The Introvert Influencer - How To Grow A Business In An Extroverts World

I could see the business cards in his hand.

The corners sticking out.

Sitting there waiting to be called into action.

He was listening. Just.

It was really a scan to see if I was good prey.

Like a vulture hanging back and looking at the meal before moving in.

I wasn't.

He was selling investments and I had no money.

I was there hoping to get the same things he was. Customers.

If you'd asked me, I would have lied and told you it was to 'meet people', 'expand my professional contacts'.....'network'.

But I was there for customers.

I didn't go back.

The business world is setup for extroverts.

From open plan offices, long meetings, networking to social media superstars, the deck seems to be stacked against the thinker and the conscious loner.

Or is it?

I'm James

And I'm an introvert.

I get energy from sitting quietly, reading, writing and thinking. I love people but will likely be leaving the dinner party at 8.30 and wont be coming to your whiskey night.

I've built two successful businesses.

One while working in a basement on Waiheke Island and the other while traveling the world.

And I'm here to tell you that if you're an introvert you should NOT be following mainstream business advice.

I did.

I was trying to swim upstream.

It led to burn out, dissatisfaction and an empty bank account.

There's 3 steps to building an Introvert Business and becoming an Introvert Influencer.

1) Pull Over Push

You need customers. Leads are the lifeblood of a business. No lead flow = uncertainty. Uncertainty = stress.

Extroverts push the market. They go out with their product, service or personally and COMMAND them to buy.

Introverts don't want to come across as 'salesy'. It makes their skin crawl.

Introverts pull. They give to the market and ASK them to take the next step. Giving away your information in the form of a lead magnet, training vid, free tool and asking them to take the next step like book a call or a demo, pulls people along the buying chain rather than shoves them.

Build a marketing system where giving is first and asking is second and nature takes care of itself.

2) Assemble Your Tribe and Establish Boundaries

Email was definitely designed by an extrovert. It pings in at all hours and has no feelings. And it and its interupting cousin, the telephone, is the primary way many people let their clients in. Introverts needs boundaries and your clients need service.

Built a tribe. A private place where you can serve your customers they can serve each other. Set regular times they can access you and get access to help. You will have to create self service elements so they can serve themselves too.

Boundaries are the key to turning up fully for your clients and getting them results.

3) Show Don't Tell

Markets are becoming winner takes all. But how to do raise to the authority without screaming down a camera every 5 seconds?

You let your model do the talking.

You design your own Genius Model.

Everyone has a way to operate. The steps you take to get your clients results. Building your Genius Model shows the market you know how to get results and foreshadows the path forward if they work with you. It establishes thought leadership, authority and influence.

For an introvert, the model does the heavy lifting so you don't have to.

Being an Introvert in todays connected business world is a a super power.

Results are the currency that fuels growth.

The thinkers and the planners take time to get results.

Less talk, more do.

But if you swim upstream in an extroverts world you will get eaten by the fishes with big mouths.

To your success

James 'introvert' Kemp