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Are you an introvert who’s ever thought, “I can’t do that because I’m introverted?”

If so, this episode is especially for you!

In this episode I’m calling BS on the stories we can tell ourselves about what we can’t do because of our introverted nature. Especially when it comes to things like public speaking, networking, and other forms of visibility in business. It’s time to ask ourselves: Are these limitations real, or are they just stories we’ve created?

I talk about:

• The difference between self-imposed limits and actual facts about introversion.
• How our introverted brain processes information and how this impacts our actions.
• Practical strategies to take if you want to do something that scares the heck out of you.
• The importance of planning, practicing, and seeking support to overcome fears and step out of our comfort zones.

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TRANSCRIPT

Well howdy, howdy and welcome to the Unstoppable Introvert Podcast!

I hope you’ve had a great week and I’m super happy you’re listening in today.

The topic I’m talking about today is a bit of a “spicy” one.

A little bit eyebrow raising perhaps. 

But I want you to know, right from the outset, that I’m talking about this topic with the utmost love and respect for you.

And it’s a topic I have definitely not been immune from myself. 

But as you start thinking about what 2024 might hold for you and your business, I believe now is an important time to talk about this.

And the topic we’re talking about today is: Are you using your introverted nature as an excuse NOT to do things?

See I know I have in the past. 

And I have heard so many people over the years say things like: “I’m an introvert so I could never do that.” 

Or “I’m introverted so I’m not very good at doing that.”

And we often hear these phrases in connection with marketing and visibility.

Things like: public speaking and networking to name a couple. 

I’m an introvert so I’m terrible at networking.

I’m an introvert so I’d never make a good speaker. 

But here’s the spicy bit.

I’m calling BS on this. 

Because being an introvert doesn’t mean you cannot do any of these things.

Being an introvert doesn’t mean you cannot be amazing at any of these things. 

And when we think like this, what we do is put limits on ourselves.

We put walls up around what is and is not possible for ourselves.

Because we are telling our brain that we can’t do something. 

This often means we don’t give ourselves permission to give certain things a go.

What I know to be true is that if we don’t allow ourselves to give things a go, we will never know whether it is actually something we might really enjoy or be incredibly good at. 

So what I want you to think about is, are there things you’re telling yourself you can’t do because of your introversion?

And I want you to examine that thought. 

Is it a story you’re telling yourself?

Or is it a fact? 

Is it a fact that you can’t do this “thing” because you’re an introvert?

And if you know deep down that it is a story. I want you to ask yourself what’s behind telling yourself this story that you can’t do this “thing.”

Is it a fear you have? Is it a worry about something?

And I want you to also ask yourself, it is something that you believe could be good for you and your business? 

Is it something you deep down “wish” you could do, but it scares you. It scares you because it would require you stepping out of your comfort zone. 

When we know what stories we are telling ourselves, and whether we are open to the possibility of trying something, we can look at what we as an individual need in order to do the “thing.” Be it support, guidance, planning, practicing, whatever it might be for you to take those steps towards giving it a go.

It’s easy to look at people who have extroverted personalities and to think: That comes so naturally to them. I could never do that because I’m an introvert. 

But we don’t actually know whether it has come naturally to that person. Take public speaking for example. It’s not a strength that extroverts are just naturally born with. Even the best speakers practice, even the best speakers work with speaking coaches….

Sure extroverts might be better at ad-libbing for example or speaking on the fly. Because the introverted brain processes information differently before we speak, before we’re ready to share our information. 

So if we think about public speaking, and I’m just using this because it’s an easy example, and It’s one I commonly hear introverts saying they can’t do…

But the truth is, it’s not that you can’t do it, it’s about doing it in a way that aligns with YOUR natural strengths, not an extroverts natural strengths. 

So that might mean you speak on only a couple of topics that you know inside oout and that you feel really passionate about (because it’s hard to shut us introverts up once we get onto a topic we know and love deeply, right?!)

It might be that you plan well in advance, that you practice, that you get the support from someone to help you with any nerves you are feeling… that you might say no to any speaking events that don’t give you adequate time to prepare.

Now I’m not saying you have to do things that you really don’t want to do. 

The point of this episode is to say that we can often stop ourselves doing things we feel nervous or scared about, especially that require us to step out of our comfort zone, and shut down the possibility of doing that thing and tell ourselves that it’s because we’re an introvert that we can’t do it. 

When the reality is that there isn’t anything that we can’t do as an introvert.

It is about ditching the excuses and finding a way to do it that is right for us, if it is something that we are open to giving a go, epsceially if it can bring a world of opportunities to us.

So this was just a short and sharp episode for you today. It’s something I want you to think about as you start preparing for 2024. Is there something you are telling yourself you can’t do because of your introverted nature? 

I hope this has been a thought provoking episode. Absolutely brough to you with love. Because I want my fellow introverts too see that you are not limited in any way by your introverted nature, you can be absolutely unstoppable in anything you want to do. 

If you’ve enjoyed this episode – I hope you have! – I would also be incredibly grateful if you could take a minute and rate and review it on your platform of choice. 

Everyone who leaves a review will go into a monthly draw to win a 60 minute coaching session with me as a wee thank you. Simply screenshot your review and DM it to me via Instagram @thehayleymaxwell or feel free to share it to your stories and tag me in. 

And until next time, go forth and be unstoppable.