November 18, 2024 • 15 mins
On this 15-minute chat on Neurodivergent Mates, I’ll be diving into "The Importance of Building a Network as a Neurodivergent Professional" and exploring why it’s such a game-changer. Networking has not only opened doors in my career but also allowed me to connect with mentors, advocates, and allies who truly understand and support my journey. I’ll share how authenticity plays a critical role in building meaningful connections and how embracing your neurodivergence can strengthen relationships.
We’ll also talk about practical ways to get started with networking, even if it feels overwhelming at first, and how leveraging online communities can help you connect with like-minded professionals. Additionally, I’ll touch on how storytelling—sharing your unique experiences as a neurodivergent individual—can foster trust and empathy within your network. Finally, I’ll highlight the importance of giving back and supporting others in your network to create a cycle of mutual growth and advocacy.
Please be sure to subscribe, like and follow all our social media platforms.
Click on our Linktree link provided below to access all of our social media platforms:
https://linktr.ee/openheartedapp?fbclid=IwAR3Mk3FNMMbC4_EwZaHwzHNgugWNL4Pnm7dANcrcEMKRKXfYFN5SPGgSGcU
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to NeuroDivergent Mates.
Hello and welcome to anotherepisode of NeuroDivergent Mates.
(00:26):
I'm your host, will Wheeler,and this is the 15-minute chat.
I don't know if you remember Idid like a little one, gee,
probably a few months ago now,and I do apologize that I
haven't come back with anotherone.
I've just been crazy busy.
I've been sick as well.
(00:48):
So for a lot of our listenerswho heard me over the last
couple of episodes, you canprobably tell that my throat is
a lot better now, being able tobattle through it and get on top
.
But I'm back here ready to rockand roll and have a good time
and share some really goodinformation with our listeners.
(01:11):
So today, what I wanted to coverwas the importance of building
a network as a neurodivergentprofessional.
But before we get into that,let's do the normal housekeeping
, all of that stuff.
So if you haven't already donethis before, please subscribe,
like and follow to all of ourstuff.
So if you haven't already donethis before, please subscribe,
like and follow to all of oursocial media pages.
We're available on TikTok,facebook, instagram, x, twitch,
(01:32):
youtube and LinkedIn and if youhaven't already done so,
wherever you listen to yourpodcast, go on there.
Subscribe to our page, rate us,write comments, because it
helps with the algorithm, allright.
Another big shout-out toNeurodiversity Academy.
We've got some really greatstuff happening there.
We actually just released aprofessional development course
(01:56):
for an introduction for a lot ofvocational education trainers
and assessors or just people inthat industry in general.
Uh, definitely get onto that.
We've to tell you the truth, Iwas blown away.
We actually have already sold afair few already.
So it's online.
It's about a five hour course.
Um, really good for its money.
(02:18):
Definitely go to our websiteand check that out.
There.
Got some really great stuffhappening there.
And just a you know, normaltype of thing warning some
discussions may be triggering.
If you need help, please reachout to a loved one or call
emergency services.
I am not a doctor.
This is a space for sharingexperiences and strategies and
(02:41):
please, if you do have anyquestions while I'm going
through the live version, like Iam now, please just pop it into
the comments and if I'm stillon here, I'd be happy to answer
them for you.
Great, let's get stuck intothis.
So, like I said, the importanceof building a network as a
(03:01):
neurodivergent professional, soyou know, I think the biggest
thing is why networking mattersfor neurodivergent professionals
.
And you know I come across alot of neurodivergent people and
they're like I just can't dothat or whatever that looks like
.
And you know it can be daunting.
Don't get me wrong.
(03:22):
When I first got into theprofessional space and and
starting to develop networks, itwas hard.
Um, just being vulnerable, Ithink, was probably the key
thing there.
Um, walking into events notknowing anyone and then just
approaching people or knowingthe right people to approach.
