It's Alright to be an Introvert

I love the Myers Briggs test. We have a little bit of an obsession with it here at Brazen Careerist. We often ask potential hires for their Myers Briggs score even before we ask for a resume. So it was only appropriate that we had Rob Toomey of Speed Reading People come to Madison last week for an all-day course on the art of reading personality types.

Rob teaches you how to differentiate between personality types by simply observing or talking with people. You also learn how best to interact with each different type of personality.

The course was amazing. I learned a ton about my particular personality type, my co-workers' personalities and people in general. But the most interesting thing I learned is that I am definitely an introvert. And that's OK.

We live in a culture that encourages and admires extroverted people. My family is no exception; both of my parents are clearly outgoing extroverts. Because of this, since childhood I've felt pressured to be chirpy, social and generally outgoing. Over time I've learned to be all of these things. In college I was the social director for my fraternity, and I've now built a career around communicating with people both through speaking and writing.

But the truth is, no matter how many times I speak in front of a group or go to a networking event, I'm always anxious beforehand, and I'm always completely zapped of energy when it's over. I never understood it, you would think at some point it would just be second nature and the nerves would go away. Now I understand that these feelings probably aren't going to go away because I am an introvert at heart.

The book "The Art of Speed Reading People," says that despite what people may think when they hear extrovert or introvert, the only difference lies in where people get their energy and where they direct their energy.

"Extraverts both get energy from and focus energy toward people and things outside of themselves….Introverts tune their radar to an internal frequency because they are more interested in applying their own perceptions and experience to a situation rather than looking outside of themselves for the answer."

This makes so much sense, and it really explains why an introverted person like me can be social and outgoing. The only difference between me and an extrovert is that I become energized when I spend time alone doing something like jogging, while an extrovert becomes energized when he is with a group of people having a discussion.

This was just a tiny portion of the course, and being an introvert is only ¼ of my entire personality type (if you're curious, I'm an INTJ). But now when I tell someone I'm an introvert and they respond, "no way, you're definitely an extrovert," I can intelligently explain the difference and be proud of the fact that I'm an introvert at heart who happens to enjoy spending time with people.

Go take the test. And whatever you test as, it's probably not going to change. So no matter personality type you are, embrace it and learn how to use it to your advantage so you can effectively interact with anyone.

Get The Rest of Your Life Back—Toss the Tech Tools

As a web entrepreneur, I think about the time I spend in front of a computer constantly. How much is too much? And when should I call it quits to enjoy what I love so much more – real social interaction?

Becoming absorbed by technology is inevitable in most business environments. From the Fortune 500 to local Mom and Pops, everyone is trying to do their work faster and cheaper. And of course, technology is the easy answer.

Unfortunately, overuse of technology has its side effects. Even if you see these effects as minimal, just ignoring them is irresponsible. Here's why.

Health Risks

A couple weeks ago, The New York Times published an article citing recent tragedies related to the overuse of technology. Two bloggers recently passed away. And another blogger, Om Malik, of GigaOM fame, suffered (but survived) a heart attack last December.

There's no proof that these tragedies were in any way directly related to their work, but it really makes me think. What kind of physical toll is an all-day-all-night laptop binge having on my body? As if binge drinking and secondhand smoke at the bar weren't enough.

As someone who interacts with most business connections online, I'm prone to sitting in a chair for way too long. So if you're like me, do yourself a favor and stand up.

I'm not going to be the guy who tells you to go to the gym and turn your life around. Just get up, walk around and get your blood flowing a little bit. It'll make a huge difference.

The Social Aspects of Work

Today I dropped by the post office. I walked in and instead of going up to a clerk at the front desk I was invited by one of the postal agents to try their new automated mailing technology.

A kind old lady showed me how to use the new technology. We joked about the crappy weather here in Madison and then I left with a smile on my face. It was great. But as I left, my mood shifted entirely. This lady was teaching me to interact with her replacement.

Before you get all depressed, I can certainly tell you that this lady was looking forward to her retirement. The point here is that there are these small, valuable things we take for granted, like meeting someone new every day. But when those things are replaced by technology, I can't see the world being a happier place.

Take a moment today and appreciate the people who serve you. Not that this will stop companies from trying to boost productivity, but at least it'll give you a chance to see what I'm talking about.

