How Being an Introvert Hurt My Business

As an introverted entrepreneur, I find it difficult to put myself out there. In "people situations", especially in person at conferences or events, I can get in my own way, overthink things, and I usually end up retreating and regretting it later.

Being an introvert is neither good nor bad – there are pros and cons to both being an introverted entrepreneur and an extroverted one – but in this video I share a specific moment where being an introvert got in my way and let me down.

On the other hand, as an introvert, I do find there are advantages as well, like my ability to better focus on tasks I need to focus on and not get as distracted. My ability to, when I do find someone I can connect with, get really deep with that person and empathize with them. It also helps me understand what you may be going through too – and if you're struggling with being an introvert, don't worry:

Success in business, and in life, is not about trying to be like someone else. It's all about knowing who you are, and using your best traits and superpowers to help and serve others.

Also, watch this new video where Tim Ferriss gives me one single question that absolutely changes my life:

Note: After publishing this video, I realized that there are a couple "second rule" type books that mention a strategy similar to the one I present in this video. I don't take ownership of these strategies or claim to have created them, I just simply shared just what I do. Here are the books I recommend you check out:

-"The 5-Second Rule" by Mel Robbins
-"The Game" by Neil Strauss

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The Smart Passive Income Podcast:

AskPat (these are real life business coaching calls):

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16 Responses to How Being an Introvert Hurt My Business

  1. Úna-Minh Kavanagh July 19, 2021 at 11:16 pm #

    Pat – you have no idea how much this video meant to me. I’m a fellow introverted entrepreneur and have learned so much from your videos and also from being an introvert out in the open. The more I’ve challenged my introvertness amongst people the more satisfying my work has become. Thank you Pat for your time and wisdom.

    • Pat Flynn July 19, 2021 at 11:21 pm #

      Thank you Úna-Minh, I appreciate you for saying that! We all have superpowers we can utilize to help others for good! I’m glad the video resonated with you. Here’s to you!

  2. Little House On Purpose July 19, 2021 at 11:25 pm #

    I felt every part of that story so hard. Thank you for sharing, introverts unite.

  3. Plant Powered Muscle July 19, 2021 at 11:26 pm #

    I’m literally the same way! I’m wanting to better myself with putting me out there. It definitely has held my business ideas. I needed this!

  4. Dan Scalco July 20, 2021 at 12:15 am #

    Hit the nail on the head with this one. Reminded me of when I was a kid — my friends and I went to swim in an old marble quarry. We hiked up the side to jump off it. I knew if I thought about it I wouldn’t jump in so instead I didn’t even think. As soon as we got up to the top, I ran off and jumped lol.

  5. Ray Edwards July 20, 2021 at 12:43 am #

    Wow, Pat. This hit me right in the gut. There are 3 people I made the same mistake with. In each case it turned out to be irreversible because they subsequently passed away. Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, and Gary Halbert. What a painful lesson to learn – THREE TIMES. Guess I’m a slow learner. Now my self-prescribed rule is ALWAYS: go meet the person. No matter what. Because in my case I know what the worst case scenario REALLY is. It isn’t that I might embarrass my self or might be rejected It is rather that I might allow that person to die before I’VE had a chance to express my gratitude for the positive impact their work has had for me. That is truly sad!

  6. Plan with Teresa July 20, 2021 at 1:56 am #

    Hey Pat! We met years ago at Podcast Movement in Chicago and I was super scared, but I’m so happy to this day that I caught you buying something in the shop at the hotel!! It was the highlight of the whole trip. Thanks for continuing to provide value and support ❤️ Great Scott!

  7. JUST SAMSON July 20, 2021 at 2:00 am #

    great stories from a great person. You rock dude.

  8. Peter Moray July 20, 2021 at 2:03 am #

    This really resonated with me. In addition to my full-time job, I am also a semi-pro musician, an electric bass guitar player. One day on my lunch break, I walked past one of the most famous electric bass guitar players in the world (although he was not one of the most famous bass guitarists in the world yet, I knew who he was and suspected that he would be one of the best bass guitarists in the world one day, and I was right), but I talked myself out of introducing myself. His name is Marcus Miller and he knew my mentor at the time. I had a ton of reasons, “Maybe he is on his way to a recording session with Miles Davis” or something like that. Anyway, I lost the opportunity and I still kick myself to this day, because from everything I have heard, he is a really cool guy who would have taken time to talk to me if I had just had the courage to say, “Hi.”

  9. PlanAgainJen July 20, 2021 at 3:04 am #

    I love all the crazy stories you created in your head. I have totally done this myself. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone.

  10. Spanish and Go July 20, 2021 at 5:36 am #

    I totally used your 5 second rule on you when we met at VidCon and I’m glad I did. Thanks for the video and the advice, Pat! -Jim

  11. Matt Peet July 20, 2021 at 5:40 am #

    I’m going to be at podcast movement in a couple weeks. Glad I saw this before I go, Thanks Pat!

  12. Trip Hacks DC July 20, 2021 at 1:38 pm #

    Hey Pat. This is really great advice. I came over and said hello to you at the SwitchPod booth at VidSummit in 2019. Thanks for taking a few moments to chat!

  13. AyoDen July 20, 2021 at 5:43 pm #

    I know all too well what this is like man, just yesterday my extraverted brother and I were talking to someone about entrepreneurship and I was sorta just standing on the sidelines, letting them guide the conversation. I’ve gotten a LOT better at socializing/ being out there over the past 5 months, but I still have a loooong way to go. For instance, I’m still massively uncomfortable with reaching out to other youtubers, and I create these ridiculous worse-case-scenario illusions in my head just like what you did. Knowing that you had the same problem, and that I will one day blossom into a person like you is really inspiring. I’m definitely going to start applying the five second rule today, thank you for all the advice and for being so relatable.

  14. Dawn Ginese-TheSingingNurse July 20, 2021 at 9:34 pm #

    Love the 5 second rule Pat, good advise! Skip the paralysis of analysis!

  15. Old Nerd Reviews July 20, 2021 at 9:57 pm #

    As Introverts go, we are notorious over-thinkers. We tend to get in our own way.

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