(03:42):
I'll never forget I would justgo up and see some people
talking and stand there and gohi guys, how's it going?
I had no idea what I was doingand just some of the looks I
would get were pretty funny.
When I think about it now, buthopefully I'm able to cover some
really great tips in that to beable to help you maybe to be
(04:04):
able to navigate networking alittle bit easier.
Um, I think this day and agethat networking isn't, I suppose
, just going to an event andnetworking.
I think we can connect withpeople online these days and
really build that professionalpresence without having to go
(04:26):
into certain areas, whateverthat might look like there.
Sorry, networking events, Ishould probably say.
But you know, I think you knowfor me, why is it important?
So for me, what I found was itstarted opening so many doors
for me.
I could go to events and I wasthen seen as an expert matter a
(04:51):
person who was an expert in myfield.
Sorry so, and I think what you,and I think what the biggest
thing is too, is that don'tthink of a network as something
where you need to sell something.
It's not about all at that atall.
It's about building thoserelationships for potential
(05:11):
future.
Um could be sales in the future.
It could be a lot of things.
Could be jobs um, some jobsthat I've got in the past uh,
have definitely, you know,building my brand and building
who I am and knowing people hasdefinitely helped me when I've
(05:32):
been able to apply for jobs orreach out to people or, you know
, straight away.
But you may get some reallygreat other things come from it,
(05:53):
okay, so one of the biggestthings that I've sort of found
while networking or building mybrand as such has been
definitely being my authenticself self.
I think that when I first got um, when I first moved to sydney,
which was, oh, gee, gee, I can'tremember.
(06:16):
I think it was 2017 now, so afew years, a few years um, I
really knew nobody.
I knew a few people throughLinkedIn and all of that, but a
lot of my networks were mostlyfrom Brisbane, from where I live
.
Now, I'll never forget it, soyou know.
You probably see me here withlike shoulder length hair, not a
(06:38):
scruffy beard, but like stubble, all of that type of stuff.
I was definitely nothing likethat.
I used to be very clean, shaven, shaved head and I would wear
suits to a lot of networkingevents.
Now, the good thing was, Isuppose I looked the part, you
know, but what I found was Iwasn't my authentic self.
(07:00):
I wasn't me, and you know, ittook me all the way until the
pandemic to really discover thatwhen you can be yourself,
you're going to attract theright audience.
Now, the problem for me wasthat I was going in, I was
wearing a suit, people werethinking I was a person that I
(07:21):
wasn't.
I was trying to act like aperson that I wasn't, so I was
attracting the wrong audience.
All right, so that and I'm justtrying to think back to those
days it felt like I felt almostdepressed and you know it was a
(07:41):
weird type of thing.
But I remember like when we'rethrough the pandemic, we're
locked down here in Sydney forgee, I think it was like three
or four months, and I remember Ihad a lot of time to think my
my partner was, um, working allthe time and I was just stuck at
home.
(08:02):
So I had a lot of time in myhead, which definitely isn't
good as a ADHDer, and what Ireally found was I was like you
know what I hate wearing suits.
Why am I wearing suits?
I hate it.
They don't feel right.
Why don't I wear clothes?
That is me?
Why don't I dress like me?
(08:23):
Why don't I grow my hair out?
Because I've always liked doingthat?
Why do I need to be cleanshaved Like?
When I get clean shaved, I getlike all ingrown pimples and
stuff like that and I hate it.
So it was just like you knowwhat stuff this I'm going to
start being me, and I can tellyou right now it was amazing how
(08:43):
many things started to change,how many doors started to open,
how many professionalrelationships started to open up
, plus how many of thoserelationships actually turned
into some really good friendsand all of that type of stuff as
well.
So it really played a real bigpart in that.
(09:04):
Now, one of the things that youknow if you're trying to build
your network and you're notreally sure on how to do that,
you know there could be a fewways.
You know I always like to go toa lot of networking events One,
if I know people there, or two,if I can bring someone with me,
if you can bring someone withyou.
