For decades as a youth and young adult, I felt a bit like a stranger in a strange land and seemed to be walking a solitary path through life. I just didn’t seem to fit in most social situations. It was not until I was introduced to temperament types in Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types – January 1, 1984 by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates that I found out why and it changed my life. I became aware that not only was I an Introvert, but an INFP temperament type (only about 1.5 % of the population). No wonder I felt different and was drained by extended time in many social gatherings or trying to adapt to the expected Extrovert role that most situations obligate.
Get to know and talk to most Introverts and they will share similar feelings, or experiences, or have had others expect them to adapt to primarily Extroverted surroundings since Extroversion is the dominant social behavior coerced in most social roles, at least in the Western world.
So, what’s an Introvert to do? Change, adapt, and convert? Hell No! There is no need to. I can speak from experience, it is not only a huge drain of energy at all levels: physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, it does not honor who we are or foster authenticity.
When I learned that Introversion is not a choice and is a biological difference in brain processing that has nothing to do with being shy, withdrawn, or aloof, and there is no need to change who I am, it was transformational and empowering. Introversion is something to be valued and leveraged. You are “Amazing Introverts”!
The list of successful and admired Introverts would shock most Extroverts. They include Mark Zuckerburg, Larry Page, Marissa Mayer, Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Guy Kawasaki, Richard Branson, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Steve Wozniak, J.K. Rowling, and Bill Gates to name a few.
This website was created to inspire, nurture, and motivate fellow Introverts to be authentic, honor who they are, provide lots of cool resources for introverts, as well as an on-line community, coaching, resources, and eventually a store with Introvert related products/services.
If it informs a few Extroverts along the way, Woo Hoo! As many Introverts know, a lot of Extroverts, just don’t get us.
I welcome any and all input from both sides of the Introversion/Extroversion scale and in between. Any and all ideas and insights on how to serve the Introvert community are welcome. The Contact Us form can be used to reach us.
Site Founder and Administrator,
Keith Engelhardt
Sawatch Solutions LLC