Our Own Mentality

Take mental health breaks every day. Me, I have my dog. I take him to the park, he runs around, I try to keep up, and then I go back to work. Your mental health break can be anything you want. Try riding a bike or something. I come up with great ideas when I ride my bike.

The idea is to get away from the technology that can make life more artificial, not get more consumed by it. And although surfing the web can be very stimulating, your brain needs balance.

My favorite example of this is doing redesigns on Brazen Careerist. By the end of the night, our minds are so fatigued, eyes completely glazed over, that we don't even speak to each other. I can't even answer a simple question without "Huh?"

Sure, these types of nights are the nature of our business, but only maybe every other week, at the most. Someone who lives this every day likely has some risky mental and physical health. Try something non-techy on a regular basis and get the rest of your life back that you've maybe forgotten about and shouldn't be missing.

8 Tips to Boost Your Image Through Killer Writing

Whether they're right or not, your audience forms impressions of you based on your writing.

Readers assume that if your…

• Writing is sloppy: You don't care about quality.
• Writing is unclear: You can't communicate ideas effectively.
• Writing rambles on: You have no sense of purpose.
• Writing is formatted poorly: You have no sense of design.
• Writing is not tailored to your audience: You don't care about others' needs.
• Writing is too informal: You are immature.
• Writing is unorganized: You can't convey information effectively.

Luckily, writing clearly and effectively is easier than you think. The following 8 tips will significantly enhance your ability to communicate:

1. Decide for whom you're writing.

Put yourself in your audience's shoes: What do they want to find out about you? Make sure you give them what they want. Where do they expect to find what they're looking for? Make sure it's where they expect it to be.

2. Get to the point.

Writing is most effective when it's simple. Your reader doesn't want to follow you down a garden path. Almost anything can be clarified by putting it into fewer words.

3. Keep it skimmable.

Accept the fact that your reader is going to skim-read your content. Not because they don't like you, but because that's how people read text online. They should be able to grasp everything you have to say by reading only the first sentence of every paragraph. Always state your main point before you give reasoning that leads to it.

4. Use short sentences.

Simple writing is the single best way to communicate more effectively. If you were taught that longer sentences convey greater intelligence, you were taught wrong. The less extraneous words you use, the better you communicate.

The amount of time required to process a sentence with n words is n^3. If you cut the length of a sentence in half, it will be 8 times easier to read.

5. Don't sound stuffy.

Only use a Thesaurus for words that express an idea more accurately or more succinctly. If you use one to make yourself appear smarter, you'll end up sounding even less intelligent. Don't try to sound sophisticated or formal either, or you'll come off as stuffy.

6. Play the Devil's advocate.

Is there anything that might be misunderstood? If so, change it so that it can't be.

7. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Fix grammar, spelling and punctuation. Then have two other people go through it for mistakes.

8. Keep formatting simple.

Use bulleted lists to convey information quickly. Use bold headings to help the reader decide which section will tell them what they need to know.

Evaluate right now how much you use these eight points.

How many do you regularly incorporate into your writing? Work them each into your writing process to enhance your ability to effectively communicate and exude a personal brand that stands for quality and clarity.

How to Become a Leader, Even if Your Company Isn't Helping

There's not much opportunity to lead when you're a recent college grad working for a big (or small) company. That's because leadership opportunities typically come only with age and seniority. That makes sense. But the smartest companies know that learning to be a leader is a key desire for most ambitious Millennials, so they create leadership opportunities even for their entry-level workers.

I recently spoke with a woman who was appalled at the fact that her newest 22-year old recruit was interested in what types of leadership opportunities were available at the company. The woman didn't understand what a 22-year old could possibly lead. I thought it was a perfectly acceptable request. But if you're in a company that doesn't have "Gen Y leaders," it's up to you to use everyday situations as your leadership training ground.

Here are four things you can do to practice for your future role as leader of the free world.

Make a decision

I can't tell you how many times I've talked in circles with friends about where we should eat dinner. Typically I will ask someone where they want to go for dinner, then he will respond asking where I want to go, and the conversation will eventually end with no decision made.

