The Own Your Quiet Podcast: Recent Episodes
Alex Reid
The Own Your Quiet Podcast is the podcast where Business Owners who lean towards the introvert side of the personality spectrum explore the power of quiet influence in an increasingly noisy, distracted, and downright confusing world that can’t stop talking.As a Marketing Coach & founder of Own Your Quiet, my mission is to support quietly Ambitious Introvert small business owners to overcome marketing overwhelm, unlock their genius, and launch and grow their own online business.
Joining me today is Lorren Harrison, The Secret Self-Help Coach.
Lorren helps highly passionate and caring professionals to create alignment between the work that they do and their natural strengths.
Her work as a coach is driven by her personal experiences of feeling lost, overwhelmed, and unable to find a career that truly nourished her heart and soul.
Like so many introverts, it’s taken Lorren time to really understand how her personality shapes her emotions and behaviours. Her preference for solitude and quiet reflection has in the past led to feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth because these behaviours were at odds with societal behaviours.
During our conversation, you’ll learn how Lorren’s journey into coaching has helped to increase her self-awareness of the subtle but important ways in which different environments impacts her energy levels. Indeed, the coaching and NLP strategies that she’s integrated into her life and work have given her the confidence to build firm boundaries that protect her energy levels.
You’ll also discover how Lorren has slowly but surely found her coaching niche, something that many coaches, both newly qualified and experienced can struggle with. Her niche being driven as much by the personality of her clients as much as their age, job or location.
As a free spirit, Lorren has a lust for travel and discovering new places and people so we have some fun towards the end of our chat discussing her newly acquired campervan and how she may use it to take her coaching services on the road. Perhaps to a town near you!
While there are many life and career coaches in the world, every single one brings a unique set of attributes to their work. This is very much the case with Lorren so it was a delight to offer her a platform to tell her story and showcase her talents. If you’re a coach, I’m sure many aspects of our conversation will resonate with you.
Connect with Lorren
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorren-h-4b28311aa/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretselfhelpcoach/
Lorren's Book Recommendation
The Chimp Paradox - Dr. Steve Peters
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Mark Metry
Mark is an anxiety & stress coach who works with professionals, students, and organizations to help effectively manage social anxiety, shyness, lack of confidence & energy.
He’s also a Forbes featured top 100 podcaster, bestselling author and TEDx speaker who is highly regarded for his work in raising awareness of the root causes of social anxiety and strategies to overcome it based on his own experiences from the age of 18.
Mark's journey has taken from the point of suicide due to the corrosive effects of social anxiety to a place where he is delivering presentations to Fortune 500 organisations and helping CEOs to overcome their own social anxiety. All this by the age of 24.
Our conversation centres on how Mark has turned his deep curiosity about the root causes of social anxiety into his “Screw Being Shy” Social Anxiety Masterclass that is a step-by-step 45 day programne that helps to eliminate shyness, manage social anxiety, and build confidence.
It’s also worth listening out at the start of this episode for Mark’s observations on the differences between social anxiety, shyness, and introversion. All three are often conflated to mean the same thing which just isn’t true.
I encourage you to listen closely to everything Mark has to say because his personal experiences of social anxiety and shyness have really informed the career path he has chosen to follow, and how he lives his life
Connect with Mark
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-metry/ Website: https://www.markmetry.com/program
Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGN3HtOtgZpUQhnvETpuMg
Screw Being Shy Program: https://www.markmetry.com/program
Screw Being Shy Book: https://www.amazon.com/Screw-Being-Shy-Anxiety-Yourself-ebook/dp/B085T7D1X4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635678025&sr=8-1
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
In the first of my full solo episodes, I return to examine the roots of the podcast that I chose to call “Own Your Quiet”.
Isn't it about time you let your quiet do the talking? It's a slightly provocative question but when that gets to the heart of why I started this podcast. It's provocative because it asks us to decide whether our current behaviours are consistent with our needs.
It’s a question that many introverts can relate to because we gravitate towards quiet places. That’s where we get energised, inspired, and productive.
During this episode I focus on the relationship between quietness and leadership. I do so because in the media, and to an extent the business world, there is a lingering stereotype that successful leaders have to be highly vocal, opinionated, and a little larger than life.
Yet, as a I highlight there are no shortage of examples of quiet leaders, some of whom have been recognised by the likes of Susan Cain and Jim Collins.
What does it really mean to “let your quiet do the talking?” I share my own thoughts towards the end of the episode but I'm really interested to hear yours so please get in touch via one of the methods below.
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
I'm joined by a very special guest and that's me!
Yes, I decided that it was about time to go solo and use the power of the podcast to share my thoughts and observations on some of the topics that I’ve discussed with my guests over the first 35 episodes.
In this short trailer episode, I outline
- The reasons why until now, I've chosen to play the host and interviewer.
- What I've learned about myself through this process.
- What I've learned from my guests.
- What to expect from my solo episodes in terms of topics, styles and substance.
