Subtitled: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking
Have you ever noticed who gets the spotlight at work? Or in meetings? Or even just… in life?
It’s often the fast talkers. The loud ones. The people who can think on their feet and fill silence with something—anything. In our culture, energy often gets mistaken for credibility. We reward charisma, not contemplation.
But as Susan Cain shows us in Quiet, that system overlooks a huge pool of wisdom. Some of the most influential thinkers, inventors, and changemakers weren’t loud at all. They were listeners. Deep thinkers. People who preferred solitude over small talk.
Cain gives example after example of how breakthroughs in science, social progress, and innovation were born not in brainstorming sessions, but in quiet rooms where introverts were allowed to do what they do best: think deeply and work with intention.
One of the most powerful takeaways from the book—and something I wish I’d heard years ago—is this:
You don’t have to become louder to be taken seriously. You have to become more yourself.
Cain encourages us to stop faking extroversion and instead lean into what gives us energy. And for introverts, that often means solitude, reflection, and meaningful one-on-one connection.
A specific tip she shares: if you’re in a workplace that favors extroversion, plan your energy the way you plan your schedule. She calls this the “restorative niche”—a time or space where you can recharge on your terms.
For me? That might mean a quiet walk after a client session or choosing writing over Zoom meetings whenever possible. For you, it might be something totally different—but the point is, you don’t need to force yourself to match a volume level that doesn’t fit.
Quiet was a game-changer for me. It helped me stop apologizing for being more reflective. It helped me understand that my tendency to think before I speak isn’t a flaw—it’s a strength. And it helped me own the fact that deep work, not loud work, is what actually moves people.
So if you’ve ever felt out of place in a world that can’t stop talking… Quiet will feel like a deep breath.
Let the loud ones keep shouting. You? Keep building something that matters—in your own way.
