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Expansive Expressions

NeuroInclusion: Lead with Curiosity, Design for Accessibility.

[Love Poem to the Difficult Person]

by | Sep 11, 2023 | Methodology

 

Beware the difficult person
we lurk in hallways, offices, on your social media pages
asking questions
dreaming new worlds
building new systems
holding accountable, those who have had free reign, for too long

 

Beware the difficult person
we won’t laugh at your not-joke
we won’t play along tidy and obedient
we won’t just let it go

 

Beware the difficult person
we don’t recognize authority that isn’t earned
we don’t follow rules that have no purpose or integrity
we don’t value your comfort over Truth

 

Continually learning, growing, striving to know and do better
you will not find us compliant with your
“We’ve always done it this way,” and your
“Because I said so,” and your
“That’s just how it/he/she/they is/are”

 

Beware the difficult person
becoming into the fullness of our identity
becoming into the fullness of our power
becoming into the fullness of our purpose

 

Beware the difficult person
refusing masks that only serve your comfort
being unmoved by your pearl-clutching performances
no longer laboring exploited for your benefit

 

Beware the difficult person
who won’t scroll past your racism
your misogyny
your ableism
your hate
your violence
your willful ignorance

 

Beware the difficult person
who disrupts your homeostasis
who brings new perspective
who is unapologetically defiant
who tells you their pronouns
who invites you to use new language
who exists in multiple, intersecting, dimensions of being
who just wants to survive life long enough for the chance to thrive

 

                 
jen alumbaugh – a difficult person

Resource Roundup – Spring 2023

by | May 7, 2023 | Methodology

I have been collecting a number of Neurodivergent resources and thought that it’s about time I shared them with you before I lose track of them 🙂

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There is a new telehealth Primary Care medical practice that is Neurodivergent-Centered & Affirming called Hopper Health available in I think 5 states currently with plans to expand to the entire US. A friend of mine just had their first appointment with them and felt so seen, heard, taken seriously, and had such a positive experience over all!

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Along those lines, NeuroSpark Health is a new virtual telemental health practice serving neurodivergent adults with Autism and ADHD assessments, coaching, and therapy. I have connected with both the founders and love their energy and vision. They are neurodivergent, queer-affirming and virtually available in I think around 35 states with plans to expand to all 50 US states.

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If you are a writer looking to turn that someday into today, check out the 12month writing incubator Caitlin Fisher offers through their Working Title Cohort program that includes online community, live coaching, 90day writing challenges, accountability, frameworks, and more! They are an amazing writer and coach in addition to being neurodivergent!! Win-win-win 🙂 They are accepting applications right now for the next cohort–don’t snooze on this chance to get your first or next book written!

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Are you an LGBTQIA2S business looking for a Social Media Manager and Virtual Assistant? I recommend Nix Song, the Cozy Queer Assistant! They are amazing at supporting not only the ongoing upkeep of social media content, but generating new leads, supporting your launches, and keeping the action happening in your online spaces so you can stay doing your magic in your zone of genius.

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Could your BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S, neurodivergent business use a refresh on your content marketing and brand-building? Look no further than Pancake Copy Cats founded by Kitty Garcia. Head over to their page and pick your stack: 🥞 Podcast editing; YouTube video editing; Copywriting & editing ; Email marketing; Content management; Social media management ; Community management.

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Two other resources that have come across my feed lately are FLOWN – an app that offers on-demand deep focus co-working sessions; and Goblin Tools an AI tool that can do things like organize your brain dumps, create step breakdowns of tasks, other cool executive functioning supports. I haven’t used either, but have heard rave reviews by others who have used them.

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Did you catch my latest blog on what I call the Neurodivergent Time + Energy Paradox? If not, you can read it here! And if you are interested in a more extended discussion with practicle tools you can practice, check out the replay of my Replenish Masterclass from April 28th.
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If you havne’t ordered it already, I encourage you to pick up your own set of Tricia Hersey’s Rest Deck (she’s the founder of The Nap Ministry) and her work on deconstructing the hustle & grind culture of white supremacy and capitalism is absolutely in alignment with cultivating a neurodefiant life 🙂

 

What tools, resources, and services have you been using that have been game changers for you in protecting your time and energy?

