Hi, I’m Cathy Jantzen. This is what I do!
I created ADHD Ventures for you – you wonderful ADHD Entrepreneurial Women of the “boomer generation”.
Typically, you’ve lived the first 40 years or more of your life with undiagnosed ADHD. You discovered your “unique approach” was indeed unique. Your brain wiring is geared toward independent, big picture, creative perspectives and action. So now you know. Now what? There’s a lot of information, both good and no so good, directed towards this gifted group of women. Navigating this sea of information can be challenging. “So, hold on. We’re going to find our way together. You’ll be so surprised how much fun it’ll be along the way.”
I was blessed to have spent my childhood in a family where ADHD was the rule, not the exception. I was raised by two great parents. Both had successful careers in spite of them having undiagnosed ADHD. Proudly, I was a tribe member of ADHD peeps!
Then I hit grade school where ADHD and creativity were the exception, not the rule. Unlike the time spent with family, I felt out of sync there. I remember those gentle conversations at dinner: we’d share what we had learned in school each day. Although many things seemed confusing, Mom and Dad helped us understand. The phrase, “So, why didn’t they just say that?” was said a lot by my sisters and me. During that time, like many of you, I felt I had to relinquish my unique, quirky, off-beat ways. I couldn’t get them to work outside of my family environment. In college, the pressure to conform and fit in only grew stronger. Then I stepped into the business world still nothing changed.
I know you know that feeling. You have something special. You struggle to figure out how to use it. It takes tenacity to keep on pushing.
What makes it so challenging for ADHD and other creative women to succeed in education and business? It’s because those environments are based on a linear system – a system that is both analytical and highly structured. Big picture thinkers function like left-handers forced to work as right-handers. Sadly, we’re left to scramble in systems that call on our weaknesses and don’t value our strengths. During my first 8 years in both corporate and small business environments, I often felt I was one day a head of the chopping block. Corporate and small business infrastructures that were designed for left brain folks were a disaster for me. Yet, it wasn’t the business models that caused me to fail.
During my first 8 years in both corporate and small business environments, I felt like I was always one day ahead of the chopping block. I failed miserably in both corporate and small business company infrastructures designed for left brain folks. Yet, it wasn’t those business models that caused me to fail. Why is it so challenging for ADHD women and other creative types to succeed within our educational systems and business models? Because these systems are based on a linear system – a system that is both analytical and highly structured. In this environment, most of us function
When outside of my family, being the oddball was the norm. It felt lousy, really lousy. Although most of us have achieved a measure of success in conventional environments, we lose a part of who we are, the heart of who we are. From early on, my heart has gone out to people who are set apart in this way. A marketing rep I worked with told me she couldn’t understand why a bright, educated women like me was doing support work. She wondered why I wasn’t using my college degree. I decided to commit the next two years to doing whatever it took to get into grad school.
The following year, accepted as a second year grad, I completed a Masters in social work. In 1995 I was licensed in Clinical Social Work and began private practice. I’ve since put over 25 years into personal development, wellness and health care. Yet, my greatest learning began when I was diagnosed in ’96 during which spent one year in a private practice as a family therapist. Over the next 3 years I learned more about the brain and human behavior as well as studying family and interpersonal dynamics related to ADHD. Initially, I became the ADHD expert in my community. My experience with a brilliant ADHD coach was the next eye opener with my introduction to ADHD coaching. In 2001, I decided to close my practice.
I am a recovering therapist; no disrespect intended. It’s just that my passion is strategizing with ADHD women. What I realized, after letting go of some of my arrogance, is that women like us with ADHD aren’t broken and don’t need therapy! At least, we don’t need it any more than the rest of the population.
So, as I’ve walked down my own path, living with the challenges and gifts of being an ADHD woman, there have been many lessons along the way. Through ADHD Ventures I want to share some of my revelations with you. My intent is that you will discover that you are gifted – not cursed. Of course, I’m not an expert specifically on you, but I have devoted my life to become an expert at helping you to reclaim the gifts of your heart.
I look forward to connecting with you. Together we’ll find playful, loving ways to grow your business.
Thank you for visiting my website. Keep an eye out – we have some really cool stuff coming soon to help you on your journey to becoming a gifted and successful ADHD Entrepreneurial woman.
