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Ask HN: How do “introverted” entrepreneurs build a network?

by nonkool on 7/31/15, 9:57 AM with 22 comments

• by kom107 on 7/31/15, 11:37 AM

  I think that an introverted network would actually be more of an asset than an extrovert's network (and FTR, I'm a total extrovert...which took years of work to get to). Hear me out:

  When you're an introvert, you tend to be much more cautious about the connections that you make with people and to cultivate them more. Sure, I have a bajillion people to reach out to and socialize with, but if shit hit the fan, it's a much smaller number. I would think that as an introvert, almost everyone in that network would be willing to jump for you.

  Don't think of it as networking. You're just attending an event where everyone wants to talk with you. Go up to any random stranger, and ask them what they're working on that they're excited about, or if they've done something interesting lately. Just try to get to know people. When I socialize, I just think about getting to know someone, versus that I'm socializing, or networking. I just want to know about them. Also, don't be dismissive--even if someone is not in your space, you never know who they know, and you might have just met your new best friend. Be kind to everyone. I have Starbucks barista's and Fortune 500 execs on my LinkedIn--and I'm happy to help all of them.

  TL;DR: look at it as meeting a bunch of new friends who already want to meet you, stay connected, and help them when you can.

  Have fun!

• by ruraljuror on 7/31/15, 2:44 PM

  At risk of being pedantic I would clarify that being an introvert has nothing to do with your skills at being social. The reason I bring this up is because once you put the proper name on something (i.e. identify it) then it is easier to work on.

  Going out to events and striking up conversations probably have more to do with problems of finding the right kinds of events, overcoming shyness, anxiety, public speaking, etc.

  There is a podcast I learned about from HN called the Art of Charm. They handle some basic things like how to strike up conversations and such. Might be worth a listen.

• by meeper16 on 7/31/15, 4:18 PM

  Create, build, innovate, invent something spectacular that does not exists or that no one has really come close to perfecting.

  To create, in part, requires an extreme level of introspection, going dark or time in the Lab, something that introverts are quite good at.

  Let your works speak for themselves. This is what I have found to be the most powerful networking move an introvert can make.

  This is also something that sales, marketing, branding and some investor types will never understand.

  This is also something that the Google guys understood very well and they seem to be fairly well networked these days.

• by KhalPanda on 7/31/15, 10:06 AM

  Something I've been trying to tackle for myself recently.

  I've been browsing some meets on meetup.com and intend on going to a few. Many people have reassured me that whilst I'm the introverted type and events like this make me somewhat anxious... a lot of people are the same. I'd say that in the tech/dev world, more people have some kind of social awkwardness than not. The people that immeditately gel and befriend everyone aren't common. Maybe I'm wrong. shrug

  I've been making friends on interpals.net - I originally signed up looking to do a bit of a language exchange, but ended up talking to a bunch of people.

  After that, I feel like I'm on a bit of a roll and it's just a case of continuing. It's quite refreshing to know I can make friends, it's almost becoming enjoyable. :)

  - What's the worst that could happen?

  - Take an interest in other people, ask them what they're working on, etc.

  - You won't be the most introverted person at x event.

  Good luck. :)

• by introv-preneur on 7/31/15, 1:48 PM

  I wrote this blog post about Networking for Introverts a few months back: http://introverted-entrepreneur.com/networking-for-introvert.... I hope it is useful to you.

• by ErikRogneby on 7/31/15, 10:18 PM

  Github is a network. Network through shared engineering interests, mutual admiration and meritocracy. Pull requests can be surprisingly social.

  Are you looking for a geographically relevant network? Or will distributed and virtual suffice?

• by err4nt on 7/31/15, 12:51 PM

  Reach out to people in writing first if it makes speaking to them in person easier when you see them!

  As an introvert I bask in the comfort of non-realtime communication and the chance to compose and edit my thoughts. I suspect there are others like me too!

• by alain94040 on 7/31/15, 3:09 PM

  Maybe there are apps for that. Seriously, colunchers.com sets up lunches with 4 people for a reason: so that introverted get a chance too.

• by wiseleo on 7/31/15, 7:36 PM

  By email on relevant mailing lists and forums.