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Entrepreneurship As A Trauma Survivor Pt 2 | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 27
What does it really take to build a business while healing from trauma? In this vulnerable follow-up episode, I'm getting real about the messy middle of trauma-informed entrepreneurship.
After our first attempt at recording this episode where a protective part showed up and wouldn't let me be vulnerable, I came back to try again - this time with full transparency about what it's actually like to run a trauma-informed business as a trauma survivor.
In this episode, you'll hear:
* The turning point that led me to create a trauma-informed career development company
* Why therapy alone wasn't enough - and what else I needed to succeed
* How attachment wounds made asking for help nearly impossible (and how I worked through it)
* The real talk about capacity, overwhelm, and moving at the speed of your nervous system
* Why traditional business advice doesn't work for trauma survivors - and what to do instead
* A powerful client success story that reminds me why this work matters
* The one piece of advice I wish I'd known before starting: go slow and trust your gut
Key Takeaways:
* You take your trauma with you into entrepreneurship, but it can become your superpower
* Working at the speed of your nervous system isn't a limitation - it's wisdom
* Community and support are non-negotiables, not nice-to-haves
* Small, bite-sized chunks of learning honor your capacity
* Trauma-informed business requires modifying traditional strategies through a trauma-informed lens
TIMELINE:
00:00 - Introduction: Coming back to be vulnerable
01:00 - The turning point: Why I created a trauma-informed company
03:00 - From trauma recovery coach to workplace specialist
05:00 - Showing up messy: Values and mission
07:00 - Non-negotiables: Therapy, community, and asking for help
09:00 - The difficulty with boundaries and capacity
11:00 - Working at the speed of your nervous system
12:00 - Honoring capacity and giving yourself grace
13:00 - Client success story: From 6 months to 3 years
16:00 - Advice to my former self: Go slow and trust your gut
17:00 - Trauma-informed vs. traditional business strategies
19:00 - Final thoughts: You can still be successful
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Are you talented and hardworking but still struggling to achieve the career success you deserve? If you're a trauma survivor, the barriers to your professional growth might be more invisible than you think.
In this episode of Your Trauma Wise Career Guide, I break down three common ways trauma can sabotage your career - and more importantly, how to transform these responses into professional superpowers.
What You'll Learn:
✨ Why trauma survivors often struggle with workplace visibility (and how to reframe it as service)
✨ How perfectionism becomes a career trap and what to do instead
✨ Why authority figures trigger your nervous system and strategies to heal that relationship
✨ How your trauma recovery has actually given you incredible professional strengths
✨ Practical tools to work WITH your nervous system rather than against it
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hook: Your biggest career obstacle isn't what you think
0:45 - Why your nervous system sabotages professional success
1:30 - Sign #1: You're invisible when you should be visible
4:00 - Sign #2: Perfectionism that never feels "ready"
6:30 - Sign #3: Struggling with authority and power dynamics
9:00 - The reframe: Your trauma recovery as career superpower
10:30 - How to get trauma-informed career support
Your healing journey has given you emotional intelligence, crisis management skills, and systems thinking that most people spend years trying to develop. The key is learning to leverage these trauma-informed strengths strategically.
Ready to Transform Your Career?
If these patterns sound familiar, you don't have to figure this out alone. I specialize in helping trauma survivors translate their recovery wisdom into career advancement.
Book a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min
In our conversation, we'll explore where trauma might be creating barriers in your professional life, what unique strengths your healing journey has given you, and whether trauma-informed career development is right for you.
No pressure, no sales pitch - just a genuine conversation about your career vision.
About Your Trauma Wise Career Guide:
This podcast helps trauma survivors transform their healing journey into professional success. We explore trauma-informed career strategies, workplace mental health, and how to build authentic, sustainable careers that honor both your ambitions and your well-being.
Connect with me:
https://linktr.ee/resilient_career_academy
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Stop Struggling Alone: Why Trauma Survivors Won't Get Help for Career-Blocking Symptoms
Are you battling anxiety, perfectionism, or triggers at work in isolation? Staying up until 2 AM researching solutions instead of getting professional support? This episode reveals why trauma survivors refuse help for the very symptoms keeping their careers stuck.
