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Need some directions on starting my journey

Anything related to matters of the mind

karnn

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How do you deal with starting businesses when you are an introvert? I dread meeting people and right now I am in a job where I can pretty much do anything I want. I work on my own in my office, but it's not a permanent position. I am a post-doc and my team is located somewhere else in the country. I have been using this time to do my research (in a math-related topic). I have used this time to pick up web-site building skills and improve my programming (which was a main problem for job search for me). I was previously employed in the telecom sector writing and deploying algorithms for mobile devices. Since reading Millionaire fastlane , I have been thinking of ideas to start a business. I (with my partner), we came up with this idea for a website that would be useful for schools (he's a teacher). But we need to do a lot of research into other schools and getting in touch with them to get the relevant info. It is sort of a directory site. It's a long-term project and we're still working out the monetizing part.

Since I have some experience in machine learning, I have been thinking of ideas in that sector. But anything I think of, there is some fancy start-up already doing it. And I am not into this whole start-up and VC thing. I want to do something on my own, building it from scratch. I have two years to do it, before I go into the red.

I would be grateful if someone can share some motivating story for someone like me starting from scratch.
 
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Megan Kay

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I scored 96% introvert on my last "personality test." :D If I'm understanding your post correctly, it seems as though you could probably initiate those contacts via email or phone. Would it be necessary to meet in person?

I'm not a fan of public speaking, but I'm not a fan of being stuck in a rut because of my own personal limitation, either, so to get past it, I just force myself to do it. It's just like any other skill that you start out not so good at but build with practice. Small groups help to start with.

If you're looking more for specific ideas, what about mobile apps? Since you already have experience in the mobile world, that might be a good fit and apps are pretty introvert friendly. Maybe a math app? I buy educational apps for my kids. Anything useful you can market to kids is a good bet, in my experience. Parents are much less reluctant to buy things for their kids than for themselves.
 

GregDott

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How do you deal with starting businesses when you are an introvert? I dread meeting people and right now I am in a job where I can pretty much do anything I want. I work on my own in my office, but it's not a permanent position. I am a post-doc and my team is located somewhere else in the country. I have been using this time to do my research (in a math-related topic). I have used this time to pick up web-site building skills and improve my programming (which was a main problem for job search for me). I was previously employed in the telecom sector writing and deploying algorithms for mobile devices. Since reading Millionaire fastlane , I have been thinking of ideas to start a business. I (with my partner), we came up with this idea for a website that would be useful for schools (he's a teacher). But we need to do a lot of research into other schools and getting in touch with them to get the relevant info. It is sort of a directory site. It's a long-term project and we're still working out the monetizing part.

Since I have some experience in machine learning, I have been thinking of ideas in that sector. But anything I think of, there is some fancy start-up already doing it. And I am not into this whole start-up and VC thing. I want to do something on my own, building it from scratch. I have two years to do it, before I go into the red.

I would be grateful if someone can share some motivating story for someone like me starting from scratch.
I'm an introvert as well. Don't treat it like a bad thing. Just also realise that sometimes our complexes like to masquerade as introversion, when in fact there is something deeper holding us back.

Treat this as a challenge. Treat it as an opportunity to grow. To expand the boundaries of your comfort zone and to get past what holds you back.
 

karnn

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Jul 23, 2018
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I scored 96% introvert on my last "personality test." :D If I'm understanding your post correctly, it seems as though you could probably initiate those contacts via email or phone. Would it be necessary to meet in person?

I'm not a fan of public speaking, but I'm not a fan of being stuck in a rut because of my own personal limitation, either, so to get past it, I just force myself to do it. It's just like any other skill that you start out not so good at but build with practice. Small groups help to start with.

If you're looking more for specific ideas, what about mobile apps? Since you already have experience in the mobile world, that might be a good fit and apps are pretty introvert friendly. Maybe a math app? I buy educational apps for my kids. Anything useful you can market to kids is a good bet, in my experience. Parents are much less reluctant to buy things for their kids than for themselves.


Hi Megan, Thank you for your reply. Mobile Apps are a great idea! Thank you. You are right. I should not treat it as a handicap, rather try to somehow manage it and force myself. I have to do public speaking at conferences and stuff, but I kind of freeze up and give a very standard talk with minimal personality if you know what I mean
 
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Paladin

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You have to adjust your mindset. 10% of people are deep introverts. The same percentage of people are left-handed. But you never see people saying that they can't become tailors because the scissors are all backward!

I'm an introvert like many entrepreneurs. I run a hostel and basically never talk to my guests. If I can run a business where strangers are in my house all the time, anything is possible.

Look for ways you can leverage your strengths.

Find the limit of your comfort. Are you comfortable posting on a blog? Writing books?

How about your voice? Can you record a podcast?

Can you do video? Live video?

Once you have a clearly defined limit on your comfort, you know the area where you want to build a business.

My primary business model is simple. I buy ads on Amazon to sell my books which leads people into my funnel of products and courses. I no longer work with affiliates or need to shake hands to get my products promoted. You can build any business around your strengths and weaknesses.

Just see your ability to focus and work without distraction as the MASSIVE advantage that it is!
 

karnn

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Jul 23, 2018
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You have to adjust your mindset. 10% of people are deep introverts. The same percentage of people are left-handed. But you never see people saying that they can't become tailors because the scissors are all backward!

I'm an introvert like many entrepreneurs. I run a hostel and basically never talk to my guests. If I can run a business where strangers are in my house all the time, anything is possible.

Look for ways you can leverage your strengths.

Find the limit of your comfort. Are you comfortable posting on a blog? Writing books?

How about your voice? Can you record a podcast?

Can you do video? Live video?

Once you have a clearly defined limit on your comfort, you know the area where you want to build a business.

My primary business model is simple. I buy ads on Amazon to sell my books which leads people into my funnel of products and courses. I no longer work with affiliates or need to shake hands to get my products promoted. You can build any business around your strengths and weaknesses.

Just see your ability to focus and work without distraction as the MASSIVE advantage that it is!
Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I am (reasonably) good at writing and stuff related to my field like math and engineering and programming. But I am not comfortable with video. I could try podcasting although I doubt I'd be good at it. But I didn't know you could make money from podcasting. Unless by doing promotions, although for that you would need a huge listener-base.
 

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