A few months ago, I mentioned that I had received a copy of Nancy Ancowitz’s new book, Self-Promotion for Introverts®: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to post my review - like many other introverts, I suffer from “so many books, so little time” syndrome, and have only recently managed to read it.

Since starting my business in 2002, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with networking and public speaking, and am now fairly comfortable with both activities, but I sure wish I’d had a resource like this in the beginning! The chapter on public speaking is especially valuable, and covers everything from exploring your advantages and challenges to preparation and delivery of your message, as well as other topics that I’d never even thought to wonder about, but that are equally important.

As a former career and employment counsellor, I was also impressed with the comprehensive chapter on job searching. Much of the information provided would be equally useful to extraverts (but shhh… let’s not tell them about it!)

I highly recommend this book, if you:

• are intimidated by the thought of attending a networking event or speaking in public
• are tired of being passed over by less qualified colleagues who can “blow their own horn” more easily than you
• are comfortable promoting yourself, but are interested in learning some new strategies

Unlike some self-help books, which offer only motivation or information, Self-Promotion for Introverts® is full of practical exercises to help the reader work through the processes described throughout. The information presented is right up-to-date and includes tools such as blogging, Twitter, and LinkedIn as suggested methods of communication.

Self-Promotion for Introverts® is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

That is, of course, a silly question. Both extraverts and introverts can be very organized, very disorganized, or anything in between. There are, however, some differences in the ways that introverts and extraverts manage their time and space.

In terms of time management, introverts like fairly long periods of time to focus on their current task. For this reason, they prefer a workspace which allows for privacy and concentration, and view people who stop by or call to chat as interruptions.

Extraverts, however, welcome people stopping by or calling to touch base, and prefer a workspace which facilitates this type of interaction.

Because introverts think before acting, they may be slow to act, and others may view the time they spend processing information as non-productive.

Extraverts are more inclined to jump quickly into an activity, often without allowing enough time for reflection. As a result, they may need to step back and redo some steps, which also hampers productivity.

Introverts may have a tendency to procrastinate regarding activities requiring interaction with others, such as making telephone calls. One thing that works for me is to get those tasks out of the way before I start my other work for the day. I can then relax and enjoy working on the types of projects I prefer, without the knowledge of those pending calls weighing on my mind.

Extraverts often dread such activities as organizing their home or workspace, but this task can often be made more interesting and effective if they work along with a group of people, whether it is friends, professional organizers, or a combination of both.

Introversion-extraversion is just one piece of the puzzle that makes up your personality type, and your organizing style. You can learn more about this subject in my new e-book, Organizing Your Life, Your Way. With this e-book, you can learn about your personality type and the ways it affects your relationship with time and space, and the reason why some people have more difficulty than others getting and staying organized. You will then be able to use your new understanding to develop organizing and time management strategies which work in harmony with your personal preferences.

Because even people who share the same type preferences have their own unique strengths, challenges, and systems that work for them, and because new organizing and time management products are developed all the time, I intend to continue my research and to publish an updated edition of this e-book in the future.

Please take a few minutes to share some information to help other readers to better understand themselves and others, and to develop their own organizing and time management solutions.

Simply go to http://tinyurl.com/your-org-style to answer a few questions. Be assured that no identifying information will be collected.

Thanks!

One of the blogs I like to read is Jay Robb reviews business books, because I’ve always enjoyed Jay’s column in the career section of my local newspaper. He recently reviewed The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional and Virtual Networks by Michael Dulworth, President & CEO of Executive Networks.

In The Connect Effect, Dulworth shares a wealth of information about effective networking, and because he’s an introvert himself, his advice is much more “doable” than that offered by some other experts. For example, it’s frequently suggested that you set a goal for each networking event that you attend, and an extraverted author might suggest that your goal might be to meet 10 new contacts. I can’t imagine talking to a total of 10 people at a two-hour event, let alone 10 new people! Dulworth’s recommendation is to aim for three or four substantive conversations at your next social event, instead of working the whole room.

For more of Michael Dulworth’s networking tips, read Jay Robb’s review, or better yet, read the book itself!

Written by Cheryl N.W. Card, the full title is Discover the Power of Introversion: What Most Introverts are Never Told and Extraverts Learn the Hard Way.

The book begins by stating that many Introverts have been extremely successful, including US Presidents, corporation presidents, scientists, and actors, and a later chapter names some famous Introverts, living, dead, and fictional.

It includes tips for creating positive self-image, dealing with Introvert children, and making decisions, building satisfying relationships

Each chapter includes an introversion-related quote - here’s one I really like:

They mean well but they are so social they are nearly hive-minded. They cannot understand that one might wish to be without company.

Wintermoon, in Winds of Change by Mercedes Lackey

It’s only 85 pages, including the Appendix, so it’s a quick and easy read.