Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Episode 60: Aleasha Bahr

Jul 13, 2024

42:12

Welcome to episode #60 We’re thrilled to be joined by Aleasha Bahr today.

Aleasha Bahr is a sales strategist, speaker, best-selling author, and founder of the Black Sheep Sales Method™️. She has 15 years of experience customizing sales strategies for businesses. Aleasha is an ADHDer and uses it to her advantage in her career.

Welcome to the show Aleasha!

QUESTIONS

Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity?
1. When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical?
  1. Didn’t know that habits were neurodivergent until a few years ago
    1. Getting frustrated when she can’t open certain things.
    2. Can’t conform to deadlines
    3. Fidget
      1. Doodling
    4. Empathy
2. What challenges did you face?
  1. Humans are draining
    1. So concerned with another person’s experience that they are constantly trying to accommodate.
  2. Stimulants can make her tired
  3. Trying to figure out what works for her brain
  4. Getting diagnosed as a woman
    1. It felt normalized because she was in the entrepreneurial space.
  5. Spiraling
    1. Catastrophising
      1. Not acting on the spiraling thoughts
  6. Figuring out how to get stuff done
3. What is it like now?
  1. Learning to communicate the experience
    1. Is it a shared experience?
4. What neuro-exceptional strengths are you leaning into now?
  1. Empathy - sales
    1. Ask more questions
    2. Listen (including to what they don’t say)
    3. Pattern interrupt
What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
1. Sales training (Black Sheep)
  1. Clients = service providers who provide their own services
    1. Not just solopreneurs
  2. Avoid working with corporates - people are engaged
  3. Ethos:
    1. don’t manipulate buyers or use shame
    2. Be transparent
    3. Meet their needs
    4. Make lots of money
2. Group sales training
  1. A different approach - previously did 1 on 1 coaching/training so that she fully understood the client’s offer
How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
1. Boundaries:
  1. “That doesn’t make sense for my family” - if people ask for something beyond what she can offer
2. Tries not to identify completely as “Mom”
  1. Boundaries around
    1. Personal time
      1. Colouring
        Adult coloring books
        Absent-mindedly coloring
      2. Write music/singing
      3. Writing a book
    2. Partner time
    3. Friend time
1. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
  1. Day blocking
    1. Monday and Friday are 0 meetings.
    2. Tuesday - Thursday are just meetings.
  2. Doodling/colouring/going for a walk to unlock creativity
  3. Delegation - detailed work to someone else
    1. Calendar management
    2. Podcast editing + distribution
    3. Social media management (Aleasha creates the content, EA uploads/schedules it)
  4. Lots of lists - bullet points
2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
  1. Time blocking
  2. Putting stuff into spreadsheets
  3. Likes having a bit of freedom/disorganization
    1. A lot of productivity advice is around rigidity and isn’t flexible.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
How do you manage communication with neurotypical folk?
1. Remember that dealing with difficult people is optional
2. Transparency
What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
1. Mon, Wed, Fri - work out virtually with someone
  1. At 5:30 AM?
2. Otherwise, getting kids dressed and out the door.
  1. Generally, talking to someone gets her out of that stress
    1. And being able to offer value.
How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
1. Brain dump before bed to prevent looping
2. Personifying your mind
  1. Instead of trying to switch off the thoughts, thank the mind for the thoughts
Where can people connect with you or find your work?
1. Podcast
  1. Sales is not a dirty word
2. Website
  1. aleashabahr.com
Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
1. “There is no good or bad - there is effective and ineffective” - avoid judgment, focus on being effective