(09:25):
That could help with a lot ofanxiety all of that.
But the biggest thing that Ialways do is that if I know I'm
going to a certain event, I willtry and connect with as many
people who I know are going tobe at that event before I even
get there.
So this is where LinkedIndefinitely comes.
(09:46):
It plays a really big role forme.
If I'm able to see some eventpage where I can see who's who's
potentially going, I'll startresearching who I'm going to see
that sometimes there's peoplewho I've been wanting to talk
with for ages, who I have neverhad a chance to meet with.
(10:07):
So sometimes I'll reach out topeople before I get to the
actual event.
So I might be like, hey, hi, myname's.
Will I see that you're going tobe at this event, I'd really
love to have a chance to chatwith you.
You get there, you start aconversation.
It sort of like makes it alittle bit chat with you.
You get there, you start aconversation.
It just it sort of like makesit a little bit easier because
(10:30):
you've really worked hard onbuilding that relationship
online before you actually getthere, all right.
So that's what's really helpedme sometimes to be able to, I
suppose, feel a little bit morecomfortable while, you know,
while building my networks andall that and being able to just
(10:53):
have a good time, all of thattype of stuff.
Now the thing is too, I thinkthe biggest thing that I found
was definitely usingstorytelling to strengthen your
network.
And you're probably thinking,and it's not like going there
and reading a book or whateverlike that but what's your story?
What makes you unique?
(11:15):
What makes you interesting fromother people?
Because what you'll beguaranteed if you start like
sharing certain things andobviously don't be too open, you
know, depending on the network,some people may be offended by
certain things.
But when you can start sharingwho you are, start being your
(11:39):
authentic self, you'll start tosee that people will start to
relate to you.
They may even see themselves inyou, and that's how you start
to attract the right people.
You know, I did like apresentation up in Brisbane a
few weeks ago now Brisbane a fewweeks ago now and you know I
(12:05):
got up and spoke aboutneurodiversity, especially in
vocational education, and youknow this person came up to me
afterwards and they're like,look, I want to talk to you.
And I'm like, yeah, I'd love to.
You know, this person hadchildren who are neurodivergent.
I wouldn't be surprised ifshe's neurodivergent as well.
And you know it was just aneasy way to be able to connect
(12:30):
because of our stories, right,it was like we had an instant
connection there.
Now that connection ispotentially going to turn into
business for us.
May may not, but at the end ofthe day, if it doesn't, if it
does, at least I've made thatconnection there, because we
don't know what that may turninto in the future there.
(12:51):
So I think a big thing toremember as well is that,
especially if we're in businessor whatever that is, don't look
at it as trying to sell stuff.
Look at it as trying to buildrelationships, and it's the same
thing.
I've introduced people fromcertain organizations to other
(13:12):
organizations before and some ofthese people have made the
mistake of trying to sell theirstuff rather than build that
relationship.
If you can build thatrelationship, build that trust,
that's where people are going tofeel comfortable in wanting to
do business with you, refer youto other people, maybe get jobs,
(13:32):
if that's what you're lookingfor, but really help you to be
able to open those doors intosomething.
You know, especially for uswith neurodiversity academy,
we're trying to, we're trying tofind investors all of that, you
know, being connected with theright people, we've been able to
get introduced to other peopleas well.
(13:53):
So, you know, hopefully thatcan turn into some big business
for us in the meantime as well.
Now, like I said as well, that,like you may meet people and
vice versa, building thatnetwork and giving back is going
to be crucial as well, sosupporting others in your
network.
So don't see it as like oh yeah, this is all about me.
(14:16):
What can you do for others?
Because when you can starthelping others, they're going to
start helping you in return,all right, so don't see it as
just a one.
You know, this is all about me.
You're trying to help acommunity of people, pardon me.
