Resilience Diversity and Wellbeing

Resilience Through Diversity: Navigating Cancer and Sobriety

Sam Rathling shares her inspiring journey of overcoming cancer, highlighting the power of sobriety, authentic social media storytelling, and the importance of health vigilance, all while balancing her role as a single mother of neurodivergent children

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood engages in a deeply resonant conversation with Sam Rathling about resilience, diversity, and wellbeing. Sam Rathling discusses the significant role sobriety and authenticity played during her cancer journey, providing an insightful look into the emotional and physical challenges of battling breast cancer. Joanne and Sam explore the pivotal moments that shaped Sam's experience, from her decision to quit drinking to the transformative power of sharing personal stories on social media.

Sam Rathling, a renowned LinkedIn and social selling expert, is celebrated for her resilience and inspiring journey. She is the author of bestselling books "Linked Inbound" and "Linked Outbound", which focus on leveraging LinkedIn for business success. In addition to her professional achievements, Sam is a single mother to three neurodivergent children, navigating the complexities of parenting while managing her health. Her company, Pipeline 44, encompasses influential brands like Social Selling Teams and Social Selling Academy. With a distinctive voice on social media, Sam has mastered the art of connecting with audiences through authenticity and vulnerability.

Throughout the episode, Sam highlights the importance of remaining genuine on social media, transforming the platform into a space for real, heartfelt connections. She shares poignant stories, including her son’s triumph over bullying and her experience with breast cancer, underscoring the power of vulnerability in attracting the right audience. The discussion also delves into the challenges of addressing personal health issues publicly and the emotional toll it takes. Sam and Joanne offer valuable insights into navigating these conversations, emphasising the necessity of early detection and the critical support needed post-treatment.

A key takeaway from this episode is the profound impact of authenticity and vulnerability in both personal and professional realms. Listeners will be inspired by Sam's resilience and encouraged to share their own stories to foster genuine connections and promote wellbeing. This episode is a vital listen for anyone eager to understand the intersection of resilience, diversity, and authenticity, and how these elements contribute to a fulfilling and inclusive life.

 

Published: 21.11.2024 Recorded: 17.10.2024 Duration: 0:57:24

 

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• Other Links
• SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
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Clips and Timestamps

Anniversary Reflection: “And this week that we’re recording this episode is the year anniversary of me going to the doctors and then obviously getting diagnosed with breast cancer.”
— Sam Rathling [00:03:06 → 00:03:16]

Trust the Process: “You have to trust the process and, like, for the whole time that from diagnosis to, you know, going through everything when you’re literally your whole life is determined by hospital appointments and waiting rooms and everything gets put on hold.”
— Sam Rathling [00:05:48 → 00:06:00]

Returning to Work After Cancer: “There’s a lot of challenges around people returning to the workforce, like, who have been through a cancer diagnosis.”
— Sam Rathling [00:06:55 → 00:07:01]

Facing Mortality as a Single Mum: “So of course, as a single mom, like, that for me my biggest concern immediately around my mortality was, like, what what are the what’s gonna happen to the kids, you know?”
— Sam Rathling [00:12:24 → 00:12:35]

The Reality of Chemotherapy: “And I mean, just the one little chemo ward that I go to, they see 2,800 patients a month and they have the stats up on the board and it’s like, wow, like 2,000 and that’s just a tiny little I live in Derby.”
— Sam Rathling [00:24:42 → 00:24:53]

“Holiday Horror in Bali: I came back to a crime scene and 27 teenage boys had moved into my property and had destroyed it to the point of no return.”
— Sam Rathling [00:31:11 → 00:31:20]

The Power of Sobriety During Cancer Treatment: “If I’d have actually been still drinking when I got diagnosed, I don’t think I would have handled it as well. Like emotionally or physically, I think my sobriety made a massive difference to my treatment, I believe.”
— Sam Rathling [00:38:11 → 00:38:26]

