[RSBob]

Boy can I ever relate to 95% of the comments above. For most of my life I enjoyed being with people but hated making small talk. Was afraid of being judged by saying something stupid, so usually kept my mouth shut (- read, self conscious and esteem issues.)

In corporate life, I took public speaking and presentation skills classes which forced me out of my shell. For three years I was a corporate software trainer, flying up and down the west coast teaching all day classes for classes up to 60 people. Teaching taught me that I can keep people engaged, listening and laughing and all I had to do was relax and be myself. That was a super confidence builder. Later I was doing project management with teams up 100 for months on end. Later I worked as a technical requirements analyst, working with internal departments and developers and testers to create programmatic solutions by leading multi-team conference calls.

To make a way too long story shorter, I was able to force myself out of my shell and now am comfortable in groups, dinner parties and with chatting with perfect strangers. But deep down inside, I still feel the insecurity until I get into the social situation and get my footing and then it evaporates. So take heart fellow introvert, shy folks, if you want, it can be overcome.