Do you feel the pull to start a business?
I know how you feel. In fact, I think I’ve always felt this pull to be my own boss. And I don’t know if that comes from the fact that I don’t enjoy working for someone else, or if I just want to live life by my own rules. But, for a long time, I was afraid that I couldn’t ever be successful in business due to my shy and quiet nature. And this is something I know so many other introverts struggle with too.
That’s why in this blog post, I am sharing some advice about entrepreneurship for introverts that I have learned over the years of running my own business. Because let me tell you, you are capable of building a successful business!
So, let’s jump right in!
5 Things Introverts Need To Know Before Starting A Home Business
#1 – You Need To Be Passionate About What You Are Doing
I cannot understate the importance of this enough. Entrepreneurship is hard, and if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, it’s going to be more difficult than it needs to be. This is especially true for introverts because we tend to be more easily drained by the things that don’t bring us happiness, passion, joy, and so on.
So, when deciding what you want to do to work from home, take some time to brainstorm the things you are most passionate about. And I mean everything. Even if you don’t know how you would make that a business right now, right it down!
Next, start doing research on the types of businesses you can start from home. Look for connections to the things you are passionate about.
Here are some blog posts on our website that you might find helpful when choosing what you will do.
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How To Become A Virtual Assistant With No Experience
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Remember, there is always going to be some level of our business that pushes us outside of our comfort zone, drains our energy, and leads to exhaustion. But to succeed as an introverted entrepreneur, you need to enjoy what you are doing. So, try to find something you are passionate about, or at least is similar to what you are passionate about.
#2 – Boundaries Are Going To Be Your Best Friend
Entrepreneurship for introverts is already hard enough, but if you don’t set proper boundaries right from the start, you’re going to struggle.
This was one of the first mistakes I made when I started my business.
One of the worst things I did was say yes to anything and everything. While this was okay for a short time, I eventually became burnt out. I started neglecting my family, I was no longer taking care of myself, and I was very short-tempered. Thankfully I was able to turn this around once I implemented some healthy boundaries.
So, if you haven’t already, take some time to establish what your boundaries will be. Here are some examples to get you started.
- What will your working hours be?
- What is your preferred method of communication with your clients?
- When will you make yourself personally available to clients to have calls, answer questions, and so on?
- How many client calls you are willing to take in a day? (Don’t over-schedule yourself.)
- What the exact scope of your work will be? (Don’t be afraid to say no to things you can’t do or don’t have time to do – unless they are willing to pay extra.)
#3 – Time Will Be Your Most Valuable Asset – Use It Wisely
You’ll come to find that when you start a business from home, it is very easy to get pulled into your work. You might find yourself wanting to work late nights and weekends, in turn sacrificing other things that are important to you. This can include time spent with family, self-care, recharging your energy, and so on.
While one can argue that starting a business is a phase in life that will pass and that you need to put in the hard work now, I don’t necessarily agree with this.
As an introvert myself, I can argue that the opposite is true. When I overwork, I notice that my quality of work is greatly impacted. Plus I end up burning out which is even worse for my business. Instead, when I stick to a routine that includes time for physical activity, self-care, time with my family, and so on, I am actually much better off in terms of productivity and quality of work.
So, while it can be tempting to use every minute of your day to pour into your business, I encourage you to use the time wisely instead. Set up healthy routines. Prioritize your physical health, time with your family, and so on.
Trust me when I say, your business and happiness will thank you for it in the long run!
#4 – There Is No Room For Perfectionism In Business
Entrepreneurship for introverts can be especially hard thanks to our tendency to want everything to be perfect all the time. Unfortunately, perfectionism can be harmful to your new business. That’s because there isn’t always going to be a perfect solution for every problem or task that needs to be done.
So, before you start your business, you should learn how to let go of perfectionism.
Remember, entrepreneurship is about trial and error, learning from our mistakes, and growing as we go. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them!
#5 – No One’s Going To Understand What You’re Doing – And That’s Okay!
When I first started my business, I know a lot of my friends and family were very confused by what I was doing. While most people understand the realities of starting a business where you rent a space, hire employees, and so on, this idea of working by yourself from home can be a very foreign concept.
But don’t let this discourage you from what you are doing!
As introverts, we don’t like to rock the boat, we don’t want any attention on us, and we definitely don’t want people questioning us. (Unless this is just me, but I somehow doubt it!)
If this is something you’re worried about, then I would recommend only telling people who you think will best understand and support you. The rest can find out as time goes on and you gain more confidence!
Can A Shy Person Be An Entrepreneur?
Many introverted entrepreneurs struggle at the start of their business journey, and it’s often because they’ve made the mistake of setting up their business in a way that doesn’t match their personality style at all. Think about it, everyone has different character traits. Some people are shy while others are outgoing. Some people are great at communicating their thoughts verbally while others do better with writing.
But, I fully believe that ANYONE can be an entrepreneur. Especially if they are mindful of their personality traits and set up their businesses accordingly!
For example, if you prefer to write, then set up communications so that it is limited to email. If you work well under pressure, then add deadlines to all your tasks. These are just some examples, but I hope you get the idea!
You’re going to have much better success as an entrepreneur if you keep your personality type in mind when planning your business model, your marketing efforts, how you will find new clients, and so on.
Related Read: How To Market Your Home-Based Business – 10+ Awesome Ideas
Even though entrepreneurship for introverts will look a little bit different, you can build a really successful business by following the tips I shared in this blog post. From setting boundaries and creating helpful routines that prioritize self-care, to letting go of perfectionism and not letting other people’s opinions affect you – there are plenty of ways to ensure success as an introverted entrepreneur.
Good luck as you start on this new journey!
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How To Market Your Home-Based Business – 10+ Awesome Ideas
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