But leaders make decisions. They make much more difficult decisions than where to eat dinner. And they often have to make decisions with less than perfect information available. So the next time you're in a conversation where no one will choose, tell the group exactly where you want to go for dinner.

Try new things

I hate trying new things. I hate it until I do it, of course. Before I gave a speech, I hated public speaking– I was terrified. But I also knew that I usually end up enjoying things that I think I hate. So I wrote on my blog bio that "I speak with companies about recruiting and retaining Generation Y."

And when I spoke with my first audience on this subject, I was terrified. But I also had a blast and I learned a ton about people and about myself–because I tried something new. Being comfortable and competent in unfamiliar situations is a sign of true leadership ability. So whenever you have the opportunity to do something new, try it!

Surround yourself with people smarter than you

If you're going to lead any successful company, group or team, you must be able to lead people who are smarter than you. Successful teams are made up of successful people, and successful people are usually pretty smart. So befriend people who you consider smart and successful and make them part of your team.

This doesn't mean you need to take control and "lead" these smart friends to any particular destination. Just interacting with smart people and learning to hold your own in complex or thoughtful conversations is great practice for managing your smart team at your next job as CEO. If you're at the top of an organization there will always be someone you manage who knows more about something than you do, so you must be comfortable in this situation and able to evaluate what they know, even if it's a little over your head.

Embrace alone time

They say it's lonely at the top. I wouldn't know. But for one reason or another I have a feeling "they" are right. Leaders have to make the final decision, and inevitably not everyone will like the decision they made. Leaders must be comfortable being alone.

Also, there is something kind of refreshing about spending time alone. Once you get comfortable with it, you can step back and take an introspective look at your life and your goals and learn a little about yourself. And knowing yourself is the defining characteristic of a good leader, because before you can lead others, you must first figure out who you really are as a person and what type of leader you want to become.

What to Say When You Screw Up (Instead of that Same Old Excuse)

In the business world, knowing how to justify your actions is crucial because you will inadvertently screw things up, sooner or later.

But some people panic and give some utterly stupid excuses for why they acted the way they did. And what entry-level workers usually don't realize is that the same excuse that you tell your friend can not be the same excuse you tell your boss.

Here's what not to say:

Nobody told me I had to do that.

I've heard this one before, and hell, I've said this one before. But I've never known a manager that's listened to this lame justification and was okay with it.

As a professional, you're expected to know the obvious. So when you tell your manager that you didn't know you were supposed to do something, what you're really telling them is "I am an idiot." And you're furthering the stereotype that our generation needs to be coddled in the office.

And sure, there will be situations where knowing you had to do something won't be so obvious. But if you run into this situation, don't say that you didn't know. Just apologize, and say it will never happen again.

A good manager understands that new employees are fallible. So take accountability. You'll likely be perceived as someone who learns from their mistakes.

I got caught up with something else.

This one will sometimes work, as long as your manager really needs that something else. But if you use it without a good reason, forget about earning trust.

I knew a guy who would always use this excuse. Every time he had a deadline, he would defend his tardiness with his workload on another project. Managers started to give him less work. Imagine his surprise when he was only allowed to run one project at a time.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from young workers is a lack of substance in their work. If you're one of these people, don't even think about using this excuse. It will make your hunt for more meaningful work next to impossible.

If you're really having a hard time meeting deadlines, set up a meeting with your boss and ask them to a help assess your priorities. This approach will show that you're doing your best to deliver. And it's a lot better than whining about too much work.

My cell phone died. Or some other piece of tech.

Since technology is not always reliable, people are prone to using it as a legit excuse. But it's not. A good worker finds ways to get things done even when their equipment is out of whack.

Blaming technology for something you know you did wrong yourself is like blaming your dog when you fart. Sure, some of the time you'll get away with it, but for the most part everyone knows you're a liar.

Instead of relying so heavily on technology, take the time to make sure your work isn't always dependant on it. Easier said than done, I know, but there are ways to make it work.

In the meantime, put that makeshift excuse to rest. And the next time you make a technology-related blunder, just take the fall and don't blame your devices for your slipups.

Before you give lame excuses in the office, take a moment and think if you're excuse is truly legit. Don't underestimate a good manager. They've heard every excuse in the book. And if they catch you spouting off BS, you're never going earn their trust.