What challenges have been coming up for you in strategizing your schedule to protect your time and energy?  I can help you with this!

Click the button below to schedule a free Curiosity Call!

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#Money #Funding #BusinessDevelopment #StartUp #Neurodivergent #Entrepreneurs #Founders #MoneyMindset #Business #Community #FundRaising #investing

The Neurodivergent Time-Energy Paradox

by | Apr 25, 2023 | Methodology

For AuDHDers and many other neurodivergent people, there is a unique relationship between time and energy. So when someone asks us, “How long do you think you’ll need to finish up X?” Sometimes we stall out in answering because we must factor in the amount of energy it will take to complete a task and that will determine the time it takes.

And we cannot always predict where our energy readings will be on a given day.* 

At a time when a person has full energy reserves, they may be able to breeze through the task quickly. At other times when the energy reserve is on or close to empty, that same task can take an excruciating amount of time. When I speak of energy here, it isn’t just physical energy, but social-emotional-mental energy as well factors into the equation. 

An example from my lived-experience, determining how long it will take to complete a task can be challenging because at times, that particular task took very little time and effort to complete because I was “in the zone” and yet at other times if I am required to do a particular task and I am not “in the zone,” the same task can take exponentially longer to accomplish.

So there are variables to consider when estimating how long a project will take to complete. And when we are discussing neurobiological differences like AuDHD, it’s vital that people understand that being in the “zone” or not has to do with the neurological structure & functioning of the AuDHD brain and is not a matter of will that someone can override with “mind over matter” thinking.

 Because energy and time are linked together, it is not simply a matter of AuDHDers implementing time management tools. Certainly, things like visual timers and clocks, alarms and schedule reminders, and transitional prompts can be helpful and also, this is where having access to accommodations and compassionate understanding from loved-ones, employers, and friends is vital for an AuDHDer to thrive.

 A significant component of accommodations and accessibility that is not widely discussed or understood is the reality that AuDHD people are neurobiologically unable to perform at the same level, throughout the day, every single day.

This does not make us unreliable; it means that we need greater flexibility and accommodation around our unique ebbs and flows of work time and energy.

*When a person experiences varying ability due to illness, injury, or disability, that is referred to as a “dynamic disability.”  Often mistaken for “faking” it must be recognized and respected that a person’s limits and capacity vary and are contingent upon a vast array of circumstances.  In short, when a person shares their capacity or limits, trust them to know their own body and mind.

How do you experience the Time-Energy Paradox?

Could you use some help in strategizing your schedule, tasks, and down-time in order to honor your own Time-Energy Paradox?

Click the button below to schedule a free Curiosity Call!

Apply to Work with Jennifer

#TimeManagement #Accommodations #Energy #Accessiblity #NeuroInclusion #flexibility #Inclusive #DEI #ProjectManagement #DynamicDisability #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #ADHD #TimeBlindness

Creative Ways to Seek Funding to Invest in Business Development Services

by | Apr 22, 2023 | Biz Blooming Tips, Methodology, Money Mindset, Resources, ROI

Investing in your businesses can be a daunting idea–especially in the early stages and ESPECIALLY for folx who are identities that have been historically excluded and undercapitalized.

Here’s the good news, it’s not impossible.

And also.

Please do what *best* suits you and your budget. There will be opportunities for you to join programs during another cycle in the future. This is not your only/last chance.

Sometimes a program or service or group is the absolute right thing at the wrong time. That’s ok, trust yourself and honor your financial boundaries.

I’ve gathered up 9 Creative Ways to Seek Funding for Business Development Services (all of which I have tried or used at some point in my entrepreneurial journey).

💸Look for or ask about a payment plan

💸Apply for PayPal credit to cover the cost

💸Apply for/use business credit card or line of credit associated with your EIN (separate from personal credit)

💸Check if there are money mindset blocks getting in your way and work through them with a coach

💸Brainstorm ways you could bring in extra money to cover the cost

💸Some businesses offer services like WizeBank, FundMyContract, or other financing services

💸Check your eligibility for a Personal or Business Loan

💸Do a crowd-funding campaign

💸Apply for business grants

As they say, “It takes money to make money,” and starting, sustaining, and scaling your business all require financial investments.

Sure, there are a lot of learning tools available for free online.  And also, some of the most valuable assets that you can invest in are the relationships with coaches, mentors, and colleagues who you can turn to for support, accountability, and training.

