I’ve never considered myself an introvert until I learned the true definition of the word. I’m actually an extroverted introvert, meaning that I’m social, I have no issue with big parties or meeting new people, but that sort of hand shaking and smiling (although I enjoy it!) exhausts me so I recharge better in a very small group or alone. After the past year of lockdowns, and work from home rules, and barely being able to see anyone’s face for so long, I’m reexamining my social status.
I held the position of national sales rep for quite a few years but when I traveled, I was usually accompanied by a few folks from the home office. A social security net if you will. So even if I walked into a room with 1500 people I didn’t know, I felt at ease that I could lean on the few with whom I clustered, if only to check in every hour with a sly wink or a cheers clink. In later years, I focused regionally and continued to grow and nurture my connections.
When I worked for a large bank in NYC, my socializing was confined to the island of Manhattan– still a big territory if you’re counting people and not square footage. But when my coverage area shrunk, I’d consistently see a lot of the same people at various events and conferences. Many of these very fine people became clients, some became referral sources and others were of course friendly competitors. Many of those folks became close colleagues and then morphed into friends, and some even made my bestie list where they remain to this day. (You know who you are!)
Now that I’m a national rep once again– but this time with no office as I’m a remote worker, more often than not I’m back to walking into a room of 300 in San Antonio, Texas or 37 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin or 125 in Palm Coast, Florida and barely knowing a soul. So my social security is all but gone! (And no government subsidy can help. Oh, the irony.) There are some frequent fliers like me who blanket the nation attending anything with more than 15 people. I bump into them in the Delta Sky Lounge or at various national Marriotts because loyalty does have its rewards. But the list is small. And I’m finding that I must focus myself to ensure that I’m standing straight to muster all of my positive energy to get out there and say hello to a whole new group of strangers. For this new crop might have deals for me, or better yet, become my new friends.
As I’m making the rounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, Nashville, Tennessee and Phoenix, Arizona, I’ll be thinking of the brave path that got me here one introduction at a time. My social security is actually just the illusion of confidence wrapped up in a smile!
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