Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead Paperback – October 16, 2009

Where has this book been all my life? I love it. Thank you for this wise, practical, and fun guide to help us quiet people strive and thrive with greater ease in a noisy world.I love the premise that introverts and extroverts can learn from and balance each other. I love the idea of being true to one's reflective self by setting goals and working toward them to achieve whatever it is one wants out of life, whether personally or in business.As an introvert, I know I can get lost in my own head (a sometimes murky place), and this book serves as a GPS to navigate from thought to action. It helps us turn inner thoughts into reality, expand our sphere of influence, and achieve what is only possible when we move beyond our comfort zone. It provides clear self-promotion activities in chart and text form, with lots of explanation, examples, and resources for further exploration, such as social media. Self-Promotion for Introverts® is written from the empathetic perspective of a fellow introvert, understanding the strengths and challenges of that world view. For instance, there's a whole section on negotiation--because, well, most introverts hate to negotiate on their own behalf, because they (OK, I) believe that the quality or work should speak for itself without needing to engage in any kind of confrontation over it.Self-Promotion for Introverts® could just as easily have been named, "Self-Sharing for Introverts". The author is very persuasive; letting the right people get to know you, whether in a work or social relationship, is a powerful strategy for life success and happiness, whether you prefer to whisper or shout.

I recommend Self-Promotion for Introverts if you want a fresh perspective on letting the world know about you. The author, as she writes, "helps you take steps toward sharing your gifts with the world in a way that is authentic to you."The section on "negative self-talk" and the section on "your strengths" could only come from a thoughtful person who thinks before she speaks, in other words, she is one of us.The Amazon reviewer who rated the book a one star and says this is not a self promotion book, misses and distorts Ms. Ancowitz's message of finding the promotion techniques which work for you. Yes, this is a book focused on business application, but the tips, tools and techniques can also be used in the non-commercial world.This negative reviewer insinuates that the entire book is about web sites, advertising, blogging, podcasts, ...This is just not true. This book is much more than a series of media outlets for promotion, it is an anthem to the person at the gathering who has the answer, but needs the technique and polish to blossom.Ms. Ancowitz has a wry sense of humor and interviews both extroverts and introverts for her anecdotes. The more interesting stories though, are the back stories on the quiet techniques she used to gain those interviews. You will find yourself rooting for her as she crosses the invisible barrier from watcher to doer.Ignore the Naysayers on Amazon or your own negative self-talk. Take a chance and buy the book, it will "help your quiet star twinkle."

If you've never read any books about introverts, then this is an ok start. However, I prefer Networking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora Zack. Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected Zack's book is funny, yet very informative and presented information that I hadn't quite considered before. I read it with a highlighter and stack of post-it notes in hand, and used them for nearly every page.Self-promotion for Introverts assumes that you are a hermit who has low-self esteem and few people skills. There is nothing wrong with being introverted, even though society frames you as slow or socially awkward because you choose to think before you speak. This book left me feeling I needed to be "fixed", not with a newfound knowledge of how to play up my thoughtful reflections as a strength.I found the career adivce to be the same as you'd read on CareerBuilder, and much of the "are you an introvert or extrovert" checklists were re-hashed from other books I've read. Overall I wasn't impressed. I bought it from Amazon, and will be listing my copy for sale shortly.

Nancy's book takes a masterful approach to highlighting the strengths of introverts and demonstrating how those strengths can and should be leveraged for their benefit. Written by an introvert for introverts, each chapter creates an engaging dialogue through sharp and lively writing. She encourages the reader to be an active participant in their development by furnishing thought-provoking exercises that create opportunities for deep reflection and strategic planning.The author's tone is compassionate but not condescending or coddling. It is obvious that she views her audience as strong, capable and intelligent, which is not always a given in self-help books. I found myself pushing outside of my comfort zone and discovering that some of the techniques that she suggests are not nearly as scary or uncomfortable as they may initially appear once you actually try them.I would highly recommend this book to others who want a better understanding of how they can capitalize on their introversion to meet and exceed their professional goals.