey
Download this episode (right click and save)
The post Ep82: Playing to Your Introvert Strengths with Casey Lightbody appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
May 28, 2015
Ep81: The Power of Perseverance with Pat Willmot of Great Pretenders
Image: Great Pretenders Facebook Page
It’s not every day I get to talk to the leader of a company that has a growing global presence and is in the midst of lots of organizational change. So when Pat Willmot reached out to me about Great Pretenders, I was immediately interested in her story.
We talk about the evolution of her journey with Great Pretenders, what it was like in those early years when they had big dreams and little experience, and how they’ve grown into a company that serves customers worldwide. And of course, we spend some time talking about what role introversion has played in Pat’s professional life.
Patricia Willmot is currently the president and CEO of Great Pretenders, an award-winning children’s costume organization. Great Pretenders was started in 1989 and is an umbrella of Creative Education, an organization that is committed to promoting child education and development through pretend play.
Website: www.greatpretenders.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/grtpretenders
Twitter: twitter.com/grtpretenders
Instagram: instagram.com/grtpretenders
Pinterest: pinterest.com/grtpreteners
Download this episode (right click and save)
[image error]
The post Ep81: The Power of Perseverance with Pat Willmot of Great Pretenders appeared first on Beth Buelow, The Introvert Entrepreneur: Coach, Author, Speaker, Specializing in All Things Introvert.
May 19, 2015
The Perfect Job for Any Introvert
This question was posted on my Facebook Page: “So, what kind of businesses are suitable for an introvert entrepreneur?”
Great question! It reminded me how often I see articles – mostly about more traditional jobs and career paths – that claim to share the best jobs for introverts. I say “claim” because the jobs they list are usually based on an assumption that the typical introvert doesn’t like people… that we don’t want to talk, see, work, or be around them. So these articles end up recommending that we become an archivist, industrial machine repairer, truck driver, animal care worker, or researcher, among other jobs. Those are all great choices! But, because the writers of these articles often collapse introversion with shyness or social anxiety, they lean heavily towards jobs that require as little human interaction as possible. In the comment threads (often more informative than the articles!), others point out that the jobs listed tend to be lower paying, involve highly specialized training or advanced degrees, or aren’t in growth industries. (
May 6, 2015
Ep80: “Yes, And” and Beyond: A Conversation with Improv Pioneer Bob Kulhan
Stand up in front of a group. No script. No prep. No rules. This is improv… in a way. It’s not quite as scary as that, even though that set-up is likely to send many an introvert running in the opposite direction. And in fact, what looks like a completely spontaneous improv situation actually DOES have rules, and there are ways to prepare yourself. Sure, there’s no script, but life doesn’t have a script, so who needs one?
I’ve spoken several times over the years about the power of improv and how it can be a transformative tool for introverts. In this episode, I talk to one of the first people to put the principles of improv together with the world of business.
Bob Kulhan is an Adjunct Professor of Business Administration for The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University as well as an Adjunct Professor of Business for Columbia Business School, Columbia University. He also is the CEO of Business Improvisations. BI is a world-class leader in developing experiential learning programs for businesses.
Bob and I start by defining improv (it might not be what you think!), then talk about how it has grown to be an exciting alternative to traditional professional development offerings. He also offers some basic improv principles you can use to make networking more enjoyable, as well as tips for getting yourself off the mental hamster wheel.
CONNECT WITH BOB
Website: BusinessImprov.com
Facebook: facebook.com/businessimprov
Twitter: twitter.com/bizimprov
You can also download this episode (right click and save)
The post Ep80: “Yes, And” and Beyond: A Conversation with Improv Pioneer Bob Kulhan appeared first on The Introvert Entrepreneur.
“Yes, And” and Beyond: A Conversation with Improv Pioneer Bob Kulhan
Stand up in front of a group. No script. No prep. No rules. This is improv… in a way. It’s not quite as scary as that, even though that set-up is likely to send many an introvert running in the opposite direction. And in fact, what looks like a completely spontaneous improv situation actually DOES have rules, and there are ways to prepare yourself. Sure, there’s no script, but life doesn’t have a script, so who needs one?
I’ve spoken several times over the years about the power of improv and how it can be a transformative tool for introverts. In this episode, I talk to one of the first people to put the principles of improv together with the world of business.
Bob Kulhan is an Adjunct Professor of Business Administration for The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University as well as an Adjunct Professor of Business for Columbia Business School, Columbia University. He also is the CEO of