Fear not, I've still got lots of great guests in the pipeline. Indeed, if you are an introvert professional who has an interesting story to tell about your experiences and journey of increasing self-awareness and self-confidence then please get in touch via one of the methods below.
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Janice Chaka
Janice is more commonly known as The Career Introvert. She’s an accomplished entrepreneur with over 10 years of international experience which she now shares by giving workshops, writing for magazines, and career coaching.
Her mentoring centres around what she knows well, and that’s being an introvert. She helps introverted women overcome their challenges and achieve their personal and professional goals in what appears to be an extroverted world.
Janice is also the author of the “how to networking guide for introverts”, and “introvert insights” books (links below), with the latter featuring Janice’s interviews with extremely successful women who not only use their introverted nature to their advantage but also champion others to do the same.
Our conversation centres on how Janice helps her clients to develop the leadership skills that are necessary to start and grow their business or get promoted if they are working for an organisation.
Janice reveals that as her clients increase their self-awareness of how their environment and energy levels influence their performance, they are empowered to develop strategies that make their goals much more achievable.
We also chat about Janice’s own journey to becoming a leadership coach, one that had its fair share of twists and turns along the way, what’s she’s learned about herself through running her own business, and what her priorities are for herself and her business in the next stage of her entrepreneurial journey.
Connect with Janice
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicechaka/ Website: https://thecareerintrovert.com/
Podcast: https://thetravelingintrovert.com/
Janice’s Books
Introvert Insights https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DZTCM9P/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
Introverts Guide to Networking
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01EKJMRWU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
Janice's Book Recommendations
Career Clarity - Lisa Lewis Miller
The Introverts Edge to Networking - Matthew Pollard
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Stever Robbins.
Stever is a Strategy Consultant who helps growth minded solopreneurs to develop marketing strategies that fill their pipeline.
He has an MBA in General Administration and Entrepreneurship from Harvard, and an Undergraduate Degree in Computer Science from MIT.
From 2007 to 2020 he hosted the “The Get-it-Done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More”, a top-10 iTunes business podcast on personal productivity that covers everything from negotiation tips to emotional intelligence to influence and persuasion.
Stever is a classic introvert in the sense that he has a low threshold for social stimulation while at the same time having a natural talent for systems and strategic thinking and public speaking. This evidenced in the work that he’s chosen to do through his career.
Our conversation centres on a subject that I’ve discussed at length with other guests. That being how highly talented, sensitive, and easily stimulated introvert soloproeneurs and professionals can build their online and offline visibility and authority without burning out.
We discuss some of major environmental and cultural challenges that often contribute to burn out, including: high levels of exposure to novel environments; the feeling that we need to be “always on” and available to others; and failing to set and communicate clear boundaries with the significant people in our life.
Stever also shares his perspective on what quiet means to him, how his first visit to the Burning Man Festival blew his mind (in a good way), the real reasons you find so many introverts at Sci-Fi conventions, and how and why many introverts excel at public speaking.
Connect with Stever
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stever/
Podcast: https://www.radioline.co/podcast-get-it-done-guys-quick-and-dirty-tips-to-work-less-and-d
Book - Get-It-Done Guy's 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More: Transform Yourself from Overwhelmed to Overachiever (Quick & Dirty Tips) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-Done-Steps-Quick-Dirty/dp/0312662610
Stever's Book Recommendation
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It - Chris Voss
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@ownyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Daniel Paice
Daniel is a blogger, copywriter, mental health and wellbeing consultant, and most recently, an author.
Daniel started his blog called “The Sanity Mentality” as a means of sharing the mental health challenges that he’s faced in his own life, while at the same time helping to reduce the stigmas that are still associated with mental health.
As he’s increased his self-awareness of how fluid and fragile our mental health can be, he’s come to appreciate the role that introversion plays in determining how, where and when he naturally gets energised and de-energised.
While introversion in itself isn’t a predictor of the quality of our mental health, when we continually force ourselves to behave in ways that are in opposition to it, it can very often lead to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety and even depression.
In practical terms, this means that the environments we are spending most of our time in, are creating a constant state of over-stimulation in our brain. Without making a priority of finding the time to let our brain recover in a quiet low stimulus environment, and also sleep well consistently, we are more likely to experience the aforementioned negative emotions.
During our discussion, Daniel shares his story of how and when he first started to notice the corrosive effects of anxiety and panic attacks creeping up on him and take a toll on his health and wellbeing.
He also reveals how positive reactions and feedback to his blog provided the catalyst to become a freelance writer in the health and wellbeing sector.
His first book called “Prevailed Hope” will be published in digital format on October 12th 2021. It’s a book of poems that provide a deep, raw, and honest reflection of mental health and some of life's toughest emotions based on Daniel’s own experiences. You can pre-order the book via the link below.