Viral Topic: The Power of Vulnerability on LinkedIn: “When I did a post about Oscar last week and how he’s come through bullying and, you know, through his challenges through neurodivergence and how we’ve our relationship has come through the other side. And that post has had a 160,000 impressions, which is a lot on LinkedIn at the moment. The algorithm does not do that these days. The amount of amazing things that have happened off the back of that one post about his neurodivergence and his differences and his bullying and all of those things.”
— Sam Rathling [00:40:59 → 00:41:22]

Social Selling Tips: “Just think about just what you champion. Like, get behind you probably care passionately about 3 things outside of work that you would be happy to talk about so you don’t have to share every deepest secret that you’ve got or every, like, everything that’s happened to you, but just think about what you can champion.”
— Sam Rathling [00:43:51 → 00:44:06]

“Living for Every Moment”: “It’s definitely about living for every day and living for every moment and just not putting too much pressure on myself to achieve all these amazing things that I always have on my goals list.”
— Sam Rathling [00:55:47 → 00:55:58]

Definition of Terms Used

Personal Brand

• Definition: A personal brand involves the marketing of oneself and one’s career as a brand. It encompasses how individuals present their skills, experiences, and values to the world, particularly through social media.
• Relevance: In the episode, Sam Rathling emphasises the importance of being authentic and vulnerable in personal branding to build genuine connections and attract the right audience.
• Examples: Sharing personal stories, especially about overcoming challenges, posting about one’s passions and values, and engaging with followers in a meaningful way.
• Related Terms: Personal Marketing, Self-Branding, Social Media Influence, Professional Image
• Common Misconceptions: Some believe that personal branding requires creating a false persona; however, authenticity is the cornerstone of successful personal branding.

Neurodivergence

• Definition: Neurodivergence refers to the concept that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, are normal variations of the human genome.
• Relevance: Sam Rathling shares her son’s experience with neurodivergence and bullying, highlighting the need for understanding and support for individuals with neurological differences.
• Examples: Tailoring educational approaches to suit different learning needs, advocating for neurodivergent individuals, and fostering inclusive environments.
• Related Terms: Neurodiversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia
• Common Misconceptions: Many people mistakenly view neurodivergence as a deficit or disorder rather than a different way of thinking and interacting with the world.

Social Selling

• Definition: Social selling is the process of using social media to find, connect with, understand, and nurture sales prospects. It’s about leveraging one’s social network to attract the right audience and build meaningful relationships.
• Relevance: Sam Rathling, an expert in social selling, discusses how sharing authentic stories on platforms like LinkedIn can significantly enhance connection and engagement, thereby benefiting one’s professional network.
• Examples: Posting valuable content, engaging with potential clients through comments, and direct messaging to nurture professional relationships.
• Related Terms: Digital Networking, Relationship Marketing, Social Media Marketing
• Common Misconceptions: Social selling is often confused with social media marketing, but it specifically focuses on using social platforms to directly boost sales interactions and foster relationships.

Emotional Authenticity

• Definition: Emotional authenticity involves expressing one’s true emotions and being genuine in interactions, both online and offline, rather than conforming to external expectations or norms.
• Relevance: Both Joanne and Sam emphasise the power of emotional authenticity in personal branding and social media presence, noting that it helps build trust and resonate with the right audience.
• Examples: Sharing personal stories that reflect true feelings, acknowledging vulnerabilities in public settings, and maintaining consistency between one’s online persona and real-life self.
• Related Terms: Emotional Honesty, Vulnerability, Authentic Expression
• Common Misconceptions: Some believe that emotional authenticity involves oversharing or airing all personal issues, but it’s more about being truthful and relatable in a balanced manner.

Preventative Screenings

• Definition: Preventative screenings are medical tests conducted to detect conditions or diseases before symptoms appear, enabling early intervention and treatment.
• Relevance: Sam and Joanne discuss their experiences with cancer screenings and the critical importance of not ignoring medical tests, which can save lives through early detection.
• Examples: Mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies for bowel cancer, and routine blood tests for various conditions.
• Related Terms: Early Detection, Health Surveillance, Routine Check-ups
• Common Misconceptions: Many people delay screenings due to fear or discomfort, underestimating the significant benefits of early diagnosis and intervention.

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Joanne Lockwood SEE Change Happen

A huge thank you to our wonderful guest

Sam Rathling Social Selling