The key truth to remember is that when you are making wise investments in your business, there is a rich return on your investment.

      • When you invest in hiring staff, the work they do will 1) free you up to stay in your zone of genius and 2) should bring in more revenue because they are working on marketing, lead generation, and outreach systems
      • When you invest in software that helps you collect and track lead data that will help you turn those leads into clients, you don’t lose anyone slipping through the cracks
      • When you invest in a business coach, you are getting premium access to someone with the training, knowledge and experience to guide you in the next right steps of your business
      • When you invest in a mindset coach, you have a guide to help you move through the bullying beliefs that stand in your way of thriving
      • When you invest in a money coach, you have an expert in your corner guiding you as you price your products and services, as you allocate reveneue, and as you increase your profits
      • When you invest in a business attorney or a set of contracts created by a business attorney that protect your business, your Intellectual Property, and your money, you won’t lose money to unnecessary refunds, or stolen IP
      • When you invest in an Accountant and/or Bookkeeper, you will have financial experts who know how to keep your business on track with taxes, and to keep you in the know about everything that is going on with your profits, losses, and flows

Just to be clear, you don’t necessarily need to invest in all of these all at once.  Certain investments are valuable at different times in your business building process.  And the best news is that sometimes, you can find a 3-in-1 deal like me, who is a mindset, business, and money coach all in one amazing, neurodivergent package!

 

What comes up for you as you read this blog?

If you’re finding scarcity scars and money mindset issues surfacing and getting in the way of your expansive dreams, let’s talk about it–I’d love to coach you through them into financial liberation!

Click the button below to schedule a free Curiosity Call!

Apply to Work with Jennifer

#Money #Funding #BusinessDevelopment #StartUp #Neurodivergent #Entrepreneurs #Founders #MoneyMindset #Business #Community #FundRaising #investing

Six Practices for Self Liberation

by | Aug 27, 2022 | Entrepreneurs, Methodology, Mindset

Dear Expansioneers,

Over the past 25 years, I have honed a methodology informed by my past work as a complex trauma specialist, out of my own anti-oppression learning & unlearning, by my lived experiences, inspired by my teachers and mentors, and rooted in my primal longing for justice, equity, accessibility, and liberation for all!

Much like the spiral at the center of this graphic, the Intersectional Mindset Coaching journey I take with clients is not linear. This journey is more like a spiral staircase: we come back around to practices, but never in exactly the same place.

 

We know different things, we are different, we become a little more ourselves with each revolution.

As with all things, this is a living, dynamic, ideology continually evolving as I learn and become in my own liberation.

I walk through each of these practices all of my Intersectional Mindset Coaching clients:

Click on any of the Six Practices of Intersectional Mindset Coaching above for an in depth exploration.

So what is Intersectional Mindset Coaching anyway?

 

How is it any different from other Mindset Coaching?

When my clients shift their mindset off the belief of “internal brokenness” to “systems are actively working against your flourishing,” a tremendous weight of shame is lifted and they can get on with the work of being their incredible, creative, badass selves. It is a glorious sight to see!

Jennifer Alumbaugh, MS

I’m so glad you asked! 

Intersectional Mindset Coaching is Mindset Coaching done through a lens of naming and understanding the bullying believes created by toxic systems that are at the root of a client’s self doubt, impostor syndrome, and feelings of unworthiness that keep them from living fully vibrant, abundance, and thriving lives.

When we name that villain – Oppressive Systems – we can work to fight against it, instead of fighting against ourselves.

I get to tell my clients, “You are not failing. These systems failed you.”

“You are not too much. These systems told you these lies.”

“You absolutely are worthy of rest. These systems tell you that your worth is connected to what you produce.”

When my clients shift their mindset off the belief of “internal brokenness” to “systems are actively working against your flourishing,” a tremendous weight of shame is lifted and they can get on with the work of being their incredible, creative, badass selves. It is a glorious sight to see!

What do you think?  Are you ready to get rid of some shame baggage and get started on making BIG things happen in your life?  If your curiosity is piqued, let’s set up a FREE 20min curiosity call today!

