01 Real talk with James
Welcome to the Be Neuroinclusive Club podcast, the show for and with freelancers and small business owners who recognise that people often think, learn and respond in different ways.
Today’s guest is James Dean who owns HR Courses Online, a training company that works with HR professionals to advance their careers through CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualifications.
I was introduced to James through a mutual friend, and when I posted about looking for guests to come on this show, James was literally the first person to respond. And I’m so glad he did because we had a really interesting chat.
Dyslexia isn’t a topic he often speaks about, so I am really grateful to James for speaking so candidly during our conversation.
Tune in today to learn about James and also:
the career advice he most definitely did not follow when he left school with GCSEs
the path of least resistance and how that supported his freakin' MBA
the (frankly shocking!) unpopular opinions he hears when it comes to dyslexia and neurodivergence
being named HR Most Influential 2023! 🎉
Oh, and the word "weird" crops up today more than once - maybe we're both a little weird - I'm cool with that.
Thinking about working with me?
Hi - I’m Victoria Tretis
An introverted, HSP-thinking, certified coach working with corporates, individuals and via Access to Work.
I work with neurodivergent adults who feel stuck and overwhelmed in the chaos of daily life. They want to design and achieve their version of success (I don’t believe there is one right way to achieve this).
Or, sometimes, I work with line managers of neurodivergent employees who want to better understand and support their team members.
My work is not about rich people getting richer.
Instead, sessions are centred around clients wanting to better understand themselves and others better.
If you’d like to find out more, feel free to get in touch or book a call.
Sponsored by The Herbtender
Big thanks to my fabulous friends at The Herbtender for sponsoring the Be Neuroinclusive Club podcast!
🎫 Use discount code Victoria20 to save 20%
This is a wellness supplement brand I absolutely adore and have been a massive fan of for well over a year now.
They combine ancient plant wisdom with modern science to create adaptogenic herb blends to help me focus, calm my anxiety, and switch off my brain at the end of the day. All through nature's healing powers.
The team's been super generous and given us all an extra discount on their Neuro Balance Set - all info here. AND 20% off other items when you use code Victoria20.
In the set:
Focus & Clarity is a natural way to aid mental clarity, memory and concentration with lion’s mane and holy basil. I keep a packet on my desk for when my focus feels wobbly.
Calm & Collected with ashwagandha and lion’s mane is the perfect companion to help me keep my cool whenever my anxiety calls. I'm getting better at identifying the triggers but this is a firm favourite in my personal toolkit of coping strategies.
Oh, and they’re lovely, lovely people running a business with a heart. This aligns so nicely with my own mission to do good work with good people and have a good impact.
Other products in their range include:
Daily Defense - the immunity mix
Doze & Dream - the sleep mix (I have this on my bedside)
Perform & Recover - the training mix (I used this almost daily when training for The London Marathon 2022)
Rise & Shine - the morning mix
Uplift & Revitalise - the fatigue mix
So feel free to check out the Neuro Balance combo or browse the rest of their website:
Neuro Balance Set: here (includes extra discount)
Full website: https://the-herbtender.com/ (use code Victoria20 to get 20% off)
Btw - not sure which product in their range might be a good fit for you? I don't offer medical advice so I'm sharing my own experience here, particularly around my anxiety. If you're on prescription meds, always seek advice from a medical professional. If you have any other questions, just drop The Herbtender a message directly - they're all so super knowledgeable and will be very happy to help you.
PS - if you buy via the link or use my code, I may receive a small payment from The Herbtender at no extra cost to you. Don't worry though, I only ever recommend what I use and love.