Introverts (or those with introverted tendencies) are more likely to spend time on their own, even in their careers. Introverts much prefer to be left to their own devices instead of working in large groups where every employee plays their own part. There are some career paths that allow people to work on their own, but what about entrepreneurship?
Most people will see starting your own business as something that requires an extrovert’s mindset. You should be outspoken, you shouldn’t be afraid to network and you need to stay in constant contact with clients and employees. However, that’s not to say that an introvert can’t also start a business–they just need to approach it differently.
Playing to Your Strengths
In the world of entrepreneurship, introverted qualities usually aren’t seen as desirable, but there are a couple of ways to play to your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses. For instance, introverts are usually very good at getting their hands dirty and doing their own work. This means that you can build a business that caters to these strengths, such as making money from hobbies or crafts that you specialize in. It’s important to put less emphasis on your weaknesses and focus more on your strengths.
Build a Team That Fits You
If you plan to scale up your business at some point, then it’s worth building a team that can support you. Even if you’re an introvert, scaling up your business often requires you to interact with people and put together a group. It’s always a good idea to make sure they understand your strengths and know how to cover your weaknesses. Starting a small business and growing it will involve stepping out of your comfort zone, and that will likely include hiring employees. However, nothing prevents you from hiring people that can work with your introverted qualities.
Reducing the Need for Interaction
Something else to think about is how much you plan to interact with people and how you will do it. There are ways to twist business models to make you less reliant on customer interaction. For instance, if you want to make money from your artistic skills and would like to teach people some of your secrets, you can do so with written guides that use images instead of doing one-on-one lessons or videos.
Knowing Your Limits and Breaking Them
It’s definitely possible to build a startup even if you’re an introvert. However, it will eventually lead to some limitations and you need to know how to overcome them. Socializing will eventually become important if you want to grow your business, and sometimes, hiring a speaker or a representative isn’t the best solution. Sooner or later, you’ll need to speak to the public or at least make an appearance, and if you’re not prepared to overcome those limitations you have, your business could eventually become stagnant and drop into obscurity.
While it’s possible to create a startup and fit it around your introverted tendencies, it pays to practice socializing especially if you have big plans. Otherwise, it’s perfectly acceptable to take it easy and fit your business around your qualities.
