Don't Be Too Shy -- It Might Hurt You

I am an introvert, but I am not shy. You won't see me mingling with everybody, but you would see me at different social events. I definitely prefer to be alone, but I am certainly not lonely.

One important extrovert aspect that I've learned to embrace is to always be involved in social events. In this way, you would build a network of people who could help you be successful in life.

You know the types who are VERY shy? The folks who curl up in a corner, trying to stay away from everybody. These people give you no eye contact, they barely say anything, and other people generally mistake them to be mean or jerks.

Unfortunately, these are the very types who have the most struggles in life because they barely have a connection of people to run to.

One thing I've learned in life is that life is so much easier when you have a strong network. The more people you know, the more opportunities you'd have, and the more support you'd have when you're in trouble.

Back in college, there was this one college girl who was VERY shy. She barely had any friends, and the friends she had probably didn't want to hang around her too much because of her negativity. She couldn't finish college. Her parents couldn't support her financially. I was perhaps one of her biggest supports, because I would drive her around and give her money for food.

To this day, her status hasn't changed all that much. She is pretty much on her own -- with the exception of some support.

And you know people who are like that. Maybe YOU are like that. You know, you move to a new place and you have NO friends. You know NOBODY. You feel absolutely alone.

Well, it's time to get to know people. Pull yourself away from Facebook and join some networks of people who have similar interests as you.

I cannot stress enough how much help my family received just by knowing people. Here are a few examples:
 

• My church gave me money to help pay rent back when we were struggling financially.
• A friend of ours hooked me up with a teacher's position.
• Someone in my church hooked us up with an apartment that was in a great location for a great price!
• After joining a gym, I became friends with the group fitness manager, who in turn helped me become a group fitness instructor.
• My wife worked alongside of a dentist who allowed us to stay in his hotel resort FOR FREE while we spent time in Disney World.

And the list goes on and on. Other people have helped me get what I needed. But in order for those people to help me, I had to get to know people.

Having a powerful network is crucial if you want to establish goals. You never know who could take you to the next level of your life. Remember that success happens when someone is alongside of you.

Yes, you could be successful on your own, but you would be working many times harder than you would if you have a connection of people that you could depend on.

As a ZUMBA instructor, I could go almost anywhere in the world and ask if I could stay at someone's house for free. I am a part of a network, and people of this network would look after their own.

What network are you a part of?

No matter how introverted you are, you would reap the benefits of building a network ONCE you see the importance of it.

Whether it's being financed, getting food, getting shelter, getting a job, or finding a spouse, you would very likely be successful IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE than if you are a loner.

Take it from me, an introvert!

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