I can't cancel my internet hub.
Weird email opener, I know. But this is a thing for me right now.
Years ago, when we were digital nomads, I got an LTE internet plan and a hub that allowed me to do my work and stay connected on the go.
It costs me $150+ per month for a very limited amount of data, but it was a lot of data comparatively back then.
I now have much better options (cheaper hubs, tethering with more data, Starlink if I really needed it) but I still have the internet hub.
Why?
Because I have to call to cancel.
That's right. I've spent over $900 on something I don't use, because I have to call - during their specific business hours - to cancel this hub. I have to talk to their retention team, who will not be able to retain me at all as a customer, because they won't allow me to cancel in any other way.
Not in their app, not on their website, not in their online chat or automated phone service, not even by phone in the middle of the night when the cool people are working and the wait times are shorter.
Business hours, Monday to Friday, talk to one person - get transferred - hold - talk to someone else - get sold stuff I don't want - resist - cancel.
I have a thing to fix with my GST account, but the CRA has the wrong address on file for me for some reason. Their error. I have to login online to change the address, but I have to verify my address to login online. I have to login online to get the documents I need to verify my ID over the phone, or have the documents mailed to me (at the incorrect address.) I have not fixed the thing, because waiting on hold and talking to 7 people for multiple days is the only way to even try. I know. I did try, once.
These are the ways that the world isn't built for someone like me.
These and many, many more.
It's a strange feeling, to spend money with a company and feel like you don't belong. Like they don't want your "kind" as a customer. Like they didn't build things for you.
We've all experienced it.
Long, multi-page intake forms (that you can't move forward without.)
Coaching calls where you have to submit questions in advance. No context!
Verbal-only instructions with no written follow up.
Sensory hell on calls, in person.
Cameras on. Required!
These are all ways that businesses have made me feel like I don't belong. Like I'm allowed to be there, but if they had a choice, they'd rather I didn't.
Like actually accommodating me would be a burden.
A distinct, consistent reminder that I'm not like the other customers. That if I could just do XYZ, it would be easier for everyone.
Truth is, it takes a lot more than a transcript and a thumbs up to make a business accessible to people like us.
It takes intake processes that consider our demand avoidance.
Instructions and information in multiple formats.
Caring about sensory stimulus.
Allowing for divergent needs.
Giving space for context and understanding!
I don't know about you, but every time I've ever asked a question without being allowed to give context, I've spent the next 20 minutes responding to every idea they gave me explaining that I'd already tried that - or why it wouldn't work - only to be met with "well you clearly don't want to solve the problem!"
No, I want to solve it. YOU didn't want to hear what I'd already tried + the constraints impacting the problem.
I digress. This is a thing I want to change, and frankly, I need your help.
I want more of us serving other neurodivergent folks.
I want more service providers, coaches, consultants, mentors, entrepreneurs out there who understand how to build a business to be accessible for us.
And I want you to know how to reach out and get those clients, too. Because once ND folx find someone who truly understands us? Who really helps? We're loyal customers and brand advocates for life.
So, here's the deal.
I've built a whole certification program to not only teach you how to make your business accessible to others, but certify you as accessible, too - after a thorough review of your accessibility plan.
(Don't worry, I'll help you build it.)
I have *also* created a whole set and series of assessments and resources to make your business accessible to you. Because your clients aren't the only ones that matter.
And it comes with a ton of marketing support in Solo School, so you can actually go out and get those ND clients, too.
I had a ton of interest in this in late September, and those Founders' spots are almost full. But if you need a more accessible way to get certified, I've got something for you.
A month-to-month support option.
For less than $10/day, you can get access to the certification program, our Solo School AI tools (a growing library!), 13 hours per week of ND-specific business coaching, and all of the marketing support, assessments, and resources to make your business accessible and thriving.
Interested? Click here to get the details.
- Cheryl
❤️ How to work with me
Ever wish you had a marketing strategist that could live in your pocket, mapping out your full 12-months of marketing strategy and answering all of your questions? Wish you could have someone 24/7 to give you unlimited answers to your burning marketing questions, help you play out scenarios, build your content pillars and offers and lead magnets and more?
I've opened up 5 1 more spot in the Pocket CMO beta program.
This beta program gives you lifetime access to a custom-built AI marketing strategist. We've built the base engine on OpenAI (you can interact with it via GPT right now) and are in the process of creating our custom UI and adding advanced processing.
I've trained this model on 20+ years of marketing strategy and knowledge. You won't find wisdom like this in any other AI tool on the market, I promise you.
And now, we have Klarna available for Canadians to help make it even more accessible!
If you know you want it, click here to secure the last spot.
💯 Days Without Deadlines
I asked ChatGPT today, "based on all of our chats, what is something you'd like me to know?"
And it basically told me that my space is mission critical to my success.
That's why I've been working behind the scenes to develop and (hopefully) perfect my visual project framework.
I have an analog version for my wall, and a digital version in Notion.
I haven't done much with it while I was away over the weekend with friends, but suffice to say, for those of us who want to do life without deadlines? This could be an absolute game changer.
💪 Business adaptation of the week
Forgiveness.
Frankly, I didn't do half the things I wanted to last week before we left for this trip, and I didn't do half the things I wanted to finish today before we went home tomorrow.
But Thursday is another day.
And I'm only human.
And I still did a heck of a lot, including rest.
So, that's okay.
🎁 My favourite things this week
Knitting. I know, I know, I'm always on about something to do with yarn but yall I am OBSESSED currently. I knit my first full pair of socks. I'm working on a shawl. I've also worked my way back into some crochet projects. Realistically, I'm in knee deep and I'm in love.
Currently making a split-V shawl in a discontinued Colorama Halo yarn that is so soft and buttery I don't even care that it's acrylic. I'll have to show you when I'm done.
Hobbies are my favourite thing right now. And once I get through the post-vacation backlog, I'll have some other things to share with you on that front ;)
📚 What I'm reading
I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and when I tell you those plot twists had me SHOOK - yall. I just. I love it, so much. Incredible book.
I also wrapped up Unwind, a book about managing stress, that I started reading 3 years ago in this very resort. So, yay me? I guess?
No real takeaways from that, other than the reminder that cortisol serves an evolutionary purpose, and if we allow it to SERVE that purpose, everything gets easier.
(In other words, when you're stressed out and feel like you've got to run from a tiger, GO MOVE YOUR BODY AND USE UP THAT CORTISOL instead of doomscrolling in a freeze state. Your body (and heartrate) will thank you.)
Want to follow my reading? Check me out on StoryGraph, the minority-owned GoodReads competitor I love!
