Have you ever seen this Apple commercial from over 20 years ago?
This ad was featured in Apple’s now-iconic “Think Different” campaign, and was conceived to convey the difference between the Mac product line and the regular, run-of-the-mill PC. Not paying attention to the industry at the time, I don’t what actual impact it made on selling computers, but it proved particularly poignant when Apple founder Steve Jobs died in 2011.
I never tire of watching that video. Its message is one we should all strive to embrace in our lives. It’s a classic “never give up” message, paired with all of the can’t-help-but-make-you smiles of the Goonies. Thumb your nose at the establishment! Run when everyone else walks! Stand out and change the world!
A message of hope. Even one of idealism. George McFly might as well be at the end telling Marty, “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”
But there is something that is lost in this message. Something that gets lost in this message. And I’m going to ask it here:
What about the quiet ones?
What about all of those people who are not comfortable standing out? What about those people that are insanely great behind the scenes? What about the people that just make things work? What about those that change the world, but quietly?
Yes, these people actually exist. They are all around you. You may not even know they’re there. And that’s kind of the point. They like it that way. They’re called introverts.
I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Lee Feagin, and I am a card-carrying introvert.
(Hard to believe, huh?)
It’s actually not. I mean, look at my career choice. A developer. Most developers are hard-core introverts! I was no different. Hell, I am still no different.
How do I know?
- I am WAY more comfortable staying in my pajamas and knocking out some productive code than holding meetings.
- I like to rent movies on iTunes at home rather than wade into the craziness of the movie theater.
- Takeout is my friend.
- I’ll text you all day. Or email. Phone calls are unnecessary.
- Friday nights are easier on the couch.
Speaking for my people, we do not like to boast. We don’t shout things from the rooftops. We don’t accept praise…well. We’d rather deflect to (literally) anything else. We want to do our work, sometimes exceptional work, and then retreat into our own comforts. Knowing we have accomplished something great.
Yet, songs and movies and stories are written about the extroverts. Not us.
You may be thinking to yourself, “why would you want movies and songs and stories written about you? You don’t like attention. You just said that.”
And you’d be right. For the most part.
But here’s the thing. We are also human. Just like the extroverts. We need reassurance. We need to know we are doing well. We need to know we mean something. That we are making a difference. We need to know that we are appreciated.
And the catch-22 is that while want these things (just like everyone does), we are reticent to just tell you. We don’t like being a problem to solve. We stay silent.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to recognize it. To call it out. To make it a big deal. We don’t need movies made about us. Or songs written about us. Or stories told of us. We just need a “thank you” every now and then. A “really appreciate it!” from time to time.
Just don’t expect an elegant response. We’re not that practiced on appropriate responses.
Better yet, just text us. :)
