Tim Reitsma

Granted Consulting

HR Advisor

Invisible Condition

A non-profit digital publication with the purpose of ending the stigma that surrounds invisible conditions. 

Through the power of personal stories, let’s create a world where there is no stigma attached to invisible conditions.

Resources | Articles | Stories | Coaching | Consulting | Facilitation

What is an “invisible condition”?
An invisible condition is a non-apparent illness or health condition (physical or mental) that isn’t seen from the outside. This may include, but is not limited to autoimmune disorders, mental illness, neurodiverse conditions, chronic pain or fatigue, trauma, cancers, and brain injuries.

Invisible condition is inclusive of invisible illness, invisible disability, and invisible disease.

Living with an invisible condition (or multiple ones) can often feel lonely and isolating.

You might prefer to keep your condition hidden, especially if you have experienced discrimination or judgment in the past when you have tried to talk about the condition you live with.

As a caregiver, you might experience anxiety, anger or exhaustion—but feel guilty about expressing that to the people around you.

If you are a friend, co-worker, or relative of someone who lives with an invisible condition, you might feel uncomfortable about asking questions.

We are everyday people who have overcome their fear of sharing, in order to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered. By sharing their stories, they hope to create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Speaker and Facilitator
Topics include: 
How to create a culture of belonging
The words we use matter
How might we create truly inclusive cultures
Authentic curiosity
Resilience: Reframe, reflect, and reach out

Coaching and mentoring:
I partner with people who live with an invisible condition who are seeking to embrace their normal.
I partner with companies, and coach managers and leaders on how to create inclusive cultures.

Podcast host:
We are talking about unusually normal things!

Founder, Podcast Host, Advocate

FlexOS

Editorial Advisor

Tim Reitsma - Contracting, Coaching, Consulting

Supported clients with a variety of projects including: 
Process Improvement, Market Research, Sales, Operations, Talent Acquisition, 1:1 Coaching, Mentorship, Strategy.

Clients: ChopValue, GrantMe, MeaningfulWork, Snapback Seat Company, The Consulting Nest, Invisible Condition, Steveston People

Projects include:
• Coaching and mentoring CEOs and Heads of Sales which led to a dramatic improvement in team culture and morale. This led to a 50% increase in weekly revenue with one client.
• Using process improvement techniques, I uncovered a lack of urgency and commitment within various teams. Led the coaching, mentoring, and 1:1’s to improve team output.
• Successfully recruited a new sales team within two weeks of a contract.
• Established department (sales, customer success, and marketing) strategic plans to support growth targets.

Contractor, Consultant, Coach, and Advisor

GrantMe

GrantMe supports students in getting into their top university debt-free.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Streamlined the recruiting process to support high-growth targets. 
• Established department (sales, customer success, and marketing) strategic plans to support growth targets.
• Grew revenue by designing and implementing a lead follow-up process. This led to over a 40% increase in otherwise lost revenue.
• Established a lead qualification team. This increased the sales booking rate by 50%.
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting various leaders including the CEO, and COO, and leading a small sales team.

Senior Business and People Operations Manager

Strategic Advisor

People Managing People

Division of Black & White Zebra, People Managing People is a digital publication and community designed to build a better world of work. When I started, there was no structure, goals, or a focused team. I created a high-performing team and built the publication to be a trusted resource for people and culture teams and people leaders.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Created and executed the publication vision, strategic direction, and growth plan. Over 230% increase in revenue YoY.
• Coached my team using 1:1’s, 360 feedback, and created role clarity which increased team output by 300%.
• Reset business and operations plan, website messaging, and website structure. Over 100% increase in audience growth. 
• Established a publication cadence that has allowed us to 10x our product output.
• Continuous learning as the podcast host. Developed and implemented a podcast outreach strategy.
• Doubled downloads within six months and interviewed over 75 best-selling authors and HR/leadership thought leaders.
• Built L&D prototypes focused on the entire employee lifecycle and new manager training.

Manager, HR and Leadership Subject Matter Expert, Co-Founder

Podcast Host

Clir Renewables

A venture-funded company focused on optimizing wind and solar investments. Joined as an Individual Contributor and successfully met recruitment targets, established an HR function/team, and implemented systems to support the company's growth.