So what can you do to give back,and I know that, especially
(14:37):
when I was building my brandbuilding the Will Wheeler brand
or even Neurodiversity Academythe amount of people who gave me
their time just to sit with mefor half an hour or an hour to
give me a little bit of advicewas priceless.
When that's me in the futureand people reach out to me, my
door will always be open.
(14:58):
So always give back.
Okay, so hopefully you've takensome really great stuff from
there today.
Hopefully you can put that intopractice and do some really
awesome stuff with your career.
So thank you very much forlistening to the 15-minute chat
on NeuroDivergent.
Mate, my name's Will Wheeler.
Till next time.
Whoops, wrong outro there.
(15:23):
Let's try another one.
You're listening to NeuroDivergent Mates.
Hello and welcome to anotherepisode of NeuroDivergent Mates.
(00:26):
I'm your host, will Wheeler,and this is the 15-minute chat.
I don't know if you remember Idid like a little one, gee,
probably a few months ago now,and I do apologize that I
haven't come back with anotherone.
I've just been crazy busy.
I've been sick as well.
(00:48):
So for a lot of our listenerswho heard me over the last
couple of episodes, you canprobably tell that my throat is
a lot better now, being able tobattle through it and get on top
.
But I'm back here ready to rockand roll and have a good time
and share some really goodinformation with our listeners.
(01:11):
So today, what I wanted to coverwas the importance of building
a network as a neurodivergentprofessional.
But before we get into that,let's do the normal housekeeping
, all of that stuff.
So if you haven't already donethis before, please subscribe,
like and follow to all of ourstuff.
So if you haven't already donethis before, please subscribe,
like and follow to all of oursocial media pages.
We're available on TikTok,facebook, instagram, x, twitch,
(01:32):
youtube and LinkedIn and if youhaven't already done so,
wherever you listen to yourpodcast, go on there.
Subscribe to our page, rate us,write comments, because it
helps with the algorithm, allright.
Another big shout-out toNeurodiversity Academy.
We've got some really greatstuff happening there.
We actually just released aprofessional development course
(01:56):
for an introduction for a lot ofvocational education trainers
and assessors or just people inthat industry in general.
Uh, definitely get onto that.
We've to tell you the truth, Iwas blown away.
We actually have already sold afair few already.
So it's online.
It's about a five hour course.
Um, really good for its money.
(02:18):
Definitely go to our websiteand check that out.
There.
Got some really great stuffhappening there.
And just a you know, normaltype of thing warning some
discussions may be triggering.
If you need help, please reachout to a loved one or call
emergency services.
I am not a doctor.
This is a space for sharingexperiences and strategies and
(02:41):
please, if you do have anyquestions while I'm going
through the live version, like Iam now, please just pop it into
the comments and if I'm stillon here, I'd be happy to answer
them for you.
Great, let's get stuck intothis.
So, like I said, the importanceof building a network as a
(03:01):
neurodivergent professional, soyou know, I think the biggest
thing is why networking mattersfor neurodivergent professionals
.
And you know I come across alot of neurodivergent people and
they're like I just can't dothat or whatever that looks like
.
And you know it can be daunting.
Don't get me wrong.
(03:22):
When I first got into theprofessional space and and
starting to develop networks, itwas hard.
Um, just being vulnerable, Ithink, was probably the key
thing there.
Um, walking into events notknowing anyone and then just
approaching people or knowingthe right people to approach.
(03:42):
I'll never forget I would justgo up and see some people
talking and stand there and gohi guys, how's it going?
I had no idea what I was doingand just some of the looks I
would get were pretty funny.
When I think about it now, buthopefully I'm able to cover some
really great tips in that to beable to help you maybe to be
(04:04):
able to navigate networking alittle bit easier.
Um, I think this day and agethat networking isn't, I suppose
, just going to an event andnetworking.
I think we can connect withpeople online these days and
really build that professionalpresence without having to go
(04:26):
into certain areas, whateverthat might look like there.
Sorry, networking events, Ishould probably say.
But you know, I think you knowfor me, why is it important?
