Spectacular performances, introvert artist
As an introvert, you’re in good company. Every month I’m introducing you to an introvert of the month to show you that introverts can be famous and successful too. This month: Lady Gaga.
Introverts made a significant impact in the world:
- Albert Einstein with his relativity theory
- J.K. Rowling with Harry Potter
- Bill Gates with Microsoft
This month: Lady Gaga is our introvert of the month.
We know Lady Gaga as a master of making the biggest impression at an event. You would think as an introvert you don’t want the spotlight on you, but she shows her individuality and doesn’t care about other people’s opinions.
A lot of great artists are introverts because we are good at thinking, focusing, and being alone, and those are the moments when ideas strike.
In an extroverted world like Hollywood: how can Lady Gaga retain her energy and succeed?
She likes her real friends, and her extravagant dresses make strangers uncomfortable
She once said, “that’s why wearing the meat dress was so great because it stunk and no one wanted to talk to me.”
Introverts flourish in a comfortable environment with people they have known for a long time, like friends and family. And Lady Gaga is experiencing the same thing.
She is not one of those artists going to parties daily, and I think that made her art even better.
Most introverts love being creative, and they can do so when they’re alone. Not going to parties keeps up the energy and helps to have more quiet time creating.
I love my quiet mornings. I have my alone time, and I’m way more creative and in the flow during those times.
Just because Lady Gaga uses her dresses to keep a distance from people doesn’t mean you need to do that too. But let’s take her as an inspiration to stop caring about what other people think and just being ourselves (and wearing whatever we want to).
And if Lady Gaga doesn’t feel comfortable at events, you also don’t need to. Her job requires her to attend parties and wear fancy clothes, but it’s her choice how she spends her time there.
For most jobs and your business, it’s required to go to networking events because you need customers and connections. We are living in a society, and in it, there’s an economic cycle of money and work that we need to succeed.
Get out there
As introverts, we tend to stay at home in our comfort zone because everything else is uncomfortable.
I’m sure Lady Gaga feels the same way before every event. But she also knows she needs the connections. Without them, you don’t know the people who:
- give you your next job
- is your future customer
- needs your help
- you can rely on for your next big thing
- have the skills to help you
- knows your future partner
I know because of COVID a lot transferred to the internet, but meeting someone 1:1 and connecting right from the start is a feeling you don’t get online.
I was shy as a child. I was even afraid of talking to my aunt. I was afraid of going to the supermarket to buy food at lunch break. I didn’t have many friends.
Unfortunately, we live in an extroverted world. People didn’t get me, thought I was weird, and put me down for being quiet. I was an easy target.
So what helped me to overcome this fear of the outside world?
My ambition.
I wanted to be successful.
So I asked for help. I went to the school psychiatrist a couple of times, and it was life-changing and hard.
I had to get out there and do some homework. But I did it!
And you can do it too!
Get out of your comfort zone:
- show your unique taste in clothes
- talk with a stranger at a networking event
- find like-minded people and connect
- get help
It will be uncomfortable. You will be nervous.
But trust me: it’s worth it!
Do something out of your comfort zone this weekend!
Think of something you always wanted to do but were too afraid of.
Put it on your to-do list and do it!
Now the next point will sound a little counterintuitive to what I said before, but:
Don’t try to be an extrovert
Lady Gaga embraces her differences by wearing bold statement pieces. She doesn’t need to do many interviews to be the talk of the city.
She just wears and does whatever she wants to.
The biggest lesson I learned in my early 20s: embrace your introversion instead of trying to be someone else.
I tried to be more extroverted by:
- drinking alcohol to “be fun”
- cutting people off while talking because I thought I had to say something too
I had some fun times, but I was also rude. And it was unhealthy.
You are a unique person, and you have to live with yourself until you die.
So be who you want to be!
Be yourself!
Introverts have amazing skills and characteristics which you can embrace:
- good listeners
- only says what is necessary
- thinks before speaking and making decisions
- empathic
- likes deep conversations
- can focus really easily when quiet
- doesn’t need people to be happy
and so many more…
Now getting back to our introvert of the month:
Lady Gaga feels like a misfit
Lady Gaga once said, “I felt like a misfit in high school.”
And sometimes she still feels that way.
I feel that way too, because we are introverts in an extroverted world. We don’t fit quite in.
She embraced her strength of focus by practicing piano from a young age, and music helped her recharge in her busy, famous life.
Lady Gaga shows us you can be in the spotlight and be an introvert at the same time. She needs to take more care of her energy levels, but she can express herself freely in public.
One question you can ask yourself that can help you find your self-confidence as an introvert: what would Lady Gaga do?
Less Stress. More Time. Less Overwhelmed!
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