Accountabilities: 
• Lead team structure, career growth and development, recruitment strategy, and budget for the People and Culture team. 
• Champion our five core values and build company procedures and policies around them. 
• Build and implement processes around Clir employee lifecycle from recruitment to retention to offboarding. 
• Manage and improve the wellness and professional development framework. 
• Support the executive team in long-term planning staffing forecasts and other strategic objectives. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: 
• Worked with senior leaders to identify talent gaps. Created a robust workforce plan, talent gap analysis, and employee evaluation process. This led to expedited hiring of over 50 people in 12 months.
• Rolled out Clir’s first HRIS – gathered pain points, selected a system (BambooHR), designed workflows, implemented, and trained over 75 employees. This has led to time savings of over 30% a week. 
• Analyzed performance data which led to implementing a new performance management process, formalized system, and documented 1:1’s. This led to a 100% acceptance of the new system and process.
• Introduced Clir’s first Applicant Tracking System to automate a previously manual process which has led to over 60% in process time improvements. 
• Led various values-led initiatives including Clir’s public Equal by 30 commitments, supported sustainability initiatives, and led Clir through its first diversity audit.
• Based on employee engagement surveys that indicated decreased management buy-in, I created manager round-table discussions where I implemented learning objectives, and delivered manager training, and career/performance coaching. This led to an increase in employee morale.
• Recruited a full HR team.

People and Culture Manager

SPARK Creations & Company Inc.

A training and development organization that inspired organizations to create meaningful workplaces. Clients ranged from small to large size in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.  

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: 
• Business development - connected with potential clients to understand and unpack their needs, discover pain points, offer programs, quote the work, and follow up as needed.
• Co-created and facilitated leadership training for senior leaders. Topics included teamwork fundamentals, communication, trust, ownership, recognition, and coaching skills.
• Facilitated programs on personal core value discovery, company purpose alignment, and talent strategy.
• Created and delivered original training on Unconscious Bias, Authentic Curiosity, and Resilience to groups at UBC, SFU, BCIT, and the SPARK community.

Clients ranged from small to large size in the for-profit and non-profit sectors.

Independent People and Culture Consultant

FLIR Systems

A BC-based high-tech camera manufacturer. While there, the company grew exponentially (headcount and revenue), expanded offices into Japan and China, acquired its largest customer, and was acquired in 2017 for $250M USD. 

Promoted to lead and scale various teams, acquisition activities, and global expansion projects that contributed to the extensive growth of Point Grey Research (former name) / FLIR. I was the trusted advisor to the General Manager. Successfully built various high-performing teams.


KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Member of the Strategic Leadership Team. Created and implemented corporate strategy, and goals, managed over $2M in budgets, and led corporate culture initiatives including values integration sessions.
• Led a cross-functional team to improve the customer experience. Implemented surveys to establish a baseline. Over 95% customer satisfaction.
• Coached, mentored, and guided over 20 global direct reports including senior leaders in technical support, operations, and quality assurance.
• Completed FLIR's prestigious Leadership and Innovation program in 2017 at Babson College. Selected as 1 of 25 participants (out of 3800 employees).
•Co-led cross-department sessions on values integration, and employee well-being, and was a trusted coach to internal employees.

Operations and Business Management
• Project lead on process improvement projects including CRM redesign (SAP and Dynamics), ERP implementation (SAP), KPI management for executive leaders, employee engagement, and onboarding of internal and external customers.
• Led teams responsible for over $50M YoY in orders, monthly sales planning (thousands of cameras to build), and hundreds of monthly customer inquiries. (Over 95% customer satisfaction).
• Redesigned sales funnels, increasing the accuracy of lead and opportunity conversion, and opportunity and account management.
• Led projects for mergers and acquisition integrations, including integrating a business in Japan.

Director of Quality and Customer Experience, Integrated Imaging Solutions Division

Promoted to take on more responsibilities within our Global Sales and Support organization.

Director of Sales and Support Operations, Integrated Imaging Solutions Division

Point Grey (Now FLIR Systems)

Promoted to take on more responsibilities within our global Sales and Support organization.

Director of Sales and Support Operations

Senior Manager, Sales Operations

Promoted in 1 year to take on more responsibility within Sales Organization.

Inside Sales Manager

Outside Sales Coordinator

🔥 Fired up - This is how his teams and peers would describe me! He has been known to say "I am fired up" a few times in a given day! This is because Tim is passionate about creating high-performing teams using a blend of coaching, mentoring, and process design/improvement.

