Starting a business can be fun and exciting but can also be a challenge, more so for an introverted entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur, you need to be creative, imaginative, hard-working, dedicated, and be able to communicate well. All of these can be done by an introvert, except for one – communication. Networking to increase business relations, and pitching sales can be harder for an introvert. Simply put, communication is not an introvert’s strong suit.
Introverts have a hard time starting conversations, not to mention they can get exhausted when they try to maintain long ones. They’re not really fond of small talk either. They only become talkative with a select few of their family members, their friends, or peers. So starting a business as an introvert will really take a lot of courage and energy. I know because I’m an introvert myself.
I’ve recently started a small home business for almost a month now. As early as it may seem, I’ve already experienced several struggles as an introverted entrepreneur. As a highly introverted individual, I bet there are a lot more challenges that will be coming my way. Below are just some of them.
Fewer people to reach out to
When you start a business, the first people you reach out to are usually those closest to you or those you actually talk to on a regular basis. The same goes for introverted entrepreneurs. The only difference is, they only have very few from their circle that they actually talk to on a regular basis. Unlike extroverts, they don’t feel comfortable reaching out to other people outside of that circle which makes pitching sales difficult. When they’re done, the next question would be “Who would they try to sell to next?” Either they try to reach out to other people they do know outside of their circle or be obliged to talk or chat with people they don’t know in order to sell their products or services.
Can get easily discouraged
A lot of people can become easily discouraged, whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. But introverts are more sensitive to these things. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone is like that, but most of them are, including me. When fewer people patronize their products or services, they tend to become doubtful of themselves, their capabilities, and eventually become discouraged in continuing with this journey.
Can’t afford to avoid people like you used to
Introverts enjoy their solitude. As I’ve mentioned, they’re not fond of small talk. So when they suddenly see people they know while outside, they’re more likely to avoid any social interaction. Sometimes, if they feel like it, they’d wave and say “Hi!” but won’t stay long to chitchat. When you become a businessman or businesswoman, especially if you’re just starting out, you can’t afford to avoid people and enjoy peace and seclusion. Because avoiding people would equate to less sales and fewer networks, as I’ve mentioned in my first sub-topic.
Have a harder time to stand out in social media
As an entrepreneur, you need to be social media savvy. Gone are the days of old-school marketing. It somehow still works though, but it’s not as effective as having an online presence. That’s why most businesses nowadays spend thousands to market their company online. They even hire social media managers to handle their social media accounts, those who could connect with their target audience and be able to stand out from their competitors. That is something that would be harder to do for introverted entrepreneurs as they’re not really used to connecting with other people.
Aside from that, handling social media accounts can be draining especially when you’re a one-man-band. You need to think of posts that could attract more customers and engage with them either through comments or chat. Something that an introvert is not used to doing.
Final thoughts
Starting a business will have plenty of challenges along the way, more so for introverted entrepreneurs. It’s not going to be easy navigating your way through. Your will and determination to succeed are what will keep you going. Just look at some of the famous self-proclaimed introverted entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk for inspiration. It doesn’t have to happen immediately, but you can take small steps to go out of your comfort zone and unleash your full potential. As a striving millennial trying to make a name for herself and leave a mark in this world, let me tell you this, there’s still hope for all of us. Don’t give up and keep going. You got this! 😉
Are you an introverted entrepreneur, too? What business are you currently running? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.
