Everyone Shines

Sometimes all you need is to move to the light.

Audio narration by David Marlow

Reminagined artwork by David Marlow from an original photo by Lukas Tennie

“Everyone shines, given the right lighting.”

Susan Cain

It was my daughter who recommended Susan Cain’s book ‘Quiet.’

“Dad, you have to read this!”

Beyond the age of 50, life-altering books become a rarity, but 'Quiet' proved to be a remarkable exception in my case.

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In it, Cain celebrates the power and value of introverts. The takeaway for me was to realize many of the behaviors I had been criticized for in school and my career were actually quite normal.

They were also positive when applied correctly.

That’s not my thing.

As one example, being quiet in business meetings and listening allowed me to create impactful solutions.

In business, especially in executive leadership, you are expected to ‘contribute’ to the meeting. This is all too often seen as talking and surprisingly often best seen as interrupting others.

That’s not my thing. What I found through reading this book was that my approach was a good and necessary part of a successful meeting. We need the talkers and the listeners.

As Matshona Dhliwayo said, “Silence is sometimes the loudest voice in a room.”

You are a marvelous creation.

Whether you are an introvert, extrovert, or like me, somewhere in between, I want you to know something.

You are a marvelous creation. Embrace it, accept it, and grow it.

If you aren’t shining where you are right now, perhaps it is time to move into a different light.

🌀Osusume¹

I'm going to finish this post with an osusume. Osusume means recommended.

Oftentimes, I will talk about or draw a quote or an idea from a book, and people will follow up and ask me about it.

I might start sharing books that I've read and why they might be helpful for you.

If you haven’t read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, I recommend giving it a look. If you are an introvert, it will help you see that part of your personality as a gift. If you aren’t, it will help you create a deeper and more empathetic connection with those in your life who are introverts.

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1. Osusume means recommended as in recommended reading.