When people hear the word introvert, they think shy, quiet, and antisocial. Some people would think that introverts wouldn’t thrive in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, but, that is not always the case. That way of thinking is changing and more and more people who identify as an introvert are becoming online business owners.

Having an online business is perfect for introverts as it allows them to run a business without the draining day to day interaction. If you’re someone who prefers to work alone there are so many different business ideas. Just like extroverts, introverts have their own set of strengths and weaknesses and while there may be different obstacles you face in having a business it’s certainly not something that should stand in your way.

The first thing to do is to choose your business wisely. Think about personality, mental and emotional needs. From there, write up a detailed business plan that takes all of this into account. Highlight your strengths and use those as the starting point of what you will offer. You may choose to minimize the amount of interaction you have within your business if that is something that makes you uncomfortable.

Once you have a detailed business plan, create a working environment that works for you. Since it is your company, after all, you get to decide how you want things to run. You can choose to have communication through email or text only. Make your business fully remote so you don’t have to worry about entering other spaces that you don’t want too.

We are lucky that we are in a technology-driven era where almost everything can be done online. That includes networking and interactions. You can find clients for any niche and industry right at your fingertips. With the help of social media platforms, email, and online courses you can rely on the world wide web for the majority of your interactions and save face to face meetings for crucial times.

If you’re someone who prefers not to socialize or go to in-person events, it’s important to practice getting out and meeting new people. Holding a conversation, having small talk, and dealing with different interactions are all a skill and the good news? They can be practiced and refined and eventually they will not be as overwhelming. You can start by attending smaller events, phone meetings, or even zoom calls.

No matter what, in life, you will face situations that make you uncomfortable. In order to be successful as an entrepreneur, you will need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable from time to time. This will take time and effort to get used to, but it will not be impossible. When we challenge ourselves we grow, learn, and reach our goals.