Episode 44: Lauren Petrullo

Focus and Chill - productivity tactics for AuDHDers and other neurodivergent folks

Welcome to episode #44 We’re thrilled to be joined by Lauren Petrullo today!

Lauren is a former Disney Innovation Catalyst, now turned social commerce specialist, and multi-founder. She is a 33 year-old, self-made CEO who specializes in marketing, eCommerce and loves to disrupt. She has found new ways to blaze the trail in remote workplaces, as well as being the proud founder of the most INCLUSIVE beauty brand online. All while promoting clean drinking water initiatives overseas! From speaking fluent Italian, learning 3 Asian languages simultaneously, and just finished her first improv class, she's all over the map...in a great way.

Welcome to the show Lauren!

Questions

1. Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
   1. Diagnosed at 9 years of age along with younger brother
      1. Would finish schoolwork very quickly and then want to
      2. The school highly recommended Ritalin/Adderal
      3. Medication had some negative side effects - mood, and reaction time in sports - so
      4. Her parents helped her develop other behavioral coping mechanisms
         1. Don’t sit up the front where distraction is obvious
         2. Don’t stand up as much
   2. Always had lots of energy - other people find it hard to keep up
   3. High school/college was a bit better
      1. Skipped year level
      2. More challenges from both sports and academics
      3. Other students wanted access to ADHD meds to help with study
2. What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Owns multiple businesses
      1. Digital marketing agency: Mongoose Media (30 people)
      2. Asian Beauty Essentials (products from Japan, and Korea)
         1. Able to implement ideas from
      3. Co-founder:
         1. Swimsuit brand
         2. Matcha
3. How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Three languages: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin
      1. Talk to me in Korean - create an audio textbook
      2. In-person classes ($5/hr)
      3. Duolingo
      4. iTalki - tutors to help
   2. Sport
      1. Competitive dragon-boating
      2. Fencing
      3. Zumba
      4. Yoga
4. What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Protein drink/matcha
   2. 15 minutes of Duolingo
   3. 15 minutes of Kpop dancing in the morning
5. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
   1. Claire/Irish control the calendar
      1. Says yes to too many things
   2. Culture building: gather.town - water check
      1. Change do not disturb settings
      2. Focus station in virtual office: Proceed
   3. Delegate a lot
   4. Delegated email
   5. Slack
      1. Moved task comms to ClickUp
   6. Project management tool: ClickUp
      1. Use the time tracker feature
   7. Forest timer
6. COMMERCIAL BREAK
7. What is one habit you'd like to remove from your life (either a bad habit or one that takes up too much time)?
   1. Hitting play next on Netflix
8. How do you switch off at night?
   1. Put the phone in another room
   2. Wear earrings when working/take them off when not working
9. What resources (books, philosophies, apps, sensory toys) do you find most helpful for productivity and habit formation?
   1. Apps
      1. Forest
      2. ClickUp
   2. Books
      1. Libby: 3x playback for audiobooks
         1. Sci-Fi
         2. “Where the deer and antelope play”
         3. “Hundred million leads”
10. Where can people connect with you or find your work?
    1. LaurenEPetrullo on all socials
    2. MongooseMedia.US
11. Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
    1. Share your hobbies with her
    2. Asian Beauty Essentials - coupon code: Focus and Chill.

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