Tim is a coach, mentor to various startups, and strategic partner. His background in process improvement and people leadership brings a unique skill set to all organizations he is part of.

Tim is a skilled leader with over 15 years of strategy, operations, content and podcasting, and HR experience. He has held various senior leadership positions in a variety of industries including media, manufacturing, and clean-tech. He also co-founded a leading HR and leadership publication called People Managing People where you can find his original content and past podcast episodes.

He is currently working on a new venture called Invisible Condition. 

In this project, he talks about the unusually normal - illnesses and disabilities that are non-apparent yet so common. The goal is to remove the fear that comes with sharing our personal stories in order to remove the stigma and create truly inclusive workplaces, schools and cultures.

He also delivered interactive presentations and consulting projects with organizations including Squirrel Systems, Spark Creations, and various educational institutes. He has spoken at The Tap Network, Women in Tech Regatta, the University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University.

Consulting projects include:
• Inclusive recruitment  
• Strategy development and implementation (using his framework called Clarity, responsibility, and accountability)
• Leadership development - Values, purpose, trust, communication, recognition. and performance
• DEI audit and implementation

Speaking topics include:
• The words we use have an impact - How to talk about unusually normal things 
• Micro-discriminations in the workplace
• The three R's of resilience
• The power of authentic curiosity

He is always up for a great conversation and is taking on new speaking opportunities, coaching and consulting clients! Also, if you live with an invisible condition, are a caregiver of someone or are working hard to remove the stigma that surrounds the invisible, please reach out!

General Manager

Reflection: Grief and Joy

It's been a year since undergoing major surgery and I have come to understand that I am still grieving. I have been thinking this for months - why am I grieving this? Does it warrant me grieving? 

But through reflection and some work, this is what comes to mind when I think about my grief:

• For months (and years) leading up to surgery I struggled to advocate for myself. I put myself in bad situations just to fit in.
• Leading up to surgery, a job I loved ended.
• I missed celebrating my daughter's birthday because of this surgery.
• With iron levels that didn't even register, I had no energy to be the father I intended to be.
• After surgery I pushed myself too hard and had many setbacks - physically and mentally.

But through this comes so much joy: 
• I got to spend a lot of time with my wife and kids as I healed. This reoriented me around what matters.
• Strangers heard about what we were going through and people supported us in amazing ways.
• New work opportunities came up at the right time - an answer to prayer.
• Invisible Condition was born. What began as an outlet for me quickly turned into an outlet and support for many.

While I sit here and reflect on the past year, I feel many emotions. 

Most of all, I am thankful. So many of you here on LinkedIn have supported me and my family and for that, I cannot express how grateful I am.

And a big thank you to my care team at The IBD Centre of BC. I don't know where I'd be without this place advocating on my behalf and caring for me. 

While I am still grieving, I am joyful. 

#grateful #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness

"I was tired of hiding my true self."

That's what sparked Tim Reitsma to create Invisible Condition - a community for raising awareness and support about illness and health conditions people live with that aren't apparent on the outside.

Tim joins me on the Reimagining Work from Within podcast to talk about his own invisible condition - and his mission to change the work experience for those struggling with hidden ailments. 

Listen in to hear Tim's courageous and vulnerable storytelling about years of struggle to keep his condition with Crohn's disease and arthritis concealed at work. And how this fueled him to choose a different, more open, path at work.

So much to learn from Tim - and others in the Invisible Condition community - about how we can create more equitable employee experiences.

Do you have a story to share about your own invisible condition at work or an experience supporting someone in your team who does? Please share in comments below!

#podcast #employeeexperience #inclusion

https://lnkd.in/g74ExCbW 

withinpeople.com • 1 min read

Inclusive workplaces: Embracing diversity beyond the visible | Within People

A new Invisible Condition podcast is out today and this one hit home on many levels (including our conversation on naps 😉).

Sydney Elaine Butler, founder of Accessible Creates and an advocate for disability inclusivity draws from personal experiences with autism, CPTSD, and fibromyalgia to promote change at work. 

Sydney emphasizes the balance of self-care and boundary-setting by sharing strategies for managing health and advocating for inclusive environments. Their story highlights the need for accommodations and a compassionate support network, showcasing resilience and the power of community in fostering societal acceptance and individual thriving. 

