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Introverts and Entrepreneurship: Is This a Good Fit?
Many of us are surprised to find later in life that we are introverts. This is particularly confusing for those who are outgoing and socially skilled. Some of the greatest leaders and contributors to society have been identified as introverts, including Bill Gates, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, Michael Jordan, Al Gore, Rosa Parks, Frederic Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak, Eleanor Roosevelt, and JK Rowling. Let’s take a closer look at the connection between introverts and entrepreneurship.
I did not realize I was an introvert until I was in my forties. How did I miss this all my life? Aren’t introverts the shy, socially awkward people who dislike going out or being among other people?
The terms introversion and extraversion were popularized by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, although both the popular understanding and psychological usage differ from his original intent. He was one of the first people to define introversion and extraversion in a psychological context. In Jung’s Psychological Types, he theorizes that each person falls into one of two categories, the introvert and the extravert. These two psychological types Jung compares to ancient archetypes, Apollo and Dionysus.
The introvert is likened with Apollo, who shines light on understanding. The introvert is focused on the internal world of…