In this episode, you'll discover:
* Why trauma survivors isolate when career symptoms flare up
* How attachment wounds prevent you from seeking trauma-informed support
* The hidden costs of managing trauma responses alone (burnout, stagnation, missed opportunities)
* Why "doing it alone" feels safer but keeps you trapped
* Small steps to reach out for trauma-informed career support
* How to build a support system that understands both trauma and career growth
Key Topics Covered:
✓ Trauma symptoms impacting career growth
✓ Attachment wounds and help-seeking behaviors
✓ Breaking isolation patterns around professional struggles
✓ Trauma-informed career support
✓ Overcoming shame about needing help
✓ Career development for trauma survivors
✓ Professional support systems
Timestamps:
0:00 - Opening: Struggling alone at 2 AM
1:00 - Why trauma survivors avoid career support
3:00 - The hidden costs of isolation
6:00 - Redefining strength vs. weakness
8:00 - Attachment wounds blocking help-seeking
9:00 - Permission to need support
10:00 - Small steps toward getting help
12:00 - Building trauma-informed support
If you're ready to stop managing trauma symptoms alone and get the specialized support you need to grow your career while honoring your healing journey, let's talk.
📅 SCHEDULE YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min
We'll explore how trauma-informed career coaching can help you break isolation patterns and get the support you need to thrive professionally.
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Are you a trauma survivor entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed by business challenges? Discover why traditional business advice fails trauma survivors and learn trauma-informed strategies for sustainable entrepreneurial success.
In this episode, we explore:
✨ Why entrepreneurship hits differently for trauma survivors
✨ The three hidden patterns sabotaging your business (hypervigilance trap, perfectionism paralysis, people-pleasing business model)
✨ Essential strategies to redefine success on your terms
✨ How to build early warning systems for overwhelm
✨ When to pause, pivot, or push through challenges
✨ Why nervous system regulation is your secret business strategy
Key Topics:
* Trauma-informed entrepreneurship
* Business overwhelm management
* Entrepreneur mental health
* Trauma survivor business tips
* Nervous system regulation for entrepreneurs
* Sustainable business growth
* Perfectionism in business
* Hypervigilance and entrepreneurship
* People-pleasing in business
* Trauma-wise career development
Timestamps:
0:00 - Why business overwhelm hits differently for trauma survivors
1:00 - The capacity jar analogy
2:00 - Three ways overwhelm shows up differently
4:00 - Essential strategies for managing entrepreneurial overwhelm
5:00 - When to pause, pivot, or push through
If you're ready to build a business that honors your healing journey while creating the impact and income you deserve, I'm here to help.
Ready for personalized guidance? Book a Clarity Session where we'll dive deep into your biggest career or business challenge and create a clear, actionable roadmap for your next steps. This focused session provides the trauma-informed support and strategic direction you need to move forward with confidence.
🔗 Book your Clarity Session: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Why Ratio-Based Jobs Burn Out Trauma Survivors | Trauma-Informed Career Advice
If you're a trauma survivor working in childcare, healthcare, social services, or other ratio-based roles, this episode is for you. Discover why these essential jobs can be especially challenging for trauma survivors and learn practical strategies to build a sustainable, fulfilling career.
What You'll Learn:
✨ What ratio-based work is and why it affects trauma survivors differently
✨ How to transform your trauma responses into professional superpowers
✨ The hidden impact of secondary trauma in helping professions
✨ Practical nervous system regulation techniques for high-stress work
✨ How to implement trauma-informed boundaries while caring for others
✨ Ways to advocate for systemic change in your workplace
Topics Covered:
* Ratio-based jobs in childcare, healthcare, and social services
* Trauma responses as professional assets (hypervigilance, emotional sensitivity, crisis experience)
* Secondary trauma and vicarious trauma in helping professions
* Energy management and nervous system regulation at work
* Trauma-informed workplace boundaries
* Career development for trauma survivors
* Workplace advocacy and systemic change
Timestamps:
0:00 - Hook: The crushing reality of ratio-based work
1:00 - What are ratio-based roles?
