5 March 2021|Latest Posts, Meet the Successful Founder
Joanna has spent more than 24 years working with 1000’s of international clients through her own training & coaching consultancy, Scintillo Ltd. During this time, and through her own earlier experiences, she has seen just how problematic the Extraversion bias in organisations is. It negatively impacts employee engagement, retention and productivity. It also impairs the physical and mental health & well-being of employees with the obvious consequences. Recognising that it was time for action, Joanna founded Flourishing Introverts to support and raise awareness of introversion in both the professional workplace and personally. Joanna has a real passion for helping her clients make the small but sustainable changes that really make a difference. Being a functioning introvert, her clients value her ability to listen to more than the words, understand things from their perspective and co-create robust, pragmatic solutions.
What would you love to share with other women to encourage them to start their own business?
As a woman of a certain age, who identifies as an introvert, starting my own business was the best move I ever made. No more having to pretend in order to fit in. No more having to bite my tongue with obnoxious clients. No more asking permission to work my own hours and take holidays when it suited me. The absolute cherry on the top though, was that I got to shape my business in alignment with my own values, ethics and morals in order to deliver my greater purpose. If you’re tired of compromising who you are, of pretending to be something you’re not in order to fit in and get on, get clear on who you want to serve and strike out on your own. You won’t regret it. No-one says it will be easy, but the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
What are your top 5 tips for entrepreneurial success?
Get really clear on your purpose in life. The westernised version of Ikigai is so useful for this.
Take time to understand who your ideal client is & what makes them tick.
Work on your mindset so your inner critic doesn’t hold you back. Don’t compare yourselves to others as we are each on our own journeys.
Put systems in place early so you know where you are, where the money is coming from and what needs to happen next.
Work with an experienced mentor or coach who will challenge you, support you and help you to become the best version of yourself.
Who are the top 5 women who inspire you the most?
Susan Cain. As an introvert working with introverts and intent on shifting the extraversion bias, Cain continues to be an inspiration.
Lynda Holt has been such a great coach, mentor and friend to me on this journey of finding my true calling.
Audrey Hepburn for her style & grace. She openly claimed her introversion and said that nothing is impossible.
Caroline McHugh whose TED talk The Art of Being Yourself, taught me how my inferiority complex was holding me back.
Brené Brown. Her work on vulnerability & shame is invaluable.
What is your favourite saying/Inspirational quote?
This is my own and keeps me working at the outer edge of my comfort zone in service of my own growth: “Passion plus purpose trumps fear”.
Website and socials
Website: https://www.flourishingintroverts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/what.type.are.you/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoannaRawbone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishingintroverts/?hl=en
