Posts like this usually start with a story of the author’s experiences of being an outsider. There is a defining hardship, or an identity that sets them on the margins. I can’t start out that way. I’m a cis hetero white married able-bodied upper-middle-class college-educated Christian female in America.

What could I possibly know about being “the other”?

As it turns out, I am “the other” to someone. So are you. Our tribal minds are quick to place people into categories… neat little boxes that put a label on someone, tell us if they are safe or not, and we…

It seems that every time a social media platform — whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, whatever — makes a change, users throw a fit. “I don’t like this! Put it back the way it was!” is the prevailing cry, often expressed in more colorful terms. There are times the outrage is loud enough that the platform yields to backlash. But most often, we go from wallop to whimper as we click our way to inevitable acceptance.

We often speak of these changes as if they are being done to us. We imagine techie millennials in a low-lit room, soaking in…

I’m about to say something that’s not said very much right now.

I have hope. Lots of it.

My normally optimistic nature was crushed — practically pulverized — on November 8, 2016. And to echo what many others have said: it wasn’t because the candidate I supported lost. It’s because fear won. While some of my friends moved immediately to anger and action, I stayed in shock for a while. I was awash in sadness and grief for longer than I care to share.

Since then, after a long break from the news and social media, I’ve started to find…

Does that seem like a contradiction?

“Visibility” and “Introverts”?

It’s not. Being in the spotlight might not come intuitively or easily for an introvert, but that doesn’t mean that some introverts don’t crave it, desire it, or even require it in order to live into their purpose.

In many ways, it’s easier for an introvert to be in the spotlight than to be part of the crowd.

(I’ve heard this from clients and colleagues over and over again, and I’ve experienced it myself.)

By “visibility,” I don’t mean paparazzi outside your door or people tracking you down for an autograph…

The following is an excerpt from the introduction of my new book, “The Introvert Entrepreneur: Amplify Your Strengths and Create Success on Your Own Terms,” coming from Penguin Random House/Perigee Books on Nov 3, 2015 .

You are a walking contradiction.

On the one hand, you are an introvert. You tend to prefer ample alone time. You appreciate blocks of uninterrupted time so you can focus. You enjoy going deep rather than broad in whatever catches your fancy.

On the other hand, you are an entrepreneur. You are required to interact with employees, partners, clients, and customers on a regular basis. You must be accessible…