2:00 - Hidden challenges for trauma survivors
3:00 - Trauma responses as professional superpowers
4:00 - Secondary trauma factor
5:00 - Practical strategies that work
6:00 - Call to action
Resources Mentioned:
Book a discovery session: cyndibennettconsulting.com/contact
About This Podcast:
Your Trauma Wise Career Guide reimagines career development for trauma survivors. Host Cyndi Bennett, trauma survivor turned trauma-informed career coach and founder of Resilient Career Academy, provides practical advice for building careers that honor your healing journey.
Connect With Cyndi:
Website: http://cyndibennettconsulting.com
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Think leaving your corporate job will solve your workplace trauma triggers? Think again. Your trauma doesn't stay behind when you become an entrepreneur – and that's exactly what we need to talk about.
🚨 REAL TALK ALERT: This episode didn't go as planned, and we're sharing it anyway.
In this raw, unfiltered conversation, trauma-informed career coach Cyndi Bennett gets interviewed by Holly Dillon about the harsh realities of entrepreneurship as a trauma survivor. What was supposed to be a vulnerable deep-dive turned into something completely different when Cyndi's protective parts showed up to the recording.
Here's what you'll learn:
✅ The 3 biggest challenges trauma survivors face as entrepreneurs:
* Visibility struggles (why we hide in our own businesses)
* Capacity management (why we burn out faster)
* Isolation tendencies (why we think we can do it all alone)
✅ Why your trauma follows you into entrepreneurship (and why that's actually normal)
✅ The real cost of therapy on your business capacity (something no one talks about)
✅ How attachment wounds make us believe we can "do it ourselves"
✅ Why trauma survivors need a "board of directors" more than anyone
🎯 Perfect for you if:
* You're a trauma survivor considering entrepreneurship
* You're already an entrepreneur struggling with capacity, visibility, or isolation
* You want to understand how trauma shows up in business ownership
* You're tired of generic business advice that doesn't account for your healing journey
💡 Key Timestamps:
7:00 - Cyndi's turning point story
13:30 - The terror of being visible online
22:00 - Early entrepreneurship challenges
25:00 - Why trauma survivors think they can do it alone
31:00 - What makes it all worth it
🔗 Connect with Cyndi:
Cyndi Bennett Consulting: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com
Instagram: @resilient_career_academy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-bennett-mba-m-ed-ctrc-bab95817/
🎧 Subscribe for more trauma-informed career content that actually gets it.
📌 Related Videos:
* How Trauma Affects Your Career (Even When You Don't Realize It)
* Setting Boundaries at Work as a Trauma Survivor
* Why Traditional Career Advice Fails Trauma Survivors
💭 Discussion Question: What's one entrepreneurship challenge you've faced that you now realize might be connected to your trauma history? Share in the comments – let's normalize these conversations.
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Are you a shift worker who feels stuck in fight-or-flight mode at work? If you're a nurse, CNA, healthcare worker, or anyone doing shift work where you can't just step away to regulate, this episode is for you.
After getting feedback from a listener in childcare, I realized most career advice is tailored for office environments - but what about those of us who work in hospitals, emergency rooms, manufacturing, retail, or other shift-based roles where you're "tied there" and can't easily get away when triggered?
In this episode, you'll discover:
✨ Why shift workers need different regulation strategies
✨ A simple 5-10 minute pre-shift presencing practice
✨ How to check in with your nervous system before, during & after shifts
✨ Powerful anchor phrases you can use during difficult moments
✨ The critical post-shift transition technique most people skip
Key Takeaways:
🫀 Place your hand on your chest, take 3 breaths, and ask, "How is my nervous system right now?"
🎯 Set realistic expectations: "I can handle whatever comes my way, and I have the tools to regulate myself."
⚓ Create anchor phrases like "I am safe. I am capable. I can regulate."
🚗 Use your commute time to consciously shift from work mode to home mode
🤗 Practice gentle acknowledgment: "I made it through another shift. I'm safe now."
This isn't just another self-care tip - it's trauma-informed career guidance designed specifically for the unique challenges shift workers face.
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Ever felt completely professional one moment, then found yourself crying in your car because a meeting triggered something deep inside you? You're not imagining things—you might be experiencing "trauma time."
In this episode of Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide, I break down what happens when your nervous system gets stuck responding to current workplace situations as if they're past traumatic experiences, and most importantly, how to find your way back to the present moment where your actual power lives.
