That anecdote is from a book called Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orlando. It's a short, excellent study on the exact thrust of this thread: i.e, the collision of talent and persistence and how a successful artist harnesses both of them.
On talent they say, "By definition, whatever [talent] you have is exactly what you need to produce your best work. There is probably no clearer waste of psychic energy than worrying about how much talent you have -- and probably no worry more common."
I think the author's onto something, but unfortunately, he never comes out and says the word that could give his article some real legs.
The word is "improvise".
You can plan, you can set goals, you can track milestones, (or not, if you follow the article), but at some point you'll hit a crossroads where all you have to go on are your experience and your instincts. And then you'll have to act.
You'll have to improvise.
And to me, these moments of improvisation are where life is at. They're the moments we remember. The moments we tell stories about. The moments when success and failure are born.
Now, the author seems to be living a life of pure improvisation. That's a beautiful thing. However, it's most certainly not a goal-free thing. He's eliminated the "how" (he makes it all up as he goes along) but he hasn't eliminated the "what". He still has goals. He still has wants. Heck, his number one advice is to "follow your passions" -- and what's passion but an overwhelming desire to achieve some goal?
What he really ought to have said is, "Know yourself, know what you want, but don't tear yourself up over the logistics."
If you're introverted, you NEED time alone. It's how your body, mind, and soul replenish themselves. It can feel like a hindrance sometimes, but it's how you're wired. The good news is that it's not inherently an obstacle to a fulfilling social life.
My advice is to determine how much "me time" you need every day. Give it to yourself, but be careful not to succumb to any anti-social tendencies. The fact is, people are important, and good social skills will serve you as well as, if not better, than good hacking skills. (For one thing, the more people you know, the more opportunities come your way.)
I think the main problem introverts have is we have trouble "just hangin'". This is because it's physically draining to just idly fritter the day away with others. Unfortunately, that's where a lot of social bonding comes from. The way I've gotten around this is to limit my time in group settings -- but when I'm with people, I make sure I'm "on". A party, a dinner, a night out, a meeting, whatever. As long as I've had time alone to charge up, I'm good to go.
Some other posters have mentioned public speaking. I've noticed that introverts are often GREAT performers. I know this is true for myself. Public speaking, acting, music, introverts seem to really come alive on stage. I think the reason is twofold.
For one, we're already pretty comfortable inside our own skins, and for another, it's an outlet to express whatever it is we need to express without the draining meandering of ordinary dialogue. If you're having trouble branching out you might try an acting class. I've found these to be awesomely rewarding.
After many years I've come to think of my introversion as a glorified speech impediment. If you let it get in the way, it will, but if you put a little effort into it, it's something people won't even notice after a while.
And oh yeah, on campus you'll likely come across some "cool loner" types from time to time. Most likely they'll be on a motorcycle. These, my friend, are introverts. Careful observation of how they navigate social situations could prove valuable.
I have noticed that it doesn't mix well with alcohol though. It still puts me to sleep, but then I'm up at 4am and definitely not refreshed.