Ep 204 - Happy World Introvert Day 2025!

Ever wondered what unique strengths you possess as an introvert? In this special episode of The Quiet and Strong Podcast, host David Hall celebrates World Introvert Day by exploring the extraordinary traits that make introverts shine. Join David as he sheds light on the misconceptions about introversion, the importance of self-awareness, and how to leverage your introverted strengths for success in life and business.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• Understanding the true definition of introversion and debunking common myths.
• Discovering the powerful gifts introverts have, such as deep thinking, problem-solving, and keen observation.
• Learning practical strategies to set goals, build meaningful relationships, and achieve success using your introverted strengths.
• Celebrating the value of introverts in various spheres, including leadership, creativity, and innovation.

Why should you listen? This episode is not just a celebration but a guide to embracing your introverted identity and using it to your advantage. Whether you're looking to gain confidence, plan your year, or simply appreciate the unique qualities you bring to the table, this episode has something for every introvert.

Tune in, celebrate your strengths, and be strong.

Episode Link: QuietandStrong.com/204

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David Hall

Author, Speaker, Educator, Podcaster

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david [at] quietandstrong.com

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Transcript

David Hall [00:00:08]:
Hello, and welcome to episode 204 of the Quiet and Strong podcast, especially for introverts. I'm your host, David Hall. I'm the creator of quiet and strong dot com. This is a weekly podcast dedicated to understanding the strengths and needs of introverts along with strategies for success. Introversion is not something to fix, but to be embraced. Normally, we'll learn each episode on a Monday. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform. Leave a review or a rating.

David Hall [00:00:34]:
That would mean a lot to me and also help others find the show. Tell a friend about the podcast and help get the word out there that introversion is a beautiful thing. So happy World Introvert Day. World Introvert Day is January 2nd every year. Let's celebrate the unique qualities of introverts and foster a deep understanding and appreciation of what it means to be an introvert. And introversion has long been misunderstood. That's why I'm doing this show. It often has a negative connotation, which is so unfortunate.

David Hall [00:01:08]:
I talk with so many people that are probably introverts but don't understand introversion. Many people say something like, I need some time alone to do things and recharge, but I like people, so I can't be an introvert. And my response is, Yeah. Me too. I like people. But liking people doesn't make you an extrovert. I've also talked to so many people that say they're an introvert, but it causes them pain. They haven't learned to fully embrace it yet.

David Hall [00:01:37]:
I could tell you so many stories of highly successful people where their introversion still brings them some pain. On the other hand, myself and so many guests and so many others at one time felt like something was wrong with them, that they've learned to embrace introversion with wonderful results. So what's the answer here? You know, it starts with self awareness. What's your personality type? What gifts and strengths come to you very naturally? And with gifts and strengths come certain needs. Do you know your needs as an introvert? And as an introvert, your strategies for success may look different than the strategies of your extroverted friend or colleague. And life doesn't have a one size fits all path to success. So self awareness of your strengths and gifts along with your needs can enable you to create your path and your strategies to success. So as an introvert, the Quiet and Strong podcast can help you with self awareness in developing your path.

David Hall [00:02:36]:
We have had many great guests, also them introverts. Some are introvert experts. Some are introverts that have learned to lean into their introverted gifts and have been successful in some area of life or business. We've let on a few extroverts as well, but I do make sure that the extroverts we have on have a solid and correct understanding of introverts. Sometimes we may talk about success and not introversion. But having an introverted host as a guide, we make sure that the strategies that the guest is talking about or recommending are not only for extroverts. So let's do a review of deafen of my definition of introversion. Introverts are deep thinkers or deep feelers that turn to their rich inner world of ideas more often than not.

David Hall [00:03:28]:
Extroverts are more focused on the outer world and what's going on around them more often than not. Neither is good or bad, just different. Introverts generally think and then speak, and not in a self censoring way, dismeaning that we process our thoughts internally before sharing them. Extroverts generally speak in order to think or think out loud most of the time. You'll see that I don't talk in absolutes but in generalities. Because everyone thinks and everyone pays attention to what's going on around them. It's just what's the normal. You know? Are you normally going into your inner world of ideas? Are you normally paying more attention to what's going on around you? As deep thinkers, we do our best with preparation for meetings, events, speeches, and certain conversations.

David Hall [00:04:22]:
We also need some time alone. You know, some definitions of introvert say that what makes us different is that we get our energy from being alone and get drained by people. Of course, there's some truth in there in that definition, but I find this definition very lacking. I say we're not drained by all people, but rather by certain people and situations. And knowing these certain situations and people allows us to plan for some recharge that works for us. And the definition also discounts the great gifts we have as introverts. If it's only about our energy, what about our gifts? We need time for our gifts too. So in addition to time for recharge, we may need some alone time or recreation, time to think, time to plan, time to focus, time to prepare, time to dream, time to use that rich imagination that we have.

David Hall [00:05:16]:
And we all need connection, And introverts like people. We just may prefer 1 on 1 or smaller groups. We wanna get into deeper conversations with more limited small talk. So introverts have a variety of strengths that are unique and valuable. Lots to celebrate on World Introvert Day. Here's just a few of them. So we're deep thinkers. Introverts are often excellent problem solvers, able to look at complex issues, see all the details, and come up with brilliant solutions.

David Hall [00:05:49]:
We have great analytical skills. We tend to ask insightful questions like, why did that happen? Or what will happen in the future? And we can anticipate future needs. We have keen observation skills. Introverts can spot patterns in information and work through complex situations. We're thoughtful. We have thoughtfulness. We're skilled at asking relevant questions and coming up with amazing insights. And another superpower we have is we're reflective thinkers.