🎯 What You'll Discover:
✅ The hidden signs of "trauma time" in professional settings
✅ Why your body overrides what your logical mind knows is safe
✅ How trauma responses disguise themselves as work performance issues
✅ Practical tools to anchor yourself in real-time during triggers
✅ The antidote that actually works for workplace trauma responses
⏰ Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - Hook: When work triggers your past
01:00 - What is trauma time?
02:00 - Real-life example from my corporate experience
03:00 - Key characteristics of emotional flashbacks
04:00 - Hidden career costs of trauma time
06:00 - The antidote: Moving to real time
07:00 - Practical next steps you can implement today
09:00 - Integration over elimination approach
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Trauma time = when past experiences hijack present workplace moments
Career costs include hijacked decision-making, relationship minefields, inconsistent performance
The solution isn't eliminating trauma responses—it's learning to work WITH them
Your trauma history doesn't disqualify you from success—it can become your leadership foundation
🛠️ Practical Tools Shared:
5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique for desk use
Nervous system re-education strategies
Trauma-informed boundary setting
"Now vs. then" awareness practice
💡 Remember:
Your sensitivity is your strength, your awareness is your advantage, and your healing journey is preparing you for impact in ways you might not even realize yet.
📌 Subscribe for weekly trauma-informed career guidance
💬 Comment below: What's one workplace trigger you've learned to navigate?
👍 Like if this resonated with your experience
📤 Share with someone who needs this message
You're not walking this path alone.
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
Why Being Seen Feels Dangerous: The Cost of Staying Invisible
Do you have expertise that could change lives, but find yourself hiding when it comes to visibility?
You're not alone.
In this episode, Cyndi shares her personal struggle with visibility and reveals why being seen feels terrifying for trauma survivors - even when it's exactly what we need to grow.
What You'll Learn
✨ Why trauma survivors struggle with visibility in unique ways
✨ The "stone face wound" and how it shapes our relationship with being seen
✨ A 4-step framework for healing your relationship with visibility
✨ How to practice "micro visibility" safely
✨ Why fear of being seen is information, not a character flaw
Key Quote
"We mute ourselves to survive as children, but we have to unmute ourselves to live as adults."
The 4-Step Visibility Framework
Find Your Safe Mirrors - People who give positive reflection
Practice Micro Visibility - Start small to prove safety
Develop Internal Validation - Become your own supportive parent
Honor Your Nervous System - Expand tolerance gradually
Ready to Step Into Your Power?
Book a free discovery call to explore your healing and career journey, identify what's keeping you invisible, and create a safe plan forward.
🔗 Free Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min
Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide reimagines career development for trauma survivors. Host Cyndi Bennett is a trauma survivor turned trauma-informed career coach and founder of the Resilient Career Academy.
Subscribe for trauma-informed career strategies that honor your healing journey.
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
🎯 Stop performing your way through your career! If you're a trauma survivor who's mastered the art of "executive presence" but feel completely disconnected from your authentic self, this episode will change everything.
What You'll Learn:
✅ Why traditional executive presence advice is retraumatizing for trauma survivors
✅ The 3 trauma-informed shifts that create authentic leadership presence
✅ How to leverage emotional intelligence as your professional superpower
✅ Strategic authenticity: being real without oversharing
✅ Why vulnerability creates stronger leadership than performance
The 3 Game-Changing Shifts:
Shift #1: From performing confidence → embodying radical honesty
Shift #2: From suppressing emotions → leveraging emotional intelligence
Shift #3: From dominating conversations → creating psychological safety
The Truth Bomb: The most magnetic leaders aren't the ones who have all the answers - they're the ones who can say "I don't know" with confidence and commit to finding solutions.
Your trauma recovery has given you incredible emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, and the ability to create safety for others. These aren't weaknesses to hide - they're leadership superpowers to leverage strategically.
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
8-Week Trauma-Informed Leadership Intensive waitlist: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/tileadershipintensivewaitlist
Resilient Career Academy: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/rcalearningcommunity
📝 CONNECT WITH CYNDI:
Website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndi-bennett-mba-m-ed-ctrc-bab95817/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilient_career_academy/
🎧 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW:
If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps other trauma survivors find this trauma-informed career guidance.
New episodes every Tuesday 🎙️
When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:
DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.
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