In "Robot chef, AI chief of boutique, meeting whisperer, privacy, artificial intelligence" I wrote that "Afrogoth will include meetings, events and conferences. Afrogothers will be global citizens, people from all over the world, from different backgrounds, with different personalities, different communication styles, speaking different languages, both introverts (like me) and extroverts. The meeting whisperer may be handy in breaking the ice and establishing initial connection."

A few days ago, I came across a statement that, while I am certain it came from a place of caring, concern and empathy, I felt that as an introvert, I had to respectfully set the record straight. The statement "...championing being introverted..." was said at around minute 5:37 of this episode that touches on mental health.

So. About introverts. First, let me make it very clear that introverts are people. I know this may seem like an obvious thing to point out but we do live in an extroverted world and introverts may seem...alien. I am suddenly, randomly, reminded of the hilarious clip of The Cure's frontman being ambushed by a very extroverted interviewer, and his deadpan response. You can read about the incident in Stef Lach's article titled 'I felt bad about that actually.' The Cure's Robert Smith on hilarious viral interview clip from Rock Hall induction"

Yes, we do live in an extroverted world, as the blog post on how to navigate an extroverted world, by Emily Armitage, pointed out in February 2021. She wrote that "In our extroverted world, it sometimes seems that to get 'ahead' (whatever that means), extroversion is the name of the game. If you don't exhibit extroverted behaviours, opportunities can seem to pass you by." It's no big surprise that the concept of the one-person company is not easily embraced by some. Thankfully, Polsia is helping make the one-person company become less of an anomaly. (I was so amused the day I found out that Polsia is 'AI slop' spelled backwards!)

Charlotte Sferruza in her 2018 article "How being an introvert made me a better designer" admits that she thought her being an introvert was her biggest flaw and that she needed to fight it to be good at her job. It took her years to discover that "being an introvert is not a  barrier, but a great asset."

Both Daniel Schwarz in 'Why introverts make great creatives and designers' and the writer of 'Networking for Introverted Designers: Why your quiet nature is your business superpower' outline the main difference between introverts and extroverts. "Extroverts have an energy-spending nervous system - introverts are more energy-conserving" wrote Schwarz in 2024. "Introversion isn't about being shy or antisocial. It's about how you recharge your energy. Extroverts get energized by people, introverts recharge in solitude." The resourcefuldesigner.com writer adds that "over 85% of designers are introverts." He also touches on a letter from the RECONCILIATION framework - 'No' (Boundaries), in the section about facing networking anxiety head-on. He recommends setting boundaries: "Take breaks, leave early, say no to events that don't serve you." 

Shilpi Mishra in her October 2024 article "Thriving as an introvert in the design world" also recommends prioritizing recharge time: "Taking breaks and stepping away from the noise helps me come back fresh, with new ideas and energy. It's essential for keeping my creativity alive." In 2017 Stephanie Irwin wrote about "10 ways introversion helped my fashion career" and mentioned 'The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World'. In the book, the author, Sophia Dembling, "explains how introversion is less about disliking social situations, and more about the energy one gains or loses while around others."

Stephanie Irwin mentions an interesting thing about fashion and technology: "As fashion and technology continue to merge, the fashion office and the tech office have also merged." The tech world is familiar to designer Öykün Yılmaz who in his 2020 "How being an introvert makes me a better Designer" mentions the famous book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain.

Dave Ward, in the 2024 'Why Design Thinking Empowers Introverts" touched on two letters in the RECONCILIATION framework: Empathy - "Empathy and Insight: The Introverts Toolbox" and Respect - "Inclusion and Equality: The Core of Creative Collaboration". Regarding empathy, he writes: "Design thinking begins with empathy, a step that resonates deeply with introverts...the design thinking process transforms empathy into insights, which are then the fuel for ideas." Regarding respect, he writes: "Design thinking doesn't just invite diverse perspectives; it demands them. It's a call to everyone, regardless of rank or title, to contribute. This approach democratises innovation, ensuring that all ideas, including those from the quieter corners of the room, are given the space to grow." 

I found it interesting that the concept of "a call to everyone, regardless of rank or title" is echoed in this year's theme of International Day of Peace, to be commemorated on 21st September. The theme is "Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day".

One of the suggestions given on how to build peace is "use your platform to promote a cause or tell a story of peace and hope." Well, I did just that in the Afrogoth video titled "Leso Lesson: Kanga (leso) as a symbol of peace - Day of Peace #InvestinPeace" You can watch it HERE.  

Speaking of international days, yes, I do commemorate World Introvert Day every year. In case you need a reason (or 12!) to commemorate it too, check out "12 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts on World Introvert Day (Jan. 2)"

Have a wonderful day, whether you are an introvert, extrovert or ambivert!