I won't forget the tissues
Good evening from London.
How have things been with you? (Seriously! I'd love to hear. I will read what you share and aim to respond. But in all honesty, it might take me a few days to get back to you.)
This week was intense! I scheduled Friday for YouTube filming but instead - I've been preparing for an in-person workshop I'll be giving next Friday. This coming Thursday is going to be hectic as I prepare. I hope I get a chance to do filming this week instead.
And for those who don't know, our anniversary is coming up again. Peter and I have been married for nearly 13 years! How did that happen? As always, we'll head to the water to renew our vows to each other on Friday afternoon. It's not the same as the beautiful New Zealand waters and coast where we first shared them with each other. Inevitably, we forget the tissues (makes a mental note to put them in my handbag). And the business anniversary is also right around the corner!
It's becoming very clear to me, that I need to get better with delegation and focusing on my priorities (and my VERY long backlog from being ill the past few years!). I'll be bringing on some busines support in the new fiscal year (April 5th for UK companies). But I also need to figure out how to create an additional 2 hours in the day or release items. It feels like a a jigsaw puzzle but I'm up for the challenge.
And finally, US folks! I finally got my US passport renewed (it's only been 5 years since the thing expired LOL). Yay me. So I might be planning a trip state-side in 2023. Should I plan an event or series of day workshops so I can meet some of you? Let me know.
Hope to see you at the Ethical Business Networking on Tuesday.
In solidarity,
Anuradha
Resources / New Content
I was recently on a podcast with Christine Ofner, Season 2 of Dear Biz Diaries where we had the fun of discussing the Kolbe A Assessment.
If you know me, I love the Kolbe! I love that I got a chance to info-dump about one of my favorite tools.
In this episode, we discuss:
What is Kolbe A assessment
What are the 4 categories, and what do they tell us
How to use it in daily life and business
How life and business can change after using this tool
What are the main benefits of using it
Nº1 tip to anyone who wants to start using this tool
You can check out her podcast and this episode over on Spotify.
Have you taken your Kolbe? (I'm a 6374 - how about you?!)
In Service
In a few weeks, I'll be hosting a webinar on Accessibility. Time after time, companies use all sorts of excuses including budget to avoid making things accessible. I wanted to address the paradigm shift needed to focus on accessiblity, for you, your team, and your clients.
Ready to make your work place more accessible for yourself, your clients, your team, and your community?
If you said, 'hell yes!' or even if you're a bit entrigued, this workshop might be for you.
Perfect For: Business owners, community organizers, and non-profit founders—anyone who works with teams, clients, and communities who are ready to build an ethical and sustainable business.
In this 90-minute workshop, discover:
Why you need to be creating an accessible business now more than ever?
What happens if we don't do it (or we do it badly)?
Our 3 step framework to creating a personalized action plan
Overcoming resistance and building momentum
Creating a clarity of purpose and action
I'll be sharing some examples, stories, and practical things you can useful things you can implement and discuss with your team. When you register, you'll have a chance to submit a question. I'll do my best to answer as many questions as I can!
Of course, I'll also be sharing a little bit about our new course, The Future is Accessible.
Anuradha Asks
Last week's Anuradha Asks sparked a great discussion over on Facebook. I heard lots of ideas around accessibility needed to support a neurodiverse workforce. People shared: 'allow work from home options', 'provide accomodations with out demanding paperwork of the disabled person to struggle to determine their needs for them', 'allow for multiple inputs (written, chats, emails, 1-1, cameras on/off)', 'allow for quiet spaces for working on site or provide/allow noise canceling headphones'. Another person mentioned that they often could do their work well, but because of the prejudice against ND folks they were pushed out of jobs because of social expectations. I will sharing some ideas of my own on YT this week.
Reflection question: In a recent conversation with an organization, I mentioned that 1 in 5 people have mental illness, a further 1 in 5 have a disability, and more recent statistics are showing 1 in 5 have dyslexia. It was a red flag to me, that in their organization of 60 strong they said they had no one with disabilities or ND. I have a few thoughts that I'll share over on YT. I invite you to reflect, in your spaces, to what extent are access needs being met? How can you be an advocate for those in the room who might not be comfortable sharing their needs?
Feedback: I have a great opportunity to talk about seeds coming up. I'd love some feedback from you. I give my presentation in 10 days and the practice presentation is coming up this week. If you've taken the course, what skills or concepts do you wish you knew about before enrolling? And if you haven't taken it, what do you think you need to know about the course, or preliminary concepts or skills before diving into the course in the Fall?
Upcoming Events
Ethical Business Conversations - I still have time for these 15 minutes chats to answer your questions and hear a little bit more about your business. Find out more here.
Ethical Business Networking - Last Tuesday of the month. You can register here. We'll be digging into the topic of taxes and finances.
Accessibility at Any Budget - a webinar talking about accessibility. Free to attend. I'll be sharing practical tips and inviting you to join my upcoming course - The Future is Accessible. Register here.
Later in April, I'll be part of a summit for moms who are balancing homeschooling with their business with Amanda Schenkenberger. I'll be sending our further details soon.
On the Bookshelf
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (from 2015 or something) - Yes, I know. Why am I watching this?! I couldn't tell you but it's good background listening while I work. I think this season, I'm noticing the levels of ableism: in the ways they think, share, the expectations they have on themselves and each other, and the ways we don't believe disabled and chronically ill people.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Vol 5. by BBC Audio. We're working our way through this series about Ma Ramotswe, head of the detective agency in Botswana by Alexander McCall Smith. I love the voices and the sound effects - like the old days of radio.
Dating Dr. Dil, by Nisha Sharma. It's a love story about a Indian diasporic couple set in New Jersey. I'm only on Chapter 4 and it's quite sweet. It reminds me of this article I read about eldest daughters I read this week. While birth order has been debunked, I think there is a certain relationship with first born females in certain cultures.
And I finished a very short novella, The Wrong Suitcase by Laura Jane Williams. A very predictable and sweet romance at a destination wedding.
Maybe I'm feeling sentimental about love since I'll be celebrating love with my sweetie? Am I the sappy one or is he? Maybe we both are.
My wireless headphones are getting quite the mileage. Thanks Peter for selecting the perfect ones for me.
And finally, here's a great graphic series on deep knowledge vs short form content consumption. While I appreciate short form content, I have definitely valued deeper knowledge and the nuance that comes with.
What's on your shelf?