Customer Reviews

Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book based on the good reviews in Amazon but I was very disappointed.

I think that if you are an introvert that has no experience with extroverts that this book may have some value. Contrary to the introduction, I felt that it was primarily focused on utilising principles that extroverts use. This was re-enforced by the continual quoting of famous extroverts advice on how to self-promote. This is not what I was looking for. I know how extroverts function, I just also know that a lot of their strategies don't work nearly as well for me as they do for them.

The other disappointment was that a lot of the text was on what I would consider business-promotion, rather than self-promotion. The section on `Self-Promoting activities' listed (in order); Web sites, Advertising, blogging, podcasts, online-groups, classified ads, flyers, brochures... Sorry, but this is not self-promotion as I understand it.

In summary, this is a very entry level book. It may be a good introduction, but I found it very light and not very on-target.

Where do I begin with my rave for this wonderful book? If we were all uber- confident, smooth self promoters with plenty of job openings before us, well, then the advice would be redundant. Yet, back in the real world where talent is often times trumped by "shmoozability", and "shyness" is often more a sign of emotional intelligence and brilliance than a sign of social inadequacy, this excellent guide hits the mark. Ms. Ancowitz teaches instead of preaches, and accepts the reader for whom she or he is, that feature in itself makes it worth getting this book! I have been searching (until now, in vain) for a pragmatic guide to self- promotion that actually values my intrinsic self without the "guilt trip" for being an introvert, and this IS THE ONE! Thank you!!! Ms. Ancowitz offers a concise, informative, step by step game plan that quite simply works. I feel like I have an actual career coach right by my side in this book and I'm very happy to report that I'm beginning to reap the benefits of Ms. Ancowitz's advice. This is an amazing book and if you are an uneasy self-promoter, BUY THIS BOOK! You will be glad that you did!

This book offers excellent advice for individuals (with an emphasis on often stigmatized introverts) which can be used in business situations as well in personal situations. In an easy to read, humorous and well-thought out manner, Ms. Ancowitz gives proven examples and anecdotes from both lay persons as well as well-known public figures on how to "quietly" self-promote oneself without bragging or coming across as an obnoxious fool. Given our difficult economic times, one will gain a lot of insight on best practices, tools and tips for promoting visibility. The book offers great methods for preparing for interviews and presentations and shedding useless negative self-talk while focusing on positive and proactive thinking. A definite must-read for those in transition as well for those who are still employed and "invisible."

Janet L. Riesel, MBA, SPHR

Extroverts, by their very nature, command attention; frequently, they surpass a more skilled rival for a promotion, simply because they're always in the spotlight. If you're an introvert who's perhaps a bit frustrated by the lack of attention you need to get ahead, Nancy Ancowitz has quietly provided a guide that could help turn the tide.

Interestingly enough, the population is roughly split, 50-50, between extroverts and introverts. In today's high-tech, "in your face" society, the edge frequently goes to the extrovert, in nearly every endeavor. However, Ancowitz is providing a solid game plan for helping the introvert overcome the obstacles for success. The key strategies don't involve changing the introvert's personality; rather, simply focusing on their strenghts and accomplishments; by quietly informing people what they bring to the table; to paraphrase Sgt Joe Friday: "Just the facts, please; just the facts."

Historically, introverts are generally intelligent individuals, with good verbal skills and remarkable intuition. Ancowitz is providing them with a solid game plan for taking action; to quietly take charge of their careers and their lives. This will enable the quietly efficient individual to bring attention to their skills; to get noticed, and to possibly shut that self-absorbed wind-bag up, at least for the time being.

The goal is quite simple; to progress---inward, outward & onward. It's an inspiring message, and one that should help anyone attain just about any goal they're looking to reach.

Nancy Ancowitz has cleverly zeroed in on a topic that plagues most introverts; how to promote oneself. She gives excellent practical advice appealing to a wide audience and presents it in a way that is highly interactive and entertaining. In order to get the most out of the book, I recommend working through all of the exercises that Nancy outlines so that you can learn as much as you can about yourself. I started reading the book very quickly but then decided to slow down and really work the exercises. I soon discovered that there are many more ways I could be promoting myself that I had not thought of before as well as realizing hidden strengths. I highly recommend this beautifully written book to all of you who are committed to self improvement and taking charge of your life.

