John Hagel, one of my favorite thinkers, has written a wonderful post on how the "big shift" (from a world "where stocks of knowledge and short-lived transactions are the key to success" to a world "where participation in many, diverse flows of knowledge and long-term, trust-based relationships determine success") puts shy people – like him, as he admits – at a significant disadvantage. Passion is the main catalyst for overcoming it, Hagel says.
Here's the key paragraph:
"For everyone, whether shy or not, the Big Shift poses other challenges. We generally treat relationships as sources of stability in a confusing, complicated and rapidly changing world. We seek out people who share our backgrounds and experiences, those who can make us comfortable and reassure us that our ways of viewing the world are valid and enduring. Once we find these people and connect with them, we develop relationships that comfort us rather than challenge us to achieve our full potential.
The strength of these relationships also becomes a vulnerability. Lulling us into complacency, they insulate us from new perspectives and practices far more appropriate to the changing world around us.
In sharp contrast, passion holds the key to creating and shaping relationships that will help us thrive in a rapidly changing world. It motivates even the shyest of us to reach out and connect with others in ways that become catalysts for creativity and growth. Passion fosters a uniquely strong and productive bond that provides both the stability and stimulus needed to continue to grow and succeed in a constantly changing world."
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