I'm insatiably curious about human nature. I feel very lucky that as a writer I get to learn so much about it just to do my job right.

Figure out what you are meant to contribute to the world and make sure you contribute it. If this requires public speaking or networking or other activities that make you uncomfortable, do them anyway. But accept that they're difficult, get the training you need to make them easier, and reward yourself when you're done.

Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them energy, authenticity, and even physical health. Others seem aloof or self-contained, but their inner landscapes are rich and full of drama. So the next time you see a person with a composed face and a soft voice, remember that inside her mind she might be solving an equation, composing a sonnet, designing a hat. She might, that is, be deploying the powers of quiet.

In most job interviews, people say they are looking for people skills and emotional intelligence. That's reasonable, but the question is, how do you define what that looks like?

Shyness is inherently uncomfortable; introversion is not. The traits do overlap, though psychologists debate to what degree.

We put too much of a premium on presenting and not enough on substance and critical thinking.

we have two ears and one mouth and we should use them proportionally