One highly successful venture capitalist who is regularly pitched by young entrepreneurs told me how frustrated he is by his colleagues’ failure to distinguish between good presentation skills and true leadership ability. “I worry that there are people who are put in positions of authority because they’re good talkers, but they don’t have good ideas,” he said. “It’s so easy to confuse schmoozing ability with talent.
Susan Cain
Venture Capital, Leadership Skills, Presentation Versus Substance, Authority, Professional Integrity
Susan Cain’s Quotes On Topics
Present Versus Future Orientation | Influence | Risk-taking Behavior | Artistic Outlets | American Identity | Innovation Catalyst | Preferred Styles | Novelty | Venture Capital | Genetics | Emotional Connection | Criticism | Potential | Social | Self-perception | Team Dynamics | Teamwork | Jealousy | Mark Snyder | Different Powers | More
More Susan Cain Quotes
“It’s an authentic and elevating response to the problem of being alive in a deeply flawed yet stubbornly beautiful world.” Susan Cain
Authentic Response, Living Authentically, Flawed Beauty, Human Experience, Personal Elevation
Susan Cain Authentic Response, Living Authentically, Flawed Beauty, Human Experience, Personal Elevation“From outside the evangelical community, this seems an astonishing confession. Since when is solitude one of the Seven Deadly Sins? But to a fellow evangelical, McHugh’s sense of spiritual failure would make perfect sense. Contemporary evangelicalism says that every person you fail to meet and proselytize is another soul you might have saved.” Susan Cain
Evangelical Community, Solitude, Spiritual Beliefs, Outreach, Societal Expectations
Susan Cain Evangelical Community, Solitude, Spiritual Beliefs, Outreach, Societal Expectations“Another example, this one from the 2000 crash of the dot-com bubble, concerns a self-described introvert based in Omaha, Nebraska, where he’s well known for shutting himself inside his office for hours at a time. Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and one of the wealthiest men in the world, has used exactly the attributes we’ve explored in this chapter.” Susan Cain
Warren Buffett, Dot-com Bubble, Introverted Traits, Legendary Investor, Attributes Of Success
Susan Cain Warren Buffett, Dot-com Bubble, Introverted Traits, Legendary Investor, Attributes Of Success“Introverts living under the Extroversion Ideal are like women in a man’s world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are.” Susan Cain
Introverts, Extroversion Ideal, Differing Traits, Gender Dynamics, Core Identity
Susan Cain Introverts, Extroversion Ideal, Differing Traits, Gender Dynamics, Core Identity“The footprint of a high- or low-reactive temperament never disappeared in adulthood. We can stretch our personalities, but only up to a point. Our inborn temperaments influence us, regardless of the lives we lead. A sizable part of who we are is ordained by our genes. We have free will and can use it to shape our personalities.” Susan Cain
Temperament, Personality Development, Genetic Influence, Personal Growth, Free Will
Susan Cain Temperament, Personality Development, Genetic Influence, Personal Growth, Free Will“Introverts often have one or two deep interests that are not necessarily shared by their peers. Sometimes they’re made to feel freaky for the force of these passions, when in fact studies show that this sort of intensity is a prerequisite to talent development. Praise these kids for their interests, encourage them, and help them find like-minded friends, if not in the classroom, then outside it.” Susan Cain
Interests, Intensity, Passion, Talent Development, Social Encouragement
Susan Cain Interests, Intensity, Passion, Talent Development, Social Encouragement“I’m not saying abolish group work – I think there’s a time and a place for people to come together and exchange ideas, but let’s restore the respect we once had for solitude. And we need to be much more mindful of the way we come together.” Susan Cain
Group Work, Solitude, Mindful Collaboration, Idea Exchange, Balance In Teamwork
Susan Cain Group Work, Solitude, Mindful Collaboration, Idea Exchange, Balance In Teamwork“The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight.” Susan Cain
Self-presentation, Personal Visibility, Metaphor, Life Choices, Confidence
Susan Cain Self-presentation, Personal Visibility, Metaphor, Life Choices, Confidence“All personality traits have their good side and their bad side. But for a long time, we’ve seen introversion only through its negative side and extroversion mostly through its positive side.” Susan Cain
Personality Traits, Introversion, Extroversion, Positive And Negative, Cultural Perceptions
Susan Cain Personality Traits, Introversion, Extroversion, Positive And Negative, Cultural Perceptions“Figure out what you are meant to contribute to the world and make sure you contribute it.” Susan Cain
Personal Contribution, Self-discovery, Purpose, Meaningful Impact, Individual Goals
Susan Cain Personal Contribution, Self-discovery, Purpose, Meaningful Impact, Individual Goals“Greeters wearing UPW T-shirts and ecstatic smiles line the entrance, springing up and down, fists pumping. You can’t get inside without slapping them five. I know, because I try.” Susan Cain
Social Gatherings, Enthusiastic Greetings, Event Atmosphere, Community Engagement, Lively Interactions
Susan Cain Social Gatherings, Enthusiastic Greetings, Event Atmosphere, Community Engagement, Lively Interactions“Solitude matters, and for some people, it’s the air they breathe.” Susan Cain
Solitude, Personal Space, Introvert Needs, Self-care, Mental Health
Susan Cain Solitude, Personal Space, Introvert Needs, Self-care, Mental Health“It’s as if they have thinner boundaries separating them from other people’s emotions and from the tragedies and cruelties of the world.” Susan Cain
Emotional Boundaries, Sensitivity, Empathy, Human Experience, Social Psychology
Susan Cain Emotional Boundaries, Sensitivity, Empathy, Human Experience, Social Psychology“Overarousal interferes with attention and short-term memory – key.” Susan Cain
Overarousal, Attention Span, Short-term Memory, Cognitive Function, Mental Clarity
Susan Cain Overarousal, Attention Span, Short-term Memory, Cognitive Function, Mental Clarity“If these statistics surprise you, that’s probably because so many people pretend to be extroverts.” Susan Cain
Introversion, Extroversion, Societal Expectations, Personal Authenticity, Surprising Statistics
Susan Cain Introversion, Extroversion, Societal Expectations, Personal Authenticity, Surprising Statistics“It was absorbing, it was exciting, and I got to meet a lot of interesting people whom I never would have known otherwise. But I was always an expatriate.” Susan Cain
Expatriate, Interesting People, Absorbing Experiences, Cultural Exploration, Exciting Interactions
Susan Cain Expatriate, Interesting People, Absorbing Experiences, Cultural Exploration, Exciting Interactions“That was exactly what happened – the conformists showed less brain activity in the frontal, decision-making regions and more in the areas of the brain associated with perception. Peer pressure, in other words, is not only unpleasant, but can actually change your view of a problem.” Susan Cain
Peer Pressure, Brain Activity, Decision-making, Conformity, Perception Shifts
Susan Cain Peer Pressure, Brain Activity, Decision-making, Conformity, Perception Shifts“I wonder whether students like the young safety officer would be better off if we appreciated that not everyone aspires to be a leader in the conventional sense of the word – that some people wish to fit harmoniously into the group, and others to be independent of it.” Susan Cain
Leadership, Independence, Social Dynamics, Group Harmony, Education
Susan Cain Leadership, Independence, Social Dynamics, Group Harmony, Education