I didn't have the emotional energy to be schmoozing, wheeling, and dealing; I'd much rather have invested that same time and energy in learning, growing, and pr

I didn't have the emotional energy to be schmoozing, wheeling, and dealing; I'd much rather have invested that same time and energy in learning, growing, and producing great work. I can recommend Finland to you, as far as introversion goes. Anyone here who's talking loud, fast, or talking at all gives a suspicious impression, in general. A very energetic and talkative salesman would hardly make any sales in Finland. People appreciate individuals who only talk when they have something important to say. Granted, this sort of aversion has its downsides as well but most foreigners I've talked to say that the thing they love in Finland is the lack of pressure to talk all the time. Or become visible by talking: you can become visible more effectively by not talking. And, of course, it applies to non-work environment as well: you can sit in a train in peace without nobody trying to small-talk you out of your thoughts. (Reminder: this is a generalization, of course. But not such a ridiculous extrapolation out of a few stereotypes, after all.)