Anne L. Houle

I just finished reading Nancy Ancowitz's book, "Self Promotion for Introverts". This is an inspiring, practical and insightful read with immediate application in my life. In particular, the techniques that Nancy outlines will help me focus on getting ahead by leveraging my strengths and not changing my behavior. This is a welcome departure from how I thought I had to behave and act in the business world. A key component of her strategy is coming up with a game plan that's right for me, recognizing that everyone's different- There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.

While there is lots of wisdom throughout the book, a key affirmation will always stick with me, "I can catch any ball..." No matter how challenging a business situation I encounter, this affirmation will help me navigate it in a positive and powerful way.

By the end of this book, I felt empowered and was further emboldened by reading insight from so many powerful and influential figures like Warren Buffet and Cathie Black. In my opinion, "Self Promotion for Introverts" is a must read for anyone in business.

Invaluable book, easy and enjoyable reading, great sense of humor and very, very useful. Lots of exercises and it really helps you to change your perception of networking, allowing you to do wonders at your own comfort level. Funny celebrity stories are included, for example, how she met Bill Clinton.

Have you ever found yourself electing not to speak up and voice your opinions during a high-stakes business meeting? Does the very thought of giving a presentation make you ill with nerves and fear? Are you a great job candidate on paper, but then when it comes to interviewing, you just can't seem to put your best self forward? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then Nancy Ancowitz's book, Self-Promotion for Introverts, is most certainly for you. More business-oriented than a self-help guide - but still gentle enough to coax introverted readers out of their shells - Self-Promotion for Introverts is an invaluable resource that teaches introverts how to put their best foot forward and project a clear, confident presence in just about any situation, from a business meeting to an interview room.

The thing that is so uniquely wonderful about Nancy's book is that she herself is an introvert who has worked to make her presence in the world more powerful, so she understands exactly how to motivate and teach her introverted readers to project their best selves. Instead of suggesting that introverts simply ignore their true inward-leaning natures and navigate through life by simply pretending to be extroverts, Nancy shows readers how to leverage their instinctual reservedness to their advantage. Nancy calls upon readers to recognize their "quiet gifts" (most often qualities like "good researcher," "listener," "mediator," etc.) and then use these characteristics to the betterment of the world around them - and, ultimately, themselves.

Readers will learn tools and tactics that will improve their approach to otherwise introvert-unfriendly situations (interviews, networking, public speeches, etc.), and by the time they turn the final pages of the book, they will be better prepared than ever before to confront the world of business and all the hazards it presents for introverts. I highly recommend this essential book, which is the ultimate blueprint to getting ahead for the quieter, more reserved set of businesspeople.

I found Nancy Ancowitz's Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead to be an enlightening and extremely useful book. Well written and thoughtful, Ancowitz's book clears up the mysteries and misconceptions about introverts and extroverts (one can be an introvert and be outgoing; conversely, one can be an extrovert and be quite shy in certain situations), and offers insightful, practical advice aimed particularly at introverts which may well benefit many extroverts too.

As a technical extrovert who nearly straddles the midpoint between introvert and extrovert, I found much of the author's advice to be truly thought-provoking and useful. How to promote yourself without feeling like you're bragging; how to break through the procrastination that comes from feeling overwhelmed; how to think less and actually DO more; how to stop self-consciousness by focusing more on the other person (and their needs), and less on yourself; how to break the ice when meeting new people; how to negotiate to get what you really want and deserve without getting steam-rollered. Ancowitz is sensitive to the particular difficulties, fears, and concerns that "quieter" members of the population have, be they introverts or extroverts, and offers helpful tips, exercises, and food for thought. Her coaching background shines through on every page, giving the reader a real sense of having "someone in her corner."

I highly recommend her book!

I was tired of reading self-promotion books that assumed I was, or should be, an extrovert. "What about the rest of us?" I wondered.

Then I read Self-Promotion for Introverts.

Ms. Ancowitz gets it! She's one of us, she relates, and she genuinely wants each of us to succeed.

There's much to like about her book, including her extensive research. Ms. Ancowitz clearly does her homework--and then some. I loved hearing from the heavy-hitter introverts and extroverts she interviewed. It was reassuring to learn that *everyone* struggles to find his/her footing with regard to self-promotion. And it was instructive to read real-world advice from far-flung corners of the professional world.

But what I most valued was Ms. Ancowitz's encouragement to be our authentic selves. So many experts mouth these words . . . then tell us (without realizing it, perhaps) to act like extroverts. Ms. Ancowitz wants us to capitalize on our strengths. And she helps us see that introversion is one of them.

Thank you!