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Deconstruct False Narratives

by | Aug 4, 2022 | Boundaries, Entrepreneurs, Methodology, Mindset, Practical Tools

The First Step to Solving a Problem, Is Naming the Problem

Dear Expansioneer,

Please receive this when I tell you:

YOU are NOT the problem.

You’re not.

I promise.

Cross my heart.

See, there are systems in place in our society that are designed specifically to make us fail, to make us feel small, to make us feel lazy, to make us feel less-than. This work is not about fixing “what’s broken inside you.” It’s about naming the systems that have caused harm and have indoctrinated their false narratives upon us.

This is step one.

And it can also be step 8.  And step 17.

Like the spiral in the center, we come back around to each practice multiple times in our journey, not to the exact same place, because we’re different. Many times we have new wisdom to mine once we’ve done the work needed to recognize that wisdom when we see it!

Once we’ve identified these bullying beliefs, we can get rid of them. They don’t actually belong to us so we don’t need to keep them around anymore. Some people call this a mindset shift.

Jennifer Alumbaugh, MS

Four Acts of Deconstructing False Narrative

  • Identify Bullying Beliefs
  • Reject and Release Imposed Identities
  • Dismantle Systemic Binaries
  • Find and Ground in your Truth

These are not mutually exclusive and in fact often interact and intersect with each other.

Let’s look at some examples of Bullying Beliefs:

  • “I’m not good enough”
  • “Ugh, I’m the worst, I didn’t get anything done today”
  • “I’m not smart enough”
  • “I feel like an imposter”
  • “I’m so lazy, I called in to work sick with Covid and all I did was lay around in bed all day”
  • “I’m a bad parent; I just got the kids fast food for dinner because I’m so exhausted”
  • “I’m such a mess, I can’t even keep up with the mail”

Any of these sound familiar? Have you ever had any of these thoughts?

 

 

I know I have!

These kinds of thoughts and beliefs about ourselves are not an accurate representation of who we are. They are part of the false narratives we are fed to believe by way of media, marketing, toxic religious messaging, toxic positivity, social media influencers, etc. And behind all of them is capitalism, and patriarchy, and racism, and white supremacy. Yeah. Those lying liars!

When I’m working with clients, part of my role is to hold up a mirror, a true mirror, so they can see their actual reflection…not those wobbly distortions of carnival fun house mirrors that the world shows us.

Once we’ve identified these bullying beliefs, we can get rid of them. They don’t actually belong to us so we don’t need to keep them around anymore. Some people call this a mindset shift.

 

One of my favorite exercises to do with clients is the Reject and Release Imposed Identities. There are so many ways that identities get put upon us without our consent–from gender to career to assumptions about our motives and decisions other people make about us as a result of their own imposed identities.

When a client stands up (literally and/or figuratively) and out loud rejects these parts that never belonged to them in the first place, I get chills. I get to witness and be in awe and that is one of the many reasons why I do what I do! It’s so empowering for clients to do this exercise, it invigorates the other parts of the work we do together.

Sometimes along with that or on it’s own, we Dismantle Systemic Binaries.

Now I know many people are used to hearing binaries associated only with gender, but binaries limit us across so many areas of life!

Good or bad.

Lazy or productive.

Happy or sad.

Calm or upset.

Woman or man.

Young or old.

In or out.

Cold or warm.

Either/ors are so very limiting. Too limiting for the magnificent complexity of the human experience! We are expansive beings who can be and feel and think and become so many glorious things all at once!

 

Our final step in Deconstructing False Narratives is to Find and Ground in Our Truth.

What does this mean, exactly?

Well kind of like in a remodel of a building, once all the old, rotted out, unreliable sections are gutted, the builder finds the beams that are true, that will hold weight, that will carry the rest of the building.

Similarly, once we have gotten rid of all the untrustworthy beliefs we’ve been schlepping around with us, we can finally see clearly what truth remains and is solid foundation for us to ground in.

So, “I’m so lazy,” becomes, “I honor my body’s need for rest.”

“I guess I’m a bitch because I said No,” becomes, “I advocate for myself with the boundaries I need to stay present”

“I’m a bad parent,” becomes, “When I get the kids take-out, I have more energy to play with them and do bedtime routine.”

This is what finding and grounding in our truth can look like. And when we continue our work from a place of being grounded in our truth, we have so much more agency, energy, and self-compassion moving forward.

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