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A challenge that I have faced while being an entrepreneur and how I solved it is when I needed to believe so much in myself and my dreams for me to find my voice

INSIDER

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?

by Jeanne Lauren Smith

“He asked a lot of questions I didn’t want to answer them but felt like I had to. And you just didn’t answer. You were just quiet. I need to be more like you,” she told me.

“Yeah,” I laughed, “that is definitely one of my strong suits.”

It was affirming to receive this feedback, being told it was aspirational when I was quiet in a situation where I genuinely didn’t have anything to say I had spent the better part of the year on a personal and collective mission to reclaim quiet, so having this reflected back to me was a real win.

Being told I’m quiet has been a source of confusion and frustration in the past. It was this reaction that inspired me to turn toward it. I had heard the common teaching ‘the problem is the solution’ and I realized that there was a real opportunity for me if I could incorporate that understanding into the idea of quiet.

Bringing curiosity to what it means to be quiet was hugely beneficial and uplifting. As usual, what others say about me has little to do with me and more to do with them We are each other’s mirrors When someone introduces me as “she’s quiet, but has a wealth of knowledge,” I can choose if I interpret it as an insult, a compliment, or merely a comment. Different cultures, communities, families, and social groups will interpret quiet in many ways. In general, Western society tends to uphold the ability to verbalize, articulate, and speak in public as traits that are of the utmost importance and necessary skills to acquire in order to lead a successful and impactful life.

To be seen as smart and capable Yet, as Susan Cain reminds us in her book Quiet, there is no correlation between intelligence and loquaciousness. Understanding this provided a larger perspective with which to understand my own experiences.

I used to feel a need in social situations to fill every silence. This was a reflection of not being comfortable with silence, not being comfortable with myself, and not trusting my worthiness in the presence of other humans Yet silence is often where the magic happens. We all know what it’s like to be in a room with someone where there is no room for silence, for reflection, for new insights and understanding to emerge. Oftentimes in such a room, there is no real listening happening either, as one person tops the other with an endless stream of opinions and counterarguments.

It's a sign of growth for me to allow myself to rest in unknowing and spaciousness and to be quiet instead of feeling pressure to speak in order to prove myself or try to make myself or others feel more comfortable It’s a gift to be in each other’s presence and to know that that is enough. By coming into a more celebratory and deeper relationship with what it means to be quiet, I have come to appreciate myself and my authentic ways of expressing myself. I love writing, teaching, acting, and being of service to those around me

Quiet allows me to be attuned to the present moment and the needs and circumstances of any situation. It is not a hindrance to my ability to express my gifts, it is a support. If I’m inspired to speak, I speak. If I’m inspired to listen, I listen. Creating spaciousness and growing my inner reservoir of understanding and acceptance actually gives me more confidence to show up and share my truth.

So, what is your superpower? It might feel like one of the things that are a problem, maybe something people reflect back to you as a dig or insult. But beyond the social conditioning of what it may mean to be called or told you’re something, consider going deeper. What are the implications of this trait? Are they actually a problem? Or are they a solution? What if this quality was understood and appreciated by yourself and those around you? What would be possible then?

About Jeanne Lauren Smith

Jeanne is a mindfulness mentor, writer, bestselling co-author, and actor. She is the founder and facilitator of As You Are Mindfulness where she helps meditators tune into their inner knowing and increase their emotional availability towards themselves and others, so they can live from a place of greater ease and satisfaction.

She is the creator of the online course Reclaiming Quiet which supports women in creating a sustainable mindfulness practice by exploring the power of quiet in themselves and all aspects of their experience, offering them growing peace, stability, and confidence in their daily lives.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. CAROLINE ISCOVITZ

Building Her Dream Interview

With Dr. Caroline Iscovitz

Dr. Caroline Iscovitz is a Female Entrepreneur Coach from Lakewood, Colorado. She’s been in business for 5 years.

What does your dream life look like?

Are you currently living in it?

I feel so incredibly privileged for the life I’m living while still working on having complete financial freedom. Definitely getting closer to it and enjoying the process of building it.

Tell me more about what you do and who you help.

I help people stay healthy from the inside out and now their environment. My health business focuses on keeping people healthy internally to externally.

Also, I’ve recently moved into the Solar industry as a coowner of a solar energy company. I get to help homeowners save money on their electricity while helping the planet be a bit cleaner!

What inspired you to start this business?

I loved helping people improve their mindset and relationships when I was in the mental health field and eventually thought I would have my own private practice or wellness center. Then I started learning more about entrepreneurship and seeing what could be possible for me outside of the mental health field.

This became clear to me that I wanted a different life than I had originally planned after getting my doctorate degree and saw more opportunities presenting themselves The ability I could have to help people get & stay healthy in a more holistic approach was truly the impact I wanted to make while doing it on my own terms.

Do you think being an introvert has affected your business?

It’s allowed me to be able to observe & serve my customers with my ability to actively listen to their needs. This very skill set has allowed me to build such incredible connections, relationships, & business partnerships

How do you handle networking, pitching, and other activities that require you to be extroverted?

When I’m at a networking event, I go out of my comfort zone even though it might make me feel uneasy at first. I start with just one person that seems to have an inviting personality and then I’ll include another person until it turns into a group of people and we get into a flow of conversation about a certain topic, once I’m in the flow I’m more comfortable being the center of attention. Other activities for me are again just focusing on the oneto-one conversation, getting to know the person I’m talking to, how I can help them and/or who I connect them with.

Do you think it's possible to maintain a healthy work-life balance as an entrepreneur?

I believe in work-life harmony/ integration. I don’t think you can always have full balance in life. You are going to have different seasons & phases where your priorities need or have to change based on life circumstances. Give yourself compassion and grace through that. I am always checking in with myself and ensuring my cup is full. This looks like setting boundaries, communicating effectively within both business and personal relationships, and daily selfcare practices drcarolineiscovitz.com

In your opinion, what are the essential skills that introverted entrepreneurs should focus on developing?

The most important skills to develop are not holding back when you have an idea or something to say. Your opinions matter and you are adding value to the world & economy.

What advice would you give to other introverted women who are just starting their own businesses?

From my perspective, just start and learn from others along the way. You can do this by going outside of your comfort and start talking to people who can help and support you! Successful entrepreneurs that are where you want to be, contact them to build that relationship.

Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Where can our readers find more information about you?