David Hall [00:06:18]:
Introverts enjoy thinking through the mysteries of the universe and often engage in lots of reading, researching, and collecting information, making introverts valuable experts in particular areas. And the list goes on and on. Think about, you know, are those your gifts and strengths? What do we leave out for you? What other gifts and strengths do you have? So celebrate your gifts this World Introvert Day. And, you know, the ones I just mentioned, they are common, but there are so many more. And a myth that we regularly bust on this show is that all introverts aren't exactly alike. We have some things in common with our deep thinking or and or deep feeling abilities, but we have unique gifts as well. And another myth that we regularly bust is that introversion equals shyness. Shyness is a lack of confidence that both introverts and extroverts can experience.

David Hall [00:07:18]:
The good news is that shyness can largely be overcome and confidence gained. There could be many causes of shyness, but for me and many others, understanding introversion and your gifts as an introvert can help you to overcome shyness and give you confidence. Understanding the strengths and needs we just talked about can do that for you too. So as we're celebrating and thinking about the new year, it's important to think about what is your why. And this is often a good time to get clear. What do you want? Because I'll tell you that you can get whatever you want as an introvert, but you likely will need to take some introvert approaches to success. Introverts excel at introspection, so use it to your advantage. Take some time to reflect and clearly define your goals, whether it's a career move, a personal project, building relationships.

David Hall [00:08:22]:
Clarity is key. Set some goals with your introverted strengths and needs in mind. And, again, the key question is, what do you want? And then use your introverted superpower of reflection to determine how to get what you want by leaning into your introversion this year. So here's a few thoughts as you're making your goals. This definitely isn't a comprehensive list. Just a couple of things to think about. Leverage 1 on 1 interactions. You know, networking events or large group settings may not be your thing.

David Hall [00:08:53]:
Introverts thrive in 1 on 1 and small group conversations. Use this this year to build meaningful relationships that can help you achieve your goals. Prepare and plan ahead. One of the superpowers of introverts is preparation. Whether it's a big meeting, a pitch, a negotiation, take time to research, rehearse, organize your thoughts. This can help you show up with confidence. You might create a mental script or a physical script for important conversations, including including key points you wanna cover and potential responses to questions. You may also create some questions you wanna ask.

David Hall [00:09:33]:
And, generally, our gift is preparation. We don't have a gift, generally, of thinking on the spot, especially for new information. We can do well thinking on the spot with with things that we know really well. Use your listening and observation skills. Listening is an underrated but powerful tool. By truly understanding what others want or need, you can position yourself as someone who can deliver value. This opens doors and builds trust. And remember this year to set boundaries and plan for your recharge and your time alone.

David Hall [00:10:09]:
To achieve your goals, you need energy and focus. Protect your time and create space to recharge and do your work, whether it's through alone time, mindfulness practices, or your favorite hobby. And it's okay to say no to things that drain you and don't align with your goals. And remember, you can't do everything. So really prioritize, okay, this year, here's what I wanna do, and here's how I'm gonna use my gifts to achieve those goals. And, you know, reflection should definitely happen more than just once a year. Regularly take some time alone and think deeply about your goals and your strategies. Listen to podcasts like this one, read great books, and continue to refine and put new practices into place.

David Hall [00:10:59]:
How often do you do this? Maybe it's once a month or every quarter or maybe more frequently. It's all about what works for you. And as we're celebrating world introvert day, let's also think about how we can work together to overcome any negative connotations that still exist around introversion. It starts with education and reframing societal perceptions. So here's some things to think about. Highlight strengths. Showcate the valuable traits of introverts, such as deep thinking, creativity, empathy, the ability to form meaningful connections. Celebrate examples of successful introverted leaders, artists, innovators who have positively who have positively impacted the world.

David Hall [00:11:48]:
And we gotta challenge misconceptions. Educate others when you can that introversion is not synonymous with shyness or antisocial behavior. You know, explain to others that introverts introversion is about a balance of needed time alone and social time. Introverts like and need people but may prefer different types of events and interactions. We like to go deep in conversation, and we don't like to stay in the shallow for too long. Advocate for environments that support both extroverted and introverted working and social styles. We need introverts and extroverts, and we need to understand the differences. And promote the idea that introversion and extroversion are complementary strengths and continue.

David Hall [00:12:36]:
Foster foster self acceptance. Empower introverts to embrace the natural tendencies and assert their needs confidently. When introverts feel proud of their identity, they can help shift societal attitudes. Keep that in mind for yourself. Be proud of who you are. Be be proud of your gifts and strengths, and amplify introverted voices wherever you can in media, literature, leadership roles to provide role models and normalize diverse personality types. And if this podcast is resonating with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to subscribe.

David Hall [00:13:18]:
Leave a review or rating. Help me help more people find the show. Let's work together to promote correct understanding of introversion and extroversion and bust those long held myths. Share your own strategies and success stories with me on social media or at david{at}quietandstrong.com. You can find me on Instagram, x, Facebook, LinkedIn. I could share posts and comment and share your ideas. So happy World Introvert Day. How will you celebrate? And thanks so much for joining me.

David Hall [00:13:53]:
I appreciate you. I hope you take the time to explore other episodes and learn from amazing guests. And remember, if you're interested in getting to know yourself better, there's now a free type finder personality assessment on the Quiet and Strong website. This free assessment will give you a brief report, including the 4 letter Myers Briggs code, and I will add a link to in the show notes. Again, I'd love to connect with you. Reach out at david@quietstrong.com, or check out the quiet and strong.com website. Send me topics or guests you would like to see on the show. There's so many great things about being an introvert, and so we need those to be understood.

David Hall [00:14:32]:
Get to know your introverted strengths and needs and be strong.