Sydney's work serves as a call to action for inclusivity and recognition, inspiring others to advocate for themselves and contribute to a more understanding society.

A few reminders and takeaways:
• Self-Advocacy and Choosing Yourself: Self-advocacy is vital for those with invisible conditions. It's about knowing your needs, setting boundaries, and putting your well-being first to manage life effectively. It's crucial for securing needed accommodations and support.

• The Impact of Language and Words: Words deeply influence how we see invisible conditions. Mindfulness in our language is key to a respectful, inclusive environment, helping lessen stigma and enhance understanding.

• Ending the Stigma Through Conversation and Understanding: Fighting stigma against invisible conditions needs open, honest talks. Aim to understand and support others by validating their experiences, and fostering empathy.

• Reflection and Personal Growth: For those with invisible conditions, self-reflection is a path to growth and fulfillment. It encourages self-advocacy and the drive to effect positive societal change.

• Creating Inclusive Environments: It's critical to mould societies and workplaces that cater to diverse "normals" for genuine inclusion. This means systemic changes for equal opportunities and recognizing diverse contributions.

• Support and Understanding in Ending Stigma: Ending stigma demands collective listening, understanding, and acting efforts. Supporting those with invisible conditions leads to a more inclusive, respectful world.

Do you want to see a world where there is no stigma attached to invisible conditions? I hope so and you can help! Let's take a moment to educate ourselves and create safe spaces for everyone to show up as their normal.

Search and subscribe to "The Invisible Condition Podcast" or go to https://lnkd.in/deysEuxJ to learn more.

“The worst experience in my youth was when an English teacher with ZERO medical training questioned whether my pain was ‘all in my head’.”

Tania Reitsma shares openly in Invisible Condition's new self-advocacy written interview series - https://lnkd.in/dFVfvKgM

In this new written content series, I invite people to share publicly or anonymously about their diagnosis, condition, self-advocacy, and how we can end the stigma!

With this new series, we aim to:

• Spread awareness about various unseen conditions to educate and erase the stigmas surrounding those conditions.

• Highlight the importance and impact of self-advocacy through personal stories.

• Create the space for individuals to share stories, encouragement, and practical advice on self-advocacy.

 If you have a story of self-advocacy you'd love to share, please reach out.

Together, we can end the stigma of invisible conditions one story at a time.

invisiblecondition.com • 1 min read

Self-Advocacy Interviews

Do you struggle to get your thoughts out of your mind into writing with clarity? 

This week's guest, the founder of Storied, Nick Koshnick shares about his life living with dyslexia. 

If you have been listening to the past few episodes, Storied is a proud supporter of Invisible Condition and it's been great to get to know Nick these past months.

Our episode titled, "Redefining Strengths: Thinking Differently with Dyslexia" highlights that despite our conditions, we all have strengths, often because of our conditions.

Strengths of resilience, advocacy, finding our voices, or whatever it may be, it's something I am reminded to lean into - the strengths I have developed because of living with Crohn's.

Episode highlights: 

• Clear communication is essential for sharing ideas and making an impact.
• Focusing on strengths and finding alternative ways to communicate can help individuals with invisible conditions thrive.
• The stigma surrounding invisible conditions can be overcome through awareness and understanding.
• Tools like Storied Work can support individuals in clarifying their ideas.

Have a listen and join me and others as we strive to end the stigma of invisible conditions by empowering voices and igniting social change!

Search "The Invisible Condition Podcast" wherever you listen or head to invisiblecondition.com, subscribe to the newsletter, and if you have the means, consider donating to keep this project going 🙏.

#disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness 

Alert 🚨 - A new Invisible Condition episode dropped today and this one is impactful. Lindsay lives with autism and I agree with her, she is amazing. As she said so well, "different, not less". 

"For me to fit in it means just to feel like I belong sometimes because sometimes with my autism I can be different. They know that I have autism and a lot of times they put a label on me before they even know me or they judge a book by its cover because I have autism... I am vulnerable but a lot of times people don't take the time to actually get to know how amazing I am." - Lindsay

Lindsay shares how she is embracing her diagnosis and overcoming obstacles and taking no for an answer. She has overcome a lot in her life and in this episode, we talk about feeling different and struggling to fit in, but ultimately learning not to compare to others. 

