The introvert's guide to getting noticed • Hacker News Board

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#21

Post by Paul_Dessert » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 8:25 PM UTC

AndrewKemendo wrote: post #16

serve_yay wrote: post #14

Prepare to be disappointed, especially by the meetups. The meeters-up may not be a bunch of "greasy salespeople", but that doesn't make them (the meetups) awesome by default.

In my experience most meetups, unless they are specifically culled, super narrow (language, stack, hardware, industry specific etc...) or invite-only are typically made up of "wantrepreneurs," people who want you to sign an NDA to talk to them, grease-ball recruiters, a few rare independent people and the token public sector person trying to do tech-transfer or some other hare-brained initiative that is only good for…

LOL at "the token public sector person". So true. You have to sift through a LOT of trash to find the treasures.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#22

Post by ribs » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 8:27 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #18

Not necessarily related to introverts per-se, but I see it a lot in the geeky stereotype. Try getting good clothes. Go to a good store and let the people do their thing. (Or otherwise find some fashion advice). I did this as an experiment a few years back. Just walked into a place, gave em some cash and said make me look less of a dork. (I usually just wore slacks and a plain tshirt, mostly dark colors, nothing worth…

C'mon man, keep those threads fresh. The clothes that is. Stuff gets worn and it no longer gives you the boost. Go buy some more fly duds.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#23

Post by groby_b » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 8:31 PM UTC

xpose2000 wrote: post #13

The most interesting part is the meetups section. I just can't fathom that meeting people and listen to them talk about themselves is using my time wisely. As you mentioned, most of them are bullshitters. I feel as though it should be spent improving my product, or writing a blog post about my product. Is this the wrong way of thinking? I am the only employee. I'm supposed to do what I'm good at, and that's coding...…

Yes, someone will notice your product. That someone, by necessity, is someone who knows of your product. So you need to expose people to your product. And ideally, you want this someone to be someone who knows a lot of other people. (A "multiplier". Or "influencer". Or whatever it's called this week)

As an engineer, you might be tempted to call those people "bullshitters", because they talk more than they create. They're not - they have different strengths than you do, that is all. And when you need somebody to talk, you want those people.

And so, knowing them is a good plan. As is, in general, building a network of people you can contact for advice on things you're not good at. This is not about going there and talking. This is about going there and finding people who can complement your strengths. This is about getting feedback on your product. This is about hearing new ideas.

All of that will benefit your product.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#24

Post by vinceguidry » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 8:44 PM UTC

This can be dangerous advice. The recent article about the girl that tweeted something that was considered by others to be racist makes me very wary of increasing my online cross-section. You literally can never know whether someone will take something you share, go on over to 4chan, and whip a ton of people into a doxxing storm over it.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#25

Post by andrewflnr » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 8:45 PM UTC

thejaredhooper wrote: post #10

studiofellow wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my perspective, this article is not suggesting people try to be someone else. It reminds me of the popular book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking‎" In that book, the author suggest that introverts fake extroversion in short bursts. As an introvert myself, this is something I've done for a decade. It's tiring but pays off. Sometimes we introverts miss out on great opportunities be…

"The author suggests that introverts fake extroversion" is still convincing someone to be an extrovert.

No, it's really not, especially if you don't drop the "in short bursts" qualifier.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#26

Post by xpose2000 » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 9:01 PM UTC

groby_b wrote: post #23

xpose2000 wrote: post #13

The most interesting part is the meetups section. I just can't fathom that meeting people and listen to them talk about themselves is using my time wisely. As you mentioned, most of them are bullshitters. I feel as though it should be spent improving my product, or writing a blog post about my product. Is this the wrong way of thinking? I am the only employee. I'm supposed to do what I'm good at, and that's coding...…

Yes, someone will notice your product. That someone, by necessity, is someone who knows of your product. So you need to expose people to your product. And ideally, you want this someone to be someone who knows a lot of other people. (A "multiplier". Or "influencer". Or whatever it's called this week) As an engineer, you might be tempted to call those people "bullshitters", because they talk more than they create. The…

Well said. I appreciate that response. :)

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#27

Post by jeffwass » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 9:08 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #18

Not necessarily related to introverts per-se, but I see it a lot in the geeky stereotype. Try getting good clothes. Go to a good store and let the people do their thing. (Or otherwise find some fashion advice). I did this as an experiment a few years back. Just walked into a place, gave em some cash and said make me look less of a dork. (I usually just wore slacks and a plain tshirt, mostly dark colors, nothing worth…

> It was like this secret power, just putting on a Wardrobe of Charisma +5.

That made me chuckle.

Mind commenting on what kind of clothes they offered and for what sort of price range?

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#28

Post by Paul_Dessert » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 9:08 PM UTC

xpose2000 wrote: post #26

groby_b wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, someone will notice your product. That someone, by necessity, is someone who knows of your product. So you need to expose people to your product. And ideally, you want this someone to be someone who knows a lot of other people. (A "multiplier". Or "influencer". Or whatever it's called this week) As an engineer, you might be tempted to call those people "bullshitters", because they talk more than they create. The…

Well said. I appreciate that response. :)

Agreed, very well said.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#29

Post by HeyLaughingBoy » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 9:18 PM UTC

xpose2000 wrote: post #13

The most interesting part is the meetups section. I just can't fathom that meeting people and listen to them talk about themselves is using my time wisely. As you mentioned, most of them are bullshitters. I feel as though it should be spent improving my product, or writing a blog post about my product. Is this the wrong way of thinking? I am the only employee. I'm supposed to do what I'm good at, and that's coding...…

Think of it this way. Who are you creating your product for, yourself or these other people that you're blogging to?

If it's not solely for you, and you do really want to build a good product, then you have to listen to what people say about it. And you can't just close your ears when they stop talking about your product and about themselves and their own problems; to be a good listener you have to listen to all of it.

Retreating into what you're good at is just that: retreating. To make progress in any area you have to get past obstacles, including the ones you create for yourself. In the end, you will never be successful without communicating. And communicating goes both ways.

Re: The introvert's guide to getting noticed

#30

Post by sanoli » Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 9:34 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #18

Not necessarily related to introverts per-se, but I see it a lot in the geeky stereotype. Try getting good clothes. Go to a good store and let the people do their thing. (Or otherwise find some fashion advice). I did this as an experiment a few years back. Just walked into a place, gave em some cash and said make me look less of a dork. (I usually just wore slacks and a plain tshirt, mostly dark colors, nothing worth…

Two best things, bar none, that a geek can do, if that's what he wants to accomplish: begin working out, and get non-geek clothes (my wife calls them 'anti-girlfriend shirts', when referring to the only-hackers-get-the-inside-joke-on-the-message shirts).