So for me, what I found was itstarted opening so many doors
for me.
I could go to events and I wasthen seen as an expert matter a
(04:51):
person who was an expert in myfield.
Sorry so, and I think what you,and I think what the biggest
thing is too, is that don'tthink of a network as something
where you need to sell something.
It's not about all at that atall.
It's about building thoserelationships for potential
(05:11):
future.
Um could be sales in the future.
It could be a lot of things.
Could be jobs um, some jobsthat I've got in the past uh,
have definitely, you know,building my brand and building
who I am and knowing people hasdefinitely helped me when I've
(05:32):
been able to apply for jobs orreach out to people or, you know
, straight away.
But you may get some reallygreat other things come from it,
(05:53):
okay, so one of the biggestthings that I've sort of found
while networking or building mybrand as such has been
definitely being my authenticself self.
I think that when I first got um, when I first moved to sydney,
which was, oh, gee, gee, I can'tremember.
(06:16):
I think it was 2017 now, so afew years, a few years um, I
really knew nobody.
I knew a few people throughLinkedIn and all of that, but a
lot of my networks were mostlyfrom Brisbane, from where I live
.
Now, I'll never forget it, soyou know.
You probably see me here withlike shoulder length hair, not a
(06:38):
scruffy beard, but like stubble, all of that type of stuff.
I was definitely nothing likethat.
I used to be very clean, shaven, shaved head and I would wear
suits to a lot of networkingevents.
Now, the good thing was, Isuppose I looked the part, you
know, but what I found was Iwasn't my authentic self.
(07:00):
I wasn't me, and you know, ittook me all the way until the
pandemic to really discover thatwhen you can be yourself,
you're going to attract theright audience.
Now, the problem for me wasthat I was going in, I was
wearing a suit, people werethinking I was a person that I
(07:21):
wasn't.
I was trying to act like aperson that I wasn't, so I was
attracting the wrong audience.
All right, so that and I'm justtrying to think back to those
days it felt like I felt almostdepressed and you know it was a
(07:41):
weird type of thing.
But I remember like when we'rethrough the pandemic, we're
locked down here in Sydney forgee, I think it was like three
or four months, and I remember Ihad a lot of time to think my
my partner was, um, working allthe time and I was just stuck at
home.
(08:02):
So I had a lot of time in myhead, which definitely isn't
good as a ADHDer, and what Ireally found was I was like you
know what I hate wearing suits.
Why am I wearing suits?
I hate it.
They don't feel right.
Why don't I wear clothes?
That is me?
Why don't I dress like me?
(08:23):
Why don't I grow my hair out?
Because I've always liked doingthat?
Why do I need to be cleanshaved Like?
When I get clean shaved, I getlike all ingrown pimples and
stuff like that and I hate it.
So it was just like you knowwhat stuff this I'm going to
start being me, and I can tellyou right now it was amazing how
(08:43):
many things started to change,how many doors started to open,
how many professionalrelationships started to open up
, plus how many of thoserelationships actually turned
into some really good friendsand all of that type of stuff as
well.
So it really played a real bigpart in that.
(09:04):
Now, one of the things that youknow if you're trying to build
your network and you're notreally sure on how to do that,
you know there could be a fewways.
You know I always like to go toa lot of networking events One,
if I know people there, or two,if I can bring someone with me,
if you can bring someone withyou.
(09:25):
That could help with a lot ofanxiety all of that.
But the biggest thing that Ialways do is that if I know I'm
going to a certain event, I willtry and connect with as many
people who I know are going tobe at that event before I even
get there.
So this is where LinkedIndefinitely comes.
(09:46):
It plays a really big role forme.
If I'm able to see some eventpage where I can see who's who's
potentially going, I'll startresearching who I'm going to see
that sometimes there's peoplewho I've been wanting to talk
with for ages, who I have neverhad a chance to meet with.
