The
Reluctant Entrepreneur
Sharon Davis
It seems odd to think of a person opening a shop, knowing that
they're not at all interested in selling or in face-to-face
interaction with customers. But that's exactly what many Internet
business owners have done. And they've done it well.
The Internet has opened doors to a new breed of entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs who don't feel comfortable selling, or who aren't good
at expressing themselves verbally. Many of these people would never
have opened a traditional business, whether due to shyness or being
introverted; it's the anonymity of the Internet that has enabled
them to do what they would otherwise not be able to achieve.
Take Barb Niehaus. Barb is the founder and owner of
Moms@ Home Working, a website dedicated to finding a
balance between work and family. She handles every aspect of her
business from marketing to customer service She's also painfully
shy.
Prior to launching her web-based business, Barb worked at home
for over 13 years. "This was an ideal situation for me as I could
never envision myself in an office setting with a large number of
colleagues. I did own a consignment shop for 5 years but actually
hired sales personnel to handle the customers as I was uncomfortable
with that aspect of the business," she says.
So how does a person who shudders at the thought of selling
something in person run a business from soup to nuts?
"The Internet has definitely enabled me to complete tasks that I
would never have the confidence to complete in a 'real' brick and
mortar business or job," says Niehaus. "A web-based biz is perfect
for me. In everyday business transactions, I have to 'sell' ads to
potential sponsors, network with other online business owners and
correspond with dozens of readers and clients. The beauty part of
the Internet is that I do not have to communicate face-to-face at
all," says Niehaus. "In an email, I can appear brimming with self
confidence that in 'real' life I sorely lack. My business has grown
and thrived despite my shyness."
Lisa Simmons can relate to that. Lisa runs
Ideal Lives.com, a website that offers resources and
ideas for parents & professionals supporting someone with special
needs. Formerly a professional therapist in the human
services/disability field, Lisa agrees that the Internet offers a
comfort zone that allows introverts to shine.
"...it's much easier to be myself when I'm capturing my thoughts
in an article for my site or responding to a visitor's email," says
Simmons. "If I was required to meet each of my visitors face to face
my life would be much more stressful. This way I don't have to have
an instant answer or feel like I'm on the hot-seat."
Through the Internet, Simmons can achieve things that she
couldn't imagine doing in a traditional business setting.
"Public speaking has always given me a case of nerves and the
idea of speaking to thousands of people is very intimidating... yet
that's what I do through Ideal Lives. I'm able to share the tips &
practical resources that I know about with 6000-8000 people every
month."
And Lisa and Barb aren't alone. According to a survey by
California-based Hagberg Consulting Group, nearly 70 percent of
today's CEOs describe themselves as "introverted".
Certainly entrepreneurs are no exception. Says the group's
President, "A lot of entrepreneurs are borderline
extrovert/introvert who can put on a mask and appear to be very
outgoing."
Mike Banks Valentine, of
WebSite101.com knows all about that. "...the web allows
me to be able to toot my own horn when I can't or won't do that in
the 'regular' world. I've been self-employed for over 10 years
because that lifestyle builds and promotes my self confidence like
nothing else. I am a recognized expert in several places online
where in the 'real' world, few people pay attention because I'm
quiet and unassuming, reserved and introverted."
Being introverted can also mean valuable attributes for a
business owner. Introverts tend to be calm, rational and to think
things through before acting.
Susan Carter, an auther and consultant (www.successideas.com)
says, "When I began consulting, it was on a one-to-one basis and I
discovered my quiet demeanor was an advantage. I found a comfort
level being on the *asking side* of an article interview or
conducting individual interviews for business assessment."
Recognizing this in herself, it's no accident that Stacy Brice
created a business that revolves around a "virtual" career. Stacy is
the President and Chief Visionary Officer of
AssistU, an online training and coaching center for
Virtual Assistants.
"Owning a virtual company that provides virtual training,
coaching, support, and referrals allows me to impact the lives of
people I'm not sure I'd be able to touch if I *needed* to do it all
[face-to-face]," says Brice. "I think that my having formalized the
Virtual Assistance profession speaks directly to how I feel about
finding terrific work that allows people to be productive,
efficient, and absolutely introverted!"
The Internet has opened up a whole new world that was previously
out of reach for many people. Introverts can find some traditional
business situations to be exhausting and draining, while for a shy
person these same tasks can be downright terrifying. The extrovert
doesn't have any trouble with what they consider routine- selling,
fundraising, finding new clients, marketing. These can be
insurmountable hurtles for an introvert. With the Internet however,
a shy person can assert themselves because of the added comfort that
anonymity provides.
Dawn Rivers-Baker, Editor of
Wahmpreneur Magazine agrees. "Writing Wahmpreneur News
Magazine involves making a lot of telephone contacts with people,
and some of them can be pretty intimidating just because of what
they do. I guess it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to pick up
the telephone and call the press contact in Senator Tom Daschle's
office, but I'd probably have to talk myself up to it for a week and
a half if I had to do it in person."
According to Niehaus, her success is due to the fact that she can
maintain a distance from her clients. "I can project a persona of a
confident business woman while in reality my knees are knocking
together!"
Some introverts are even surprised to find themselves in
business.
"I didn't set out to create an Internet business - it was a
quirk," Niehaus insists. "After losing my telecommuting job of 13
years due to downsizing, I began frantically searching the net for
other at-home positions. I encountered scam after scam. My
frustrations developed into, 'Hm-m-m, I think I could fill this
obvious need for a legit [work-at-home] site'. I don't think I would
be a business owner if not for the Internet - too overwhelming
drumming up business via networking, meetings, etc."
And according to Simmons, "I can say with total confidence that I
wouldn't be a business owner if it wasn't for the Internet.... I
certainly didn't start this adventure with the confidence to say
'invest in me' I can make this business a financial and commercial
success."
While the Internet can enable many business owners to foray into
areas previously unknown, there can be times when complete anonymity
sacrifices success.
According to Susan Carter, "As I evolved into a book author I
began to get invitations for radio interviews and to speak in front
of groups at seminars and workshops ... I've done one radio
interview (my heart pounding so hard I was sure the listening
audience could hear it) and, to date, have avoided personal speaking
engagements, which I know hurts sales."
Niehaus feels that her shyness has cost her on at least once
occasion. "I turned down several requests from a local newswoman who
wanted to come to my house with her camera crew for an expose` on
Moms@ Home Working," she admits. "The very thought almost paralyzed
me with fear."
Though you may not get to see Barb featured on the 6 o'clock
news, you definitely won't see her in a cubicle, and that's just
fine with her.
These entrepreneurs show us that introverts have a lot to offer
the business world, and the Internet has enabled them to grab a
little spotlight from behind the computer screen.
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Sharon Davis is the owner of
2Work-At-Home.Com and the Editor of the site's monthly
ezine,
America's Home. In her spare time she reminisces about
what it was like to have spare time. To subscribe to her free ezine,
Click Here
