Author Susan Cain discusses Warren Buffett's temperament and research on introverts in finance with Lenny Rachitsky.
Insight
Cain: Going deeply into intense passion is a hallmark introvert trait
“There's something about like the intensity with which you do your work and you're like so passionate about your subject and your means of success is by going
Super deep into your passion, and that's such an introvert thing.”
Insight
Cain: Social events energize extroverts but drain introverts after two hours
“If you're an extrovert, you probably find this, like, incredibly energizing, and so after two hours or so,
You're looking for more because you're now hyper energized.
And if you're an introvert, no matter how much you love all those people you were just talk…”
Insight
Cain: Introverts often lose touch with preferences due to extroverted culture
“For introverts in an extroverted culture, we spend so much time kind of unconsciously adapting to what we think our preferences are supposed to be that I hear from many people that they kind of have lost touch with how they actually prefer to spend their time.”
Insight
Cain: Overcoming public speaking anxiety is skill acquisition, not becoming extroverted
“That's not really describing, I don't believe, becoming more extroverted. That's more describing acquiring skills. And also managing fears. So, and even managing, learning to manage a fear is a type of skill.”
Assertion Supported
Cain: People naturally become more introverted and mellow as they age
“Psychologists have studied this, so like, People tend to mellow out over time. So if you were, let's say, the third most extroverted person in your high school, and then you go to your high school reunion, 40 years later you'll probably still be one of the mos…”
Insight
Cain: Public speaking yields disproportionate professional visibility and respect
“There's something in our culture where people who put themselves forward on a stage gain disproportionate respect.”