Joan Pastor - Success as an Introvert For Dummies

Success as an Introvert For Dummies

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013949557

ISBN 978-1-118-73837-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-73832-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-73843-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-73866-5 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Introduction

A re you an introvert? If so, I have good news: Its your time to shine!

Yes, youre still living in a world thats geared for extroverts. From cocktail parties to crowded cubicle farms, the universe seems to be designed for social butterflies. But behind the scenes, a quiet power revolution is going on. Introverts are coming into their own, both personally and professionally and in the process, theyre starting to remake the world so it works for them.

Success as an Introvert For Dummies is part of that revolution. In these pages, you discover why introverts are so wonderful and why the world couldnt get along without them. Better yet, I show you how to use your introverted strengths to reach your full potential. And I also tell you how to redesign your professional and personal environments so they empower you to be happy, healthy, and successful.

About This Book

Success as an Introvert For Dummies is all about introverts. (You guessed that, right?) But one thing I want to say right upfront is that although Im a huge fan of introverts, Im a huge fan of extroverts, too.

Why do I mention this? Because Im surprised by the number of books and websites that pit introverts and extroverts against each other, as if one personality type is right and the other is wrong. Thats a big mistake, because the truth is that both introverts and extroverts are terrific. And theyre both more successful when theyre trying to understand and help each other, not when theyre at war with each other.

So Ive written this book to empower both innies (introverts) and the outies (extroverts) who support them. Whether youre an innie or an outie, I hope youll feel welcomed and respected as you read these pages.

By the way, I use the terms innie and outie frequently in these pages. Ive borrowed the terms from psychologist Marti Laney, who deserves a hat tip because I think shes the first person to come up with them.

Foolish Assumptions

As I wrote this book, I tried to imagine who its readers would be and what theyd want to know. And heres what Im assuming about you:

Youre an introvert or you have an introverted partner, relative, or friend who you want to understand better.

Youre more interested in practical advice than in scientific theories. However, youre also a little bit curious about what makes introverts tick.

You lead a busy life, so you want information you can quickly translate into action.

Youre interested both in personal fulfillment and in career advancement. (And heres good news: The information in this book is geared for introverts, but whether youre an introvert or an extrovert, youll find tips that will help you both professionally and personally.)

Icons Used in this Book

To make this book even more useful for you, I include special icons to help you spot ideas and information you may find particularly useful. Heres what each one means.

This icon draws your attention to a piece of advice thats worthy of special attention.

This icon flags important information to keep in mind as you expand your knowledge about introverts.

I use this icon to help you steer clear of mistakes that can cause problems at work or in your personal relationships.

If youre interested in the science behind introversion, keep an eye out for this icon.

Beyond the Book

You got more than you bargained for when you bought this book. You can access bonus material online at www.dummies.com :

You can download the book's Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/successasanintrovert . It's a handy resource to keep on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

You can read interesting companion articles that supplement the book's content at