(10:07):
So sometimes I'll reach out topeople before I get to the
actual event.
So I might be like, hey, hi, myname's.
Will I see that you're going tobe at this event, I'd really
love to have a chance to chatwith you.
You get there, you start aconversation.
It sort of like makes it alittle bit chat with you.
You get there, you start aconversation.
It just it sort of like makesit a little bit easier because
(10:30):
you've really worked hard onbuilding that relationship
online before you actually getthere, all right.
So that's what's really helpedme sometimes to be able to, I
suppose, feel a little bit morecomfortable while, you know,
while building my networks andall that and being able to just
(10:53):
have a good time, all of thattype of stuff.
Now the thing is too, I thinkthe biggest thing that I found
was definitely usingstorytelling to strengthen your
network.
And you're probably thinking,and it's not like going there
and reading a book or whateverlike that but what's your story?
What makes you unique?
(11:15):
What makes you interesting fromother people?
Because what you'll beguaranteed if you start like
sharing certain things andobviously don't be too open, you
know, depending on the network,some people may be offended by
certain things.
But when you can start sharingwho you are, start being your
(11:39):
authentic self, you'll start tosee that people will start to
relate to you.
They may even see themselves inyou, and that's how you start
to attract the right people.
You know, I did like apresentation up in Brisbane a
few weeks ago now Brisbane a fewweeks ago now and you know I
(12:05):
got up and spoke aboutneurodiversity, especially in
vocational education, and youknow this person came up to me
afterwards and they're like,look, I want to talk to you.
And I'm like, yeah, I'd love to.
You know, this person hadchildren who are neurodivergent.
I wouldn't be surprised ifshe's neurodivergent as well.
And you know it was just aneasy way to be able to connect
(12:30):
because of our stories, right,it was like we had an instant
connection there.
Now that connection ispotentially going to turn into
business for us.
May may not, but at the end ofthe day, if it doesn't, if it
does, at least I've made thatconnection there, because we
don't know what that may turninto in the future there.
(12:51):
So I think a big thing toremember as well is that,
especially if we're in businessor whatever that is, don't look
at it as trying to sell stuff.
Look at it as trying to buildrelationships, and it's the same
thing.
I've introduced people fromcertain organizations to other
(13:12):
organizations before and some ofthese people have made the
mistake of trying to sell theirstuff rather than build that
relationship.
If you can build thatrelationship, build that trust,
that's where people are going tofeel comfortable in wanting to
do business with you, refer youto other people, maybe get jobs,
(13:32):
if that's what you're lookingfor, but really help you to be
able to open those doors intosomething.
You know, especially for uswith neurodiversity academy,
we're trying to, we're trying tofind investors all of that, you
know, being connected with theright people, we've been able to
get introduced to other peopleas well.
(13:53):
So, you know, hopefully thatcan turn into some big business
for us in the meantime as well.
Now, like I said as well, that,like you may meet people and
vice versa, building thatnetwork and giving back is going
to be crucial as well, sosupporting others in your
network.
So don't see it as like oh yeah, this is all about me.
(14:16):
What can you do for others?
Because when you can starthelping others, they're going to
start helping you in return,all right, so don't see it as
just a one.
You know, this is all about me.
You're trying to help acommunity of people, pardon me.
So what can you do to give back,and I know that, especially
(14:37):
when I was building my brandbuilding the Will Wheeler brand
or even Neurodiversity Academythe amount of people who gave me
their time just to sit with mefor half an hour or an hour to
give me a little bit of advicewas priceless.
When that's me in the futureand people reach out to me, my
door will always be open.
(14:58):
So always give back.
Okay, so hopefully you've takensome really great stuff from
there today.
Hopefully you can put that intopractice and do some really
awesome stuff with your career.
So thank you very much forlistening to the 15-minute chat
on NeuroDivergent.
Mate, my name's Will Wheeler.
Till next time.
Whoops, wrong outro there.
(15:23):
Let's try another one.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.