Lindsay emphasizes the importance of embracing one's differences and not letting a diagnosis define one's capabilities. 

She is passionate about being an advocate for others on the autism spectrum and inspiring them to see their potential.  

Here are a few takeaways from this impactful episode:
• Embrace your differences and don't compare yourself to others.
• A diagnosis does not define your capabilities.
• Be an advocate for yourself and others on the autism spectrum.
• Music can have a powerful impact on mood and mindset.
• Treat others with kindness and understanding.

I hope you take a moment to listen. Subscribe to "The Invisible Condition" podcast wherever you get your podcasts. 


Self-advocacy is complex and often tough, especially when it involves our health and even harder when we live with someone non-apparent. 

I had a doctor who didn't take my concerns about my Crohn's disease and mental health seriously, always saying things would "get better." They didn't. I didn't (and couldn’t) settle. I fought for a new specialist and finally got the support I needed. It was a hard fight, but absolutely necessary.

It's not always easy, but to me, it's crucial. 

Here are some strategies to consider that may help you stand up for what's important:

Understand What's Important to You
Knowing what you value most is the first step in effective advocacy. 
Consider:
- What are my core values?
- What do I need to feel heard and supported?

Get Comfortable Speaking Up. Being clear and confident about your needs is essential. 
You can:
- Practice talking to yourself in the mirror to build confidence.
- Discuss your needs with a trusted friend who can offer feedback.

Keep Going. Advocating for yourself can be tough, with plenty of setbacks, but it's important to keep pushing.
Remember:
- Not everyone will understand or support you right away.
- Continue to advocate for what you need to be your best self, whether at work, at home, or regarding your health.


Advocacy is about more than just being heard—it's also about using your voice effectively, even when others may not initially listen. 

If you're finding it hard to have your voice heard, reach out. I'm here to help. Together, we can make sure your voice is not just heard, but respected and acted upon.

Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. Your needs are important, and your voice matters.

#selfadvocacy #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness

Sharing openly is scary. It comes with fear, shame, and a lot of other emotions.

But, this is who I am. I live with Crohn's disease. I am not defined by this disease, I live with it. 

There are some days it slows me down and there are some days I forget I have this crappy (pun intended) disease.

“We don't know if somebody needs advice, needs to read another book, needs anything. So pause and say, thanks for trusting me. What do you need from me?  Somebody might say, no, I just wanted you to listen. Honour that and hard stop there.”

I've been on a few podcasts and this week's release of Invisible Not Broken was special to me. It's a show I look up to and love. Thanks for having me! 

Have a listen to the full episode! Links in the comments.

"I pushed myself a lot, which led to multiple burnouts."

When Manpreet shared her story with me on the Invisible Condition podcast, I could relate - What I thought was normal, being exhausted all the time, and experiencing burnout.

Manpreet Dhillon, founder of Veza Global joins me on the podcast this week - episode drops on Thursday, April 11th! 

I am beyond inspired by Manpreet. Her work ethic, outlook on life, and how she focuses on what matters to her is worth listening to.

Subscribe to "The Invisible Condition Podcast" as you won't want to miss this one!

#disabilityinclusion #invisiblecondition #disabilityawareness

It's been over seven months since Daan van Rossum reached out and invited me to support FlexOS. His passion for the future of work, and AI, and his support for Invisible Condition are something to admire.

As I build Invisible Condition, I have been choosing different AI tools to support me. While some tools are terrible, many are good! And this is where I pitch FlexOS's upcoming AI masterclass - a FREE one-hour event tailored exclusively for Directors, VPs, founders, and CxOs called 'Lead with AI'.

🎉 Are you afraid of AI or are you using AI but want to learn more, learn from the brilliant minds of Daan van Rossum, Niko Groeneweg, Justin Vandehey, and Christie Hoffman, as they co-host the upcoming event, 'Lead with AI'. 

LAST CHANCE to register: Here's what's in store for you on April 18th at 9 AM EST:

🤖 Demystify AI and discover its practical applications in the real world.
💡Hone your skills in engaging effectively with ChatGPT—your virtual assistant extraordinaire!
🛠️ Explore a handpicked selection of over 10 game-changing AI tools that are set to redefine the way you work.