Connect with Dan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-paice-23b502203
Blog: https://thesanitymentality.wordpress.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanJWrites?s=09
Pre-Order/Order Prevailed Hope: https://amzn.to/3CUmnhj
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@owmyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Claire Thomas Hawnt
Claire works as an independent career coach helping mid to senior level introverts get in touch with their inner change maker, unlock their power and achieve career success through 1:1 coaching.
Having worked for many years as an HR Professional in the public sector, Claire used the COVID driven lockdowns as an opportunity to make the leap and turn her passion for coaching into a business. One that has enabled her to create a much healthier and fulfilling work-life balance.
Freed of the obligation to commute to an open plan office that she struggled to be productive in, Claire now has more freedom to choose when and for how long she works, meaning she can build her business around the needs of her three children and husband.
Her success in making this transition is one that many other introvert professionals aspire to, so I was delighted when Claire asked to guest on my podcast.
Our conversation focuses on exactly how introvert professionals can create their ideal workday. One that affords them the opportunity to work in an environment that is best suited to them, and at times when they are most naturally energised and productive.
Whether you are self-employed or in employment, I strongly believe that if you’re not doing so already, you should be proactively thinking about how to achieve this outcome. While it may feel idealistic and unachievable, creating your ideal workday is within your grasp.
It starts with completing a simple 2 step exercise which Claire reveals during our conversation.
Connect with Claire
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-thomas-hawnt-a61199203/
Website: https://clairethomashawnt.com/ Email: claire.thomashawnt@gmail.com
Free 45 Minute Coaching Session: Quote "Own Your Quiet" to claim a free 45 minute coaching session with Claire.
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Email: alex@owmyourquiet.com
Alex is joined by Sabrina Ahmed
Sabrina is a Change Coach, Trainer, and Founder of Open Introvert, a boutique coaching and training business helping experienced introverted professionals confidently make bold changes for the fulfilling life they want, using the latest practices in neuroscience, psychology, and creativity to deliver real results.
She has over 20 years' experience across private and public organisations delivering change, with more than 10 years gained at UBS and Deutsche Bank and provides Workplace Resilience coaching at Lloyds Banking Group.
Sabrina’s personal career change began in 2017 by studying Neuroscience and Psychology at King’s College London, and her mission is to help people understand themselves better so they can spark authentic change and live a more values-driven life.
During our conversation Sabrina shares the story of how her undergraduate studies in neuroscience and computing science led her into the Fin-Tech sector, and how after many years in the industry, she decided to return to university to study psychology and neuroscience as a means to re-igniting her career and pivoting it towards coaching and training.
We also discuss
- The steps that leaders inside organisations can take to increase their self-awareness of introversion from a personal standpoint and from the perspective of their team members.
- The energy drains that Sabrina, and many other introverts face in their daily working including repeatedly chasing people up, and conflicts.
- What’s happening in the brain when introverts are working in environments that cause us to be in a constant state of anxiety that causes us to feel de-energised, stressed and even burnt out.
- Why understanding your mental energy budget and knowing how to build restorative rituals that protect it is the foundation to our health, wellbeing, and productivity.
Whether you’re more introverted or extroverted if you’ve experienced the corrosive impact of burnout or know people who have then you’ll understand the importance of creating a more balanced lifestyle that supports you mentally and physically. her passion and depth of knowledge in this area shines through.
Connect with Sabrina
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-ahmed-uk/
Website: https://openintrovert.com/
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
Alex is joined by Lauren Sergy.
Lauren is a public speaking and communication expert who has helped thousands of people become more effective leaders through skilled communication.
She has worked with clients and audiences in Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe including KPMG, Grant Thornton, the University of Alberta, and many more.
Lauren teaches programs on business communication at the University of Alberta. She’s authored two books, the first of which called “The Handy Communication Answer Book”, was featured on Library Journal’s Best Reference Books of 2017 list and her latest called, “UNMUTE! How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity” is now available via all major online booksellers.
I invited Lauren to guest on my podcast because she’s helped many introvert professionals to supercharge the impact of their verbal communications by learning how to leverage their natural thinking styles and personality traits.
In a world where we’re spending more of our time working remotely in virtual environments, we need a new set of strategies that enable us to make the right impressions and achieve the desired outcomes from online meetings and presentations without burning out.
During our discussion we learn about Lauren’s journey from radio announcer to communications skills expert, her strategies for reducing the emotional intensity that many introverts experience when speaking in public, and the simple steps you can take to set-up a home working environment and work schedule that gives you the time, energy, and space to communicate with clarity and confidence during every online meeting and presentation.
If you’re starting to find that days full of virtual meetings are leaving you de-energised and demotivated then Lauren can help you to reclaim your sanity.
Connect with Lauren
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurensergy/
Website: https://laurensergy.com
Lauren's Books
The Handy Communication Answer Book
UNMUTE! How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity
Lauren's Book Recommendation
The Practice - Seth Godin
Connect with Alex
Website: https://www.ownyourquiet.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexcreid/
