Ask the Author: Beth Buelow
Answered Questions (4)
Beth Buelow
When I started my business, I felt frustrated that most of the resources seemed to be very extrovert oriented. I don't know that I had those words for it at the time; I only knew that much of the advice and information wasn't quite hitting the mark for me. Through working with clients and talking with colleagues, I figured out what was missing: a resource for introverts who have the drive and commitment to succeed, and who want to do so on their own terms. They want to work with their natural strengths, rather than feeling like those very strengths are liabilities. That's what "The Introvert Entrepreneur" is all about: creating a sustainable, energetically aligned business. It's about setting introverts up for entrepreneurial success.
Beth Buelow
Inspiration comes from lots of places, including other books and writers, podcast interviews I do, quotes I hear, events I attend. The most powerful sources, though, are my coaching clients. Through our conversations, I learn so much about the human condition, what makes or breaks an entrepreneur, how strong and determined introvert entrepreneurs can be, and entirely new ways of thinking about old problems. They inspire me everyday, and it's their stories that inspire my writing.
Beth Buelow
Trust your own voice. When you're starting out and finding your voice, there's value in mirroring writing you like. But as you do that, you have to notice what fits and what doesn't. Notice where it flows and where it's work. And then as your voice emerges, keep listening to it and letting it grow. It was in the process of writing my book that I identified my own voice: business casual, conversational, coach-like, encouraging without being rah-rah. I'm still working to trust that voice... it's easy to read other authors and compare myself: I'm not as serious/lofty/intense/academic/funny/whatever as they are. And that's okay! You might experience a similar dynamic, and maybe what you admire in others tells you something about your own voice. Take what works, and more importantly, be willing to leave what doesn't.
Beth Buelow
It's the way I think best, so I get tremendous satisfaction with finding just the right phrase or sentence to express a thought. While I've heard extroverts say they don't know what they think until they say it out loud, I often don't know what I think until I write it! It's through writing that I "say" things that come from parts unknown... it's how whatever has been simmering and mixing for a while comes together into something new. I love the challenge of constantly trying to improve and being able to see how my expressive abilities have evolved over time.
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