Let's PIVOT Together It's hard to believe that the Beyond Introversion website and blog began on July 11, 2019, nearly 4 1/2 years and 239 blogs later! That August, one of my friends shared his concerns that my weekly posts would tap me out of topics soon. I chuckled as I felt assured my head held a plethora of ideas, concerns, and resources that I needed to purge and that others might benefit from. Well, I now believe the time has come to pivot a bit. In January 2024, I have 3 big changes coming: I will transition from weekly blogs to periodic newsletters to subscribers only. I will enhance ..read more

Why are we ambitious and how do we deal with the pressure? To many extroverts, the term "Ambitious Introvert" makes no sense. It sits in conflict with every stereotype they associated with the "Hidden Half." However, to many introverts, it actually captures our approach and our predicament quite well... Why are many introverts so ambitious? Primal Survival Instinct Most of us need to either go to school or work for a living to put food on the table. Since we are all different, we may approach this need in different ways. Some introverts opt for more solitary approaches - virtual classes, the ..read more

Guest Blogger, Kimberly Gates, shares how a bit of feedback changed her life! Words have power, six small words changed the trajectory of my life – “People don’t know who you are”. That statement was the feedback I received after a job interview for an assistant manager position. These words still resonate in my mind, they still bring up feelings of anger, confusion, and gratitude all at the same time. Those six words were the start of my introversion journey in 2019, it has been quite an amazing journey. Reflective Prior to 2019, I did not know what introversion was. I considered myself a qu ..read more

Many writers build up the writing experience, only to feel a bit lost once their story is published. Many feel the fun is over. But the fun is not over! Oh, it could be. You could be happy to have finished the writing and publishing and ecstatic that your book is now available to the public and begin to focus on your next project. That is all understandable. But you are missing The Post-Launch High! What is The Post-Launch High? Three areas contribute to this "high." Everyone loves and deserves the first one, but many often find the second and especially third to be difficult, particularly fo ..read more

Guest Blogger, Linda Maxie, shares her journey of self-discovery. It is a common story that Linda captures in a moving and motivating way! Like many introverts, I spent a large part life before age 40 trying to figure out exactly who I was. It’s a familiar story to many, I’m sure. I came from a large, tight-knit, extended Southern family. My mother was the youngest of fourteen siblings. I have never counted, but I would estimate I have nearly fifty cousins. Around ten to fifteen of these are close to my age. Growing up, I was surrounded by a cohort of anywhere from five to twenty kids on a re ..read more

Like a strong tree, the introvert's strengths are often found below the surface! We may look upon our mature neighborhood tree as a magnificent, strong, and perhaps daunting figure. We can lose sight of the roots below and the nourishment and time needed for a sapling to eventually reach its impressive vastness. Yet, over time and with the right nutrients, roots bloom into trees, trunks grow sturdy, branches expand to outstanding heights, and the tree eventually blossoms and returns the gift of life to the earth through seedlings upon the land around it. So, too, is an introvert’s journey. We ..read more

and 6 common themes that guide introverts toward success The list of famous and successful introverts is like a Who's Who of business, sports, and politics. But don't let their fame fool you...they have all struggled, learned, and persevered in order to succeed, not despite their introversion but because of it! Heidi Brown - Battlefield Leader: US Army Brigadier General Heidi Brown defied the odds as the first woman in American history to command an armed brigade in combat in Iraq in 2003. She has developed her leadership, in part, because she is self-described as an "introvert by nature ..read more

Guest Blogger, Jill Golledge, shares the twists and turns of her journey of discovering, stretching, and embracing her true self. Growing up, I was always one of the quieter ones, constantly told to “speak up more”, or to “contribute more in group discussions.” I rarely put my hand up to answer questions in class and I hated the thought of having to stand up in front of others and speak! I’d feel the burning in my cheeks as they glowed red with embarrassment, I’d have sweaty palms and my heart would race as I waited for my turn to speak. Of course, I know now that these feelings were the effe ..read more

Most writers barely think beyond the writing. That creative step is what has drawn us to writing in the first place. Writing in itself presents enough vulnerability for us to fill our platters. So it’s no wonder we typically pay little attention to publishing or marketing until we have to. We may opt to delve into self-publishing ourselves but we can also consider transferring most publishing tasks to traditional or hybrid publishers. However, book marketing falls squarely upon the author, regardless of how we may choose to publish. Unless you are most famous, traditional publishers won’t lif ..read more

Guest Blogger, Mary Ann Manalang, shares a powerful path to redefine the workplace Within the dynamic realm of today's workplace, the concepts of diversity and inclusion are intricately laced together, constituting the fundamental thread that underpins organizations’ success. Yet, as organizations strive to embrace these concepts, there's a subtle yet significant aspect that often slips out of attention: neurodiversity and individual temperament. While many diversity initiatives focus on visible differences, the profound impact of personality traits like introversion remains underappreciated ..read more