147. Guess what? Do what you want! with Sam Pollack

The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur

There’s so much pressure to do business the “right” way, whatever that means. I don’t know about you, but if it doesn’t feel good to me I’m probably not doing it. And much of what the “experts” say is the right thing just doesn’t feel right.

When you’re neurodivergent and highly sensitive, it’s important to look inside and honor doing things the way you want to. That’s why you left your day job and started your own gig, right?

This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Sam Pollack, a copywriter and creative strategist who is helping neurodivergent business owners to do business in a more sustainable way. And really…that’s what we should have been doing all along.

From the challenges of visibility to everyone calling themselves highly sensitive these days to judging your productivity to doing the work without feeling the stress, we really cover everything. At my longest episode to date, you’re going to get it all!

About Sam Pollack:

Samantha Pollack is a copywriter and creative strategist who approaches marketing from a Feminist Framework. She works with mission-driven, socially responsible companies who are shaking up status quos and reshaping our culture by doing super cool work in the world. She’s also the founder of The Highly Sensitive Business Owner, a 12-week program that helps neurodivergent business owners create healthier, more sustainable systems in their work.

Links and Resources:

• Cult of Personality
• Follow Sam on Instagram
• Connect with Sam on LinkedIn

Time Stamps:

• [1:29] - Q4 Goal Planning Workshop
• [3:05] - Who is Sam Pollack
• [4:33] - Created a program her own way, without videos
• [4:52] - Honor doing things the way you want to, not what you’re “supposed” to do
• [5:33] - Wrote it and launched it; avoiding hierarchical
• [6:37] - Listening to something can be easier to take in info
• [7:40] - You can do what you want
• [8:15] - You don’t have to have it all figured out from the beginning
• [9:09] - How can you know your niche when you haven’t done the work yet
• [11:15] - You have to be known for something
• [12:58] - Most people started because of something they didn’t want
• [13:10] - Why did you start your business?
• [15:02] - Do the work you’re great at without being stressed out by b.s. that doesn’t matter
• [18:43] - if you’re highly sensitive, you haven’t done enough work - my mindset
• [19:40] -Your sensitivity informs how you work with someone
• [22:00] - Why is everyone standing around the house on fire
• [23:33] - So many people hear they’re too sensitive growing up
• [25:24] - Sensitive people are the toughest people
• [27:08] - Everyone is calling themselves empaths and people who aren’t highly sensitive are feeling shit on
• [31:40] - People get stuck on milestones; done is better than perfect
• [33:03] - Breaking down the highly sensitive biz owner
• [34:34] - Be mindful of your time and energy
• [36:05] - There’s a balance between being highly sensitive and expecting accommodations to be made for you
• [37:28] - It’s hard to be authentic all the time
• [41:50] - Being in the room is different than being at a bigger level
• [42:33] - You can’t have a successful biz if people don't know who you are
• [44:25] - Energy and sensitivity is a spectrum
• [47:15] - You’re not wrong for being yourself
• [57:10] - Sam’s strategy for showing up and doing what works
• [59:23] - Doing what you want with your body and in politics
• [1:01:05] - Using strategy to drive your business
• [1:07:26] - Why you shouldn’t listen on 1.5x speed
• [1:08:10] - Shout out to Dina Martin
• [1:10:21] - There’s a Reason sensitive people seek out entrepreneurship
• [1:10:37] - Let go of 8 hour work day - no one is actually doing that