Check out the event here:

contact.flexos.work • 1 min read

Lead with AI – Free LIVE Webinar

Join Within partner, Bev Attfield, and Tim Reitsma, the founder of Invisible Condition, on the latest episode of "Reimagining Work from Within." 

Together they explore the challenges individuals face in the workplace with invisible conditions, emphasizing the power of curiosity and the importance of creating psychologically safe environments. 

Listen now or download for later by visiting [https://lnkd.in/gqe84sTM]!

#inclusiveworkplace #inclusion #employeeexperience #workplaceculture #invisiblecondition #diversityandinclusion #disabilityawareness #curiosity #leadership

Inclusive workplaces

What if...

When you think of "what if", is it an automatic negative or a positive thought? I know it can depend on the situation however some of us think of "what if" through a negative lens.

This phrase can either drag us down with fear or lift us with hope. The choice is ours.

Living with an invisible condition, I've wrestled with "What Ifs." During a recent arthritis flare, I found myself asking, "What if I can't ride my bike anymore? What if I can't run around with my kids anymore? What if this is as good as it gets?"

But I chose to change the narrative. I started asking, "What if it does get better? What if I can ride my bike?" This shift from negative to positive became a source of strength for me.

Adding "So now what?" to a daunting "What If" shifts the focus from the problem to the solution. Here are some steps I've found helpful:

💥 Think of the Opposite: Consider the positive counterpart of a negative "What If."
💥 Reach Out: If a negative "What If" feels overwhelming, talk to someone you trust.
💥 Reframe the Question: Ask yourself, "What if this is what happens? So now what?"

Living with an arthritis flare, I've had both good and bad days. But regardless of the day, I've learned to ask, "So what now?"

I invite you to do the same. Embrace the positive "What If." Choose to reframe it and take action.

I'd love to hear your experiences with positive reframing of "What If." Let's inspire each other to embrace our normal and end the stigma of Invisible Conditions!

#reframing #whatif #disabilityinclusion


"Remember that you matter. You're worthy of advocating for yourself. You're worthy of getting the support and resources you need".

Manpreet Dhillon, thank you. I know someone is reading or listening to this today and feel it.

I feel it. Sometimes, advocating for ourselves is a full-time job on top of our full-time work. It's hard. But as Manpreet said so well on the latest Invisible Condition podcast, you matter and are worthy of getting the support you need.

Manpreet, founder of Veza Global lives with multiple concussions, and Lyme Disease, and shares openly about her health journey and all the ups and downs that have come with it. 

We talk about: 
• Embracing an Open Dialogue: Understand the value of discussing tough topics openly to increase understanding and empathy in all areas of life.

• The Value of Vulnerability and Honesty: See the strength in admitting when you're unsure and the power of honesty in building stronger connections.

• Recognizing the Power of our Experiences: Early challenges can shape resilience and determination for a fulfilling life.

• Appreciation for our Caregivers Support: Caregivers are crucial in overcoming health challenges and offering emotional support and confidence.

• Understanding the Impact of Conditions: Recognize how conditions like concussions and Lyme disease can impact life and work, stressing the need for understanding and accommodations.

• Prioritizing Self-Advocacy: Learn the importance of advocating for yourself and the role of medical help in managing conditions.

It's a packed episode and one worth having a listen to. Join us as we strive to end the stigma of invisible conditions by empowering voices and igniting social change!

Subscribe to "The Invisible Condition Podcast" or head to the links in the comments to listen to this episode.

"We need to talk about our invisible conditions!"

My 7-year-old is home from school today, not feeling well. She pulled up a chair beside my desk and started colouring.  She asked me what I was doing and I talked to her about what Invisible Conditions does (aside from a weekly podcast) and asked her:

"What is an invisible condition?" She replied, "It can be a sickness that someone can't see."

We then talked about what it means to be normal and she concluded that we are all normal (Even me with missing intestines 😂).

So, I asked more questions (she rolled her eyes).

"How do we make sure we believe people when they say they live with something not seen from the outside?"

"We need to talk more about it, that will make people feel better and help people learn."

So, let's talk more about this! Let's get curious! My normal looks different than yours, let's embrace what makes us our normal!

Imagine a world where, if our children are diagnosed with an invisible condition,  they aren't afraid to share. They are seen, supported, and trusted, without judgement. 

“Self-advocacy is about self-respect. I want to live as meaningful a life as possible, and I’ll do what I need to facilitate that.”

