Meet Tara Reid

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Reid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Growing up, I was the quiet kid. The one who preferred listening over speaking, observing rather than jumping into the spotlight. I can still hear the well-meaning but frustrating advice from teachers and family members: “You need to speak up more,” “Be more outgoing,” “Don’t be so shy.” Over time, that message settled deep, convincing me that something about me needed to change.

Fast forward to 2007, when I started my first online business. I thought success meant becoming someone I wasn’t — louder, more extroverted, more like the people I saw thriving online. I pushed myself to follow strategies that felt uncomfortable, believing that confidence was something I had to manufacture.

But then, I had what I now call my “self-acceptance moment.” It wasn’t a lightning bolt of clarity but a gradual realization: I didn’t need to change who I was to be successful. Confidence wasn’t about forcing myself into a mold that didn’t fit. It was about embracing my strengths, trusting my own voice, and building a business that worked for me.

That shift changed everything. I stopped seeking external validation and started leaning into what made me different. I built a sustainable business model that honored my energy and personality, and in doing so, I found a version of confidence that felt real — one rooted in self-acceptance rather than performance.

Confidence, I learned, isn’t about being the loudest in the room. It’s about owning who you are, trusting that who you are is enough, and building success on your terms.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been an entrepreneur at heart since childhood — selling cans of pop on the side of the road and tagging along with my mom at craft shows, fascinated by the idea that you could create something and have people see value in it. That curiosity led me to start my first business, a handmade jewelry company, which I grew to six figures as a solopreneur. But as I evolved, so did my passion. I realized that what truly lit me up was helping other entrepreneurs, particularly introverts like myself, build businesses in a way that felt sustainable and aligned with who they are.

Now, I’m a business and marketing strategist dedicated to helping introverted entrepreneurs, course creators, and service providers grow their businesses without the overwhelm of hustle culture. My approach is all about organic and evergreen marketing strategies — things that work long-term, so my clients don’t have to constantly be “on” to see success.

What excites me most about my work is seeing introverts step into their strengths instead of feeling like they need to be someone they’re not. I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to feel like success requires being the loudest in the room. But the truth is, quiet strategies can be just as powerful, if not more so. My mission is to show entrepreneurs that they can build a thriving business in a way that feels fun and sustainable without draining their energy.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my resources and trainings to make evergreen marketing even more accessible. I have some exciting new offers in the works, including deeper support for entrepreneurs who want to build a business that runs smoothly without constantly chasing leads. I’m also continuing to build my community, The Introvertpreneur Club, where introverted entrepreneurs can connect, learn, and grow together. I’m also hosting the 5th annual Introvertpreneur Virtual Summit in April 2025.

At the core of everything I do is the belief that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your well-being. You can build a business that works for you — on your terms, at your own pace, and in a way that feels good.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back on my journey as an entrepreneur, three qualities have been absolutely essential in shaping my success: self-awareness, adaptability, and a focus on sustainable growth. Each of these has played a key role in helping me build a business that feels good and supports my lifestyle as an introvert.

1. Self-Awareness: Owning Who You Are
In the early days of my business, I thought I had to be someone else to succeed. More extroverted, more “visible,” more like the people I saw thriving online. But I learned that real success comes from leaning into your strengths, not fighting against them.

Advice for beginners: Take time to understand what energizes and drains you. Are you more comfortable writing than speaking? Focus on blogging or email marketing instead of forcing yourself into live videos. Play to your strengths, and don’t feel pressured to follow strategies that don’t align with who you are.

2. Adaptability: Embracing Change Without Losing Yourself
Entrepreneurship is full of surprises. Strategies that used to work may stop working, platforms evolve, and industries shift. Being willing to pivot and try new things has been crucial in my journey.

Advice for beginners: Stay open to learning, but don’t get caught up in chasing every new trend. Instead of jumping from one strategy to the next, focus on long-term skills like organic marketing, automation, and relationship-building. This will make it easier to adapt when needed without feeling like you’re starting over.

3. Sustainable Growth: Building a Business That Supports You
For too long, I bought into the idea that success meant hustling 24/7. But burnout is not a business strategy. The biggest shift in my success came when I embraced evergreen and organic marketing strategies — things that worked for me even when I wasn’t actively promoting.

Advice for beginners: Don’t fall into the trap of short-term wins that require constant effort to maintain. Instead, focus on creating systems that allow you to step back while your business keeps running. This might mean building a strong content strategy, automating parts of your business, or prioritizing offers that bring in recurring revenue.

At the end of the day, success isn’t about working harder. It’s about working in a way that aligns with you. If you can develop self-awareness, embrace change without losing your core values, and build for the long term, you’ll create a business that not only thrives but also supports your well-being.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Growing up, I watched my mom pour her heart into crafting and selling her handmade creations at local craft shows. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those experiences planted the first seeds of my entrepreneurial journey. Seeing her take something she loved and turn it into something people paid for made me realize that working for yourself wasn’t just a dream. It was a real option.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thetarareid.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-reid-marketing
• Other: The Introvertpreneur Podcast: https://thetarareid.com/podcast