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The Reluctant Entrepreneur
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 (http://www.moms-home-work.com/), 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 (http://www.ideallives.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 (http://www.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 (http://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 (http://www.assistu.com/), 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 (http://www.wahmpreneur.com/) 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. Sharon Davis is the owner of http://www.2Work-At-Home.Com, http://www.WorkAtHomeArticles.net 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. List of other articles of interest:http://www.2work-at-home.com/freecontent.shtmlSubscribe: http://www.2work-at-home.com/subscribe.shtml This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio. For a text version via autoresponder, send a blank email to reluctant@sendfree.com
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. News Corp. says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Mark Williams, a News Corp. executive named late on Wednesday as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere, has taken over in an interim capacity, a News Corp. spokeswoman said on Thursday. Site: news - Google News Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld - San Francisco Chronicle
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for entrepreneurialism Lone Star Library: Green Mountain founder shares entrepreneurial insights (Fort Worth Business Press) Rural Southerner Sam Wyly came by his self-made captain-of-industry status the hard way, developing a passion for business strategy by playing schoolboy football and observing his parents? natural gift for small-business operations and hard-bargain bartering. S.C.'s brightest complete Business Week (Columbia Star) Approximately 200 high school students from across S.C. have successfully graduated from South Carolina Business Week, presented by the South Carolina Cable Television Association, July 13- 18, at Presbyterian College in Clinton. Wellington West opens Montreal branch (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance) Wellington West Holdings Inc., a privately held, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced the expansion of its national network with the opening of a Wellington West Capital Inc. full-service retail investment branch in Montreal, Quebec. Ctek Selects Kyocera 300 Module for Z4100 Wireless Router (Centre Daily Times) Kyocera Wireless Corp. (KWC), a leading global manufacturer of wireless handsets, devices and embedded machine-to-machine (M2M) modules, and Ctek, a leading manufacturer of specialized communications solutions for industrial and commercial applications, today announced the selection of the Kyocera 300 Module for Ctek's cost-effective Z4100 Router. The Kyocera 300 Module enables reliable, ... Memphis confident of growth campaign (Memphis Commercial Appeal) One year after the launch of a $64 million economic development campaign, city officials are increasingly optimistic about the impact of MemphisED on the Bluff City. Summer break project: JTCC student lives, learns nonprofit leadership with Pheonix Project (The Petersburg Progress-Index) CHESTER ? Jamie Poniatowski, a Class of 2008 human services major, spent her summer break in Petersburg, participating in the Phoenix Project?s 2008 Nonprofit Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Program, which transforms committed undergraduate and graduate students into effective social entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and connections to succeed in Virginia?s nonprofit sector. Ctek Selects Kyocera 300 Module for Z4100 Wireless Router (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) SAN DIEGO & RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif.----Kyocera Wireless Corp. , a leading global manufacturer of wireless handsets, devices and embedded machine-to-machine modules, and Ctek, a leading manufacturer of specialized communications solutions for industrial and commercial applications, today announced the selection of the Kyocera 300 Module for Ctek?s cost-effective Z4100 Router. $1 Million Opus Prize Finalists Announced (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Seattle University and the Opus Prize Foundation today announced three finalists for the $1 million 2008 Opus Prize, one of the world's largest humanitarian service awards. Guided by faith and an entrepreneurial spirit, Marguerite "Maggy" Barankitse, Krishnammal Jagannathan and Michael Woodard are working throughout the world to give people the tools to transform their lives. Scotiabank Online Small Business Contest Last Call (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance) The chance for Canadian small business owners to win $50,000 in cash prizes is coming to a close. As part of Scotiabank's 'Get Growing to a Million' Campaign, the online challenge has offered small business owners across Canada a chance to win one grand prize of $20,000 and six regional prizes of $5,000. In cinemas this weekend (Guardian Unlimited) RocknRolla | The Duchess | Bangkok Dangerous | Disaster Movie | Sweete Land | El Cantante | Never Apologise | Mera Pind My Home Site: entrepreneurialism - Google News Ohio House Speaker Budish touts regionalism in his first address - WKYC-TV
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