Thank you Laura for sharing your voice with Invisible Condition's new content series focusing on invisible conditions and self-advocacy.

What does self-advocacy mean to you? How do you (have you) advocated for yourself?

Check out Laura's full interview here: https://lnkd.in/g7x83scx

I'd love to have your voice added to this written interview series! If you are interested in learning more and helping end the stigma, shoot me a message!


"As we share our stories, what we're going through, most people will lend you their ear, lend you their vulnerability as well. And it's an open door, an opportunity for amazing relationships and connections."

Can you relate? Maybe you don't want to share because you don't want to bring someone else down. I can relate to this! 

Felix Chan went for a routine eye exam and from that exam, was diagnosed with Leukemia. He struggled to open up to those around him - his wife, his friends, his community. He was afraid of what people would think and say, and how this news would have an impact. 

But when he opened up and shared openly and with vulnerability, amazing things happened. For the most part (and not all the time), people became curious. People wanted to know more and how to support him and his family.

It takes courage to open up and I am grateful he shared so vulnerably on the podcast (ep: 10). As Felix likes to say, "Vulnerability builds vulnerability”.

You can listen to Felix's full podcast at The Invisible Condition Podcast - Links in the comments.

Oh, and subscribe because new episodes are dropping weekly on Thursdays!

So here is my question, if someone were to disclose to you about their invisible condition, how would you respond?

📊 Fascinating data from Accenture: Individuals with disabilities outperform those without by 2.6 times!

In our recent episode of "Reimagining Work from Within," Tim Reitsma of Invisible Condition, dives deep into the significance of embracing diversity, particularly invisible conditions, in the workplace. Imagine the untapped potential when employees feel safe and supported to share their unique perspectives. 🧠💡

Tim underscores the value of cultivating a workplace culture built on psychological safety, inclusivity, and understanding. It's time to challenge misconceptions and create environments where everyone can thrive.

Interested in learning more about fostering an inclusive workplace? Click this link to get the full episode. >https://lnkd.in/gqe84sTM<🎙️🌐 

#inclusiveworkplaces #embracediversity #dei #invisibleillness #disabilityawareness 

“We don’t get to pick and choose what we have thrown at us. We just have to use it to the best of our ability and we have to figure it out along the way.”
- Lindsay Malkinson. The Invisible Condition Podcast, Ep: 24.

I loved the conversation I had with Lindsay on the Invisible Condition podcast. Her drive and determination have been a reminder this past week that we will be thrown things out of our control. It's how we react to them that matters most.

If you have time, please have a listen: https://lnkd.in/g2pTiDUz

"We are each having to find our own balance of hope and acceptance."

A new Invisible Condition episode dropped today - Living with Long COVID: Diagnosis, Hope, and Acceptance.

What stands out about Allison is her drive, determination, and personality! Life has thrown her a curveball - on a postsecondary journey to grad school and now she is determined to raise awareness and support for those affected by long COVID.

Since her diagnosis, Ally has faced numerous challenges, from persistent symptoms that won’t go away to major life changes that have reshaped her daily routine and long-term plans. 

We talk about the impact of long COVID on her life, including using a wheelchair, not being able to work full-time, and the ways she's had to adapt to her environment and expectations.

Despite these hardships, Ally brings incredible positivity to our conversation. 

She talks about finding hope and acceptance in her new reality, and how these feelings have guided her through her toughest moments. It’s a straightforward and impactful discussion about living with a condition that's still largely misunderstood.

Here is what you will learn:
💥 Understand Long COVID: Gain a deeper understanding of long COVID from someone who lives with it every day.
💥 Learn about Resilience: Hear how Ally copes with significant life changes and what keeps her moving forward.
💥 Discover the Power of Positivity: Ally’s approach to maintaining a positive outlook despite her challenges can inspire anyone facing adversity.
💥 Explore Acceptance: Learn how acceptance can play a crucial role in managing chronic health conditions.
💥 Get Motivated by Community Support: Find out how connecting with others has helped Ally manage her symptoms and feel less alone.

I encourage you to have a listen. Thank you Ally for sharing your story on The Invisible Condition Podcast. 

How to listen? 
• Apple, Spotify and all major podcast platforms. Search "The Invisible Condition Podcast".
• Website: https